calling all US military. please help me understand ranks

[Malak]

Most ranks with special insignia are not exactly a rank in the normal sense. Like a first sergeant has a diamond, but it's more a job title rather than a rank. A first sergeant can be any of 3 of the top enlisted ranks in the Air Force. They don't hold higher authority than the others of their rank. The only exception I can think of is the command chief.

 

[HappyPuppy]

In VN you didn't salute officers, even in base camp. Rank insignia was a small black painted brass insignia you wore on your lapel.

Top Sergeants were noted for their bravado. They would walk through hails of gunfire and incoming artillery to rally their troops. They were looked up to by their subordinates and were never questioned.

Officers were, for the most part, to be ignored.

 

[Colt45]

Can the reverse work? Meaning grunts would wear high ranking insignia to draw fire away from the officers?

A whole platoon full of lieutenants might be a bit confusing, huh?

 

[EagleKeeper]

<snip>

Officers were, for the most part, to be ignored.

Thanks Pup:\

 

[Gunslinger08]

From your link:

(exceptions)

My fault. I was told wrong in the past and didn't have time to completely read the link I posted from my phone. Good to know.

 

[Turin39789]

A whole platoon full of lieutenants might be a bit confusing, huh?

Oh God. A platoon full of lieutenants is a frightening concept.

 

[MarkXIX]

Scary indeed. I was an NCO for more than 10 years, enlisted for over 12 before I applied for and was selected for a Direct Commission as an officer.

I have stood in an entire company sized formation full of nothing but Lieutenants when I went to school last year. It was scary how much potential "fuck up" could come of such a formation should it be released, uncontrolled, on the battlefield.

The first time I reported back to my commander, who at one point I had been the squad leader of, I started drooling and told him I would do my best to fuck up as much as a I could while I was a Second Lieutenant. Fortunately for him, I was more professional than my own desires.

 

[Vic Vega]

Skim the thread again and post back once you've figured out where you fucked up.

I'll give him a pass, he's probably just had a long day. ^_^

 

[darkxshade]

Ok so I don't know much about the military either but if you had to speak to a soldier(unofficially) for whatever reason while on a base, how would you know to address him as sir or not if there is no rank insignia for you to tell?

 

[Malak]

Ok so I don't know much about the military either but if you had to speak to a soldier(unofficially) for whatever reason while on a base, how would you know to address him as sir or not if there is no rank insignia for you to tell?

There's always rank insignia.

 

[Nebor]

Scary indeed. I was an NCO for more than 10 years, enlisted for over 12 before I applied for and was selected for a Direct Commission as an officer.

I have stood in an entire company sized formation full of nothing but Lieutenants when I went to school last year. It was scary how much potential "fuck up" could come of such a formation should it be released, uncontrolled, on the battlefield.

The first time I reported back to my commander, who at one point I had been the squad leader of, I started drooling and told him I would do my best to fuck up as much as a I could while I was a Second Lieutenant. Fortunately for him, I was more professional than my own desires.

I was in a platoon of brand new JAG lieutenants for a while. We were getting all of our equipment in the first days of a class. We already had our M4s, and they were handing out magazines, slings, batteries for the PEC-15s, etc. They gave everyone 4 batteries. I began popping my batteries into an M4 magazine, and received a quizzical look from my squad. I said, "these are the new mark 4 pulse rifles. They got them for Iraq so they don't jam from sand, it's all electric." The whole squad was loading batteries in their magazines when the platoon sergeant came out to check on them. "What the fuck lieutenants?!"

 

[Nebor]

There's always rank insignia.

Yeah, otherwise we wouldn't be able to give one another wide berths in the PX\BX parking lot to avoid exchanging salutes.

 

[EagleKeeper]

There's always rank insignia.

Yeah, otherwise we wouldn't be able to give one another wide berths in the PX\BX parking lot to avoid exchanging salutes.

Even rougher is when passing a platoon and having to hold the salute to them as they go by.

Hated going to Lackland main for any reason because of such.

 

[ichy]

I was in a platoon of brand new JAG lieutenants for a while. We were getting all of our equipment in the first days of a class. We already had our M4s, and they were handing out magazines, slings, batteries for the PEC-15s, etc. They gave everyone 4 batteries. I began popping my batteries into an M4 magazine, and received a quizzical look from my squad. I said, "these are the new mark 4 pulse rifles. They got them for Iraq so they don't jam from sand, it's all electric." The whole squad was loading batteries in their magazines when the platoon sergeant came out to check on them. "What the fuck lieutenants?!"

JAGs hardly count as real soldiers.