Why is it frowned upon if a person wants to stay a lower rank?

SPC James Seigars — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 21:41:27 -0400

As anyone who looks at my profile can see I left the Military as an E-4 and had been a E-5 for three years prior to being demoted by a green Commander due to actions my spouse & step kids had taken while not in my presence. That 1st LT told me after he made Captain that he was wrong & I should have went to Jag or IG and then asked me to go to the board. I refused. I told him that if he felt he was wrong he should give me my rank back without going through the board again, but he said I had to. So I decided if that is how NCO's are treated I wanted no part of it. After that even though I had Officers & Senior NCO's try to get me to return to the board & re-attain my rank in all three of my remaining units I still refused to go on principal. Most people think I was wrong, but I liked being a Specialist and did just as well or better as I did as a NCO. So my question is why is it so important to get a higher rank if you don't like the politics, extra requirements or stigma that goes with it? I am happy I served over 20 years total and even though I wonder what it would have been like if I hadn't got demoted I am still proud of my accomplishments after that unfortunate event.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Sep 7 at 2015 10:10 AM

SrA Matthew Knight — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:10:34 -0400

My grandpa retired 20 years Air Force as an E5 back before the high year tenure was lowered for Staff Sergeants. Nothing wrong with not advancing far if you are fine with what you do.

The stigma probably stems from the common mind set that everyone should always be hard charging for promotions and what not. If you don't then I think leadership gets it in their head that you just don't really care about advancing in your career so they start looking down on you.

For me right now I am going to be testing for Staff Sergeant for the first time next spring. On the one hand some of the NCOs here are pushing me to study and seem like they want me to make it. On the other hand, I am planning on getting out at the end of my enlistment in 2017 and if I make Staff I would sew on literally right before I got out so they also talk about how I would be stealing a stripe from someone who is staying in and could actually take on a supervisory role. They want me to try and get promoted to show I want to advance but yet don't want to waste a stripe and ALS training on me.

It all stems back to showing initiative I guess and by not wanting to get promoted one isn't showing the initiative that they are looking for, at least in a career soldier/sailor/marine/airman. You served your 20 years, be proud of what you did and the time you put into it and let the naysayers live in blissful ignorance.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 8 at 2015 11:55 AM

SSG Warren Swan — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:55:30 -0400

I'm going to tell you it's about the "F*ck you" factor. IMO you were taken down in an unjust manner (based off what you said above) and it left a bad taste in your mouth (understandable). But the fact remains you were a NCO. Regardless of how you personally feel towards those who did you wrong, the Corps didn't screw you over. I'd go back to the board to get back where I was and silently say F*ck you to every swinging Johnson that had a hand in taking me down as I destroyed the board's questions. And I'd continue on to SSG and SFC if possible. Not to say you cannot take care of joe as a SPC, but that was a demotion. The Phoenix rises after being destroyed, and you should do the same and better. Be a beacon to those who've made mistakes and can come back from them.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 11:56 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:56:06 -0400

So what did your spouse and step-kids do that caused your commander to demote you? How exactly did he demote you, through an Article 15?

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Sep 8 at 2015 6:22 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 18:22:04 -0400

Why do you look like a Smurf in your photo?