Air Force pans Marines with new recruiting ad

[MADAMESINCERE]

Originally Posted by Yggdrasil

Have to disagree here. Different services place significance on different pay grades. For example, very few E4's in the Army are NCO's, and none are in the AF; while ALL are in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard; which provides for all E5's in these services to have had previous NCO experience.

Even as an E6 in the Navy, I have no problem acknowledging the fact that as Staff NCO's, the Staff Sergeant of Marines is the E6 with the most responsibility - the kind that doesn't get delegated to those in the other services until they make E7. At E7, the prestige goes to the Navy Chief, and from what I've seen, the prestige goes to the Army First Sergeant at the E8 level (while I was stationed at Ft Sam Houston, it looked to me like First Sergeants were gods).

I can't speak about any experiences with Navy NCOs since I've only worked with the Navy once and that was with other officers. Prestige in the Army actually starts at E7 for most (lower for combat arms). The 1SG is the man/woman in a company though.

[Combat correspondent]

Originally Posted by MADAMESINCERE

I can't speak about any experiences with Navy NCOs since I've only worked with the Navy once and that was with other officers. Prestige in the Army actually starts at E7 for most (lower for combat arms). The 1SG is the man/woman in a company though.

I'd say in most Marine Units I was in the prestige started w/ Corporals (E-4). Sure, not a ton of prestige but they were definitely the 1st-line supervision of junior Marines. In the AF, this tends to start with Staff Sergeants (E-5). The SSgt is the 1st-line supervisor in most jobs while TSgts seem to be about on par. SNCOs are normally way up on the food chain - on par w/ the Lts....the CMSgts are on par w/ the Capts. It seems pretty similar to the Corps but starts 1 rank higher.

[Yggdrasil]

Originally Posted by mindtrip99x

I've been in 3 years, I'm not a fuck up and I'm still a E-3. My Army counterparts have been in the same time, and same are E-5s. Yeah, I would say the Air Force is justified when it believes it's rank structure is a bit more difficult than the other branches. We don't get stripes just for being shit hot at a board.

Yes, but the lack of a test/board also means that Marines who who don't have sufficient technical knowledge of their MOS can be promoted to Corporal and Sergeant.

[Yggdrasil]

By the way, I'm not talking about where prestige begins in each service. I'm talking about which service has the most prestigious E6, E7, E8, etc. I'd say that E9 is the "equalizer" and it's a toss-up at E5, since making E5 appears to be a much bigger deal in the AF than any other service, but it's the three sea services where all E5's have had previous NCO/PO experience at the E4 level.

[TJMAC77SP]

Originally Posted by MADAMESINCERE

It is harder to make rank in the AF, I won't disagree there. You don't get stripes for going to a board, but you do get stripes for passing a hand written test. Neither mean you can lead for shit. The Army promotes fast, but we also have no problem taking rank away either.

True. in the old days I often thought the Army should put their stripes on with velcro. With the ACU it is all easy now. Slip off, slip on.

Another factor in the Air Force is that if you lose stripes as an NCO, be prepared to retire as an E-6 (E-7 if you are VERY lucky.

[Combat correspondent]

Stripes aside... anyone heard of an NCO or Petty O getting battlefield commissioned since Vietnam? Does it ever happen anymore?

[CplH5811]

Originally Posted by Combat correspondent

Stripes aside... anyone heard of an NCO or Petty O getting battlefield commissioned since Vietnam? Does it ever happen anymore?

I haven't heard of it. I think the days of field commissions are gone forever. It's too bad really. Besides, the rate that 2nd LTs are popping up these days is insane. I've seen jobs created in my unit because they don't have anywhere to put all of them.

[Combat correspondent]

yeah...sad but true. I think field commissions are good so you get really, honorable servicemembers into the O ranks - one's who have proven leadership abilities as NCOs, POs....know what I'm saying?

[Smeghead]

Originally Posted by Combat correspondent

... - one's who have proven leadership abilities as NCOs, POs....know what I'm saying?

Come on CC, don't make me send you back to DINFOS!

[Combat correspondent]

Off to the school house w/ me then Good call SMEG.