My FIL spent 20 years in the Air Force and retired an E-5

Woe Uklai wrote:

Is this strange or what? wrote:

He was had the rank of E-5 for 12 years. How do you stay the same rank for that long. It can't happen at a normal job. Why didn't they kick him out?

AF/AR/NV/CG promotions are very heavily examination driven, centered on classroom courses, stability, maturity, poise, professionalism, technology, public relations, fitness, and leadership. MC promotions are100% different, 90% about personal weaponless fighting skillsets, extreme physical fitness, survival, environmental elements, ability to handle unforseen challenges and threats, expending sadistic brutality & torture, close order drill, rifle & pistol marksmanship score, extreme infantry skills; and 10% vocational/college classroom courses.

Army STRONG

I liked Be All You Can Be much better. Army Of One didn't really mesh well with the team concept.

At least I didn't have stress cards in basic training.

Alan

semi non seguitor

If I can buy a real bronze star at the Army Navy Memorabilia store for about 20 dollars what did they pay the seller 4 -5 bucks?

traded promotion for privilege wrote:

semi non seguitor

If I can buy a real bronze star at the Army Navy Memorabilia store for about 20 dollars what did they pay the seller 4 -5 bucks?

The BS is awarded for real combat killing, or, for passing non-combat inpections to career officers and those wanting more ribbons to transfer into elite outfits such as Rangers and Special Forces.

I was in the Navy wrote a fully non sequitur:

traded promotion for privilege wrote:

semi non sequitur -- use a 3 buck word you better spell it correctly

If I can buy a real bronze star at the Army Navy Memorabilia store for about 20 dollars what did they pay the seller 4 -5 bucks?

The BS is awarded for real combat killing, or, for passing non-combat inpections to career officers and those wanting more ribbons to transfer into elite outfits such as Rangers and Special Forces.

Often promotions are determined by those retiring officers and require relocation.

If you don't move you don't promote. Simple as that.

traded promotion for privilege wrote:

semi non seguitor

If I can buy a real bronze star at the Army Navy Memorabilia store for about 20 dollars what did they pay the seller 4 -5 bucks?

Same as the 'citation game' in academic reserach, A Generals will give each other and lower officers medals, and, in return, the recipient General awards the other General's men with medals. That way they can ripoff the taxpayers for more money.

I think the Army advances and discards soldiers much faster than the Air Force advances and discards airmen.

I think they should get rid of retirement payouts until 62 years of age. Having idiots join when 18 for an office job, drining a truck, or installing Mac/PC upgrades doesn't deserve a 20 year retirement. It's not the Marines.

It has to do with his career track and the needs of the Air Force. But he could have gotten training in another specialty that needed E-6 and up. Sounds as if he is an under achiever or one of those types who whine about politics and favoritism as an excuse for their inability to get ahead.

I was in the Army for 10 years and got out right after making E-7.

I am an E-5 currently in the United States Navy the equivalent of a SGT in any other branch a "grunt". You ask how he managed to stay the same rank for 12 years easy bad evaluations. I am probably one of the hardest and without question most educated worker in my shop currently I hold a BS in Criminal Justice and Administration, and an MS in Organizational Leadership. The problem is I should probably be in the Officer ranks and have applied but because my knees are not callused and my gag reflexes are not in as good of shape my command probably will not advance me any time soon. It is a 100% popularity contest were usually the worst man for the job gets it. Your father in law was probably in the same mind set as I am the people you work with suck you want to go to work and work your ass off so they don't talk to you and rub any of there bullshit off on you and leave for the day. The littlest you have to deal with them the better. The military is full of a bunch of men and women who spent there child hood riding the bench and now that they feel they have earned enough rank they can finally pay it forward and pounce on others. I am in it to finish out my contract and take care of my family that is it. F%$^ there rank they can keep it I tried to play there game but the reality is I got to feel human and be a good man for my family not for a bunch of a$$ holes. Don't down grade your father in law good on him for being able to put up with it for 20 years my 7 has been a bus ride to hell!!! Don't get me wrong however there are a few good guys out there to work with.

weird wrote:

It has to do with his career track and the needs of the Air Force. But he could have gotten training in another specialty that needed E-6 and up. Sounds as if he is an under achiever or one of those types who whine about politics and favoritism as an excuse for their inability to get ahead.

I was in the Army for 10 years and got out right after making E-7.

Right on. I was E7 when I hit the 20 year mark and then E8 by 22 years. I serve with guys that are still E5s approaching 20 and it is simply because they are underachievers and don't deserve promotion. You almost have to TRY and not get promoted to pull that off.

Alan - I'm 30 years old, can you please tell me about joining the military post 30.

I've got a great job, masters degree, but always was interested in the military.

Check into going to OCS. I would have gone officer had I known the age limit was going to drop. I'm not sure but the age limit might be over 30 now. It was about 36 then dropped to 29, it might be 32-34 now. It changes a lot, was 36 when I joined with the intent of switching over then dropped to 28 with no waivers

Officer: in charge of something, plans stuff, reports, powerpoint slides, much more like a desk job 90% of the time. VERY political from day 1.

Enlisted: you will come in as an E4 bc you have a degree. Better than a private and your age will probably give you more respect in your unit. You will get tired of the childish hand-holding. It gets better as an E5 and as long as you are good at pt and areca good/motIvated worker you should fast track and make E5 in 2-3 yrs. Remember, your peers are 18-22 years old. That is basically your competition as far as getting promoted. Most are lazy. Keep in mind the army has minimum standards and you will be working with a lot of minimum guys and gals. Try to not get ffrustrated and use your academic and life knowledge to help your team.

If you like to get your hands dirty enlisted may be more fulfilling. .it is for me.

Basic will be a pain. Lots of screaming and hand holding.

As a college educated, older guy who has had a career before the Army you will shake your head at a lot of the things we do. I just shake my head and drIve on. Overall I'd say the positives far outweigh the negatives for me.

Do you have any specific questions on the recruiting process, initial entry training, or life in your unit? Keep that in mind. Its not just a job, no matter how hard you try to tell yourself otherwise. No other job affects your personal or family life as much as the military.

Alan

The best advice I ever got about Army life was to separate out your Army self from your real self. You go to work, and Army you gladly puts up with all the BS, then you go home and you're real you and none of it matters. It doesn't affect who you are really.

Very true. If married I suggest staying off post..away from post...20-30 min. Gets you away from the military while home. Keep work at work.

Even doing that the army will infiltrate you. ..haircuts, clean shaven, stuck at work for days because some idiot misplaced some NVGs. Just do your best to stay away from work related crap from 1700-0630

Alan

Exactly. Never encountered an E5 with that many years that was not an underachiever.

Side question: was it the E5's who so-called 'trained' the Iraqi Army or was in mercenaries (contractors)?