You don't increase your chances of dying by going to war.

 

Again you're talking out your ***. I use to do physical fitness test with my friends parents for fun. And I use to run in the mornings behind squads, since they usually passed my house in the early mornings, when I would do my training. You still don't get it I was raised in the ARMY. All of my friends were raised in the ARMY. All of my older friends are in the ARMY. I worked out with a lot of individuals in the ARMY. And presently a lot of my best friends are in the ARMY. I have a **** LOAD in common with them. But of course you knew this since you know everything about me. Oh great and all knowing one.

Wow READING COMPREHENSION. Is it that hard to understand what I stated, or are you just that STUPID. I don't think I could of been more clear in some of my reasons why I would never join the Army. It has NOTHING to do with dying for my country or not. It has to do with fighting for the right reasons, which I think going into Iraq was the WRONG reasons. Jeez, you'd think after I repeated the samething like twice you would get it. Maybe thats why you should never be an officer nor would anyone follow you. You can't even comprehend simple sentence structures and things that are repeated more than once written down. Jesus you can't be THIS slow. And you say I put my foot in my mouth.

 

Really? I would think you would. If not I'll admit im wrong but I would love to see other wise? I thought the more risk you put yourself in the higher chance you have of getting killed. For example I drive down the road at a speed of 50 mph. Let say I start going 200 mph. I have a higher risk of dying going 200 mph. Thats the logic I used. I could be wrong though.

 

I want to start out by apoligizing for the "fondling" comment. It was unprofessional and I shouldn't have dropped to that level. But, in return, I do ask that you stop all the name calling too. It is very childish on both our parts.
Now, on to other things. I honestly don't think you understand how the military rank system works. You said something about how I could never be the rank you could be if you signed up. You are right, but I don't think you understand why. The military is divided into 2 rank groups. Enlisted people, like myself, enlist for a set amount of years and thats it. Of course, we can reenlist near the end of our tour if we are selected to and choose to do so. The Air Force, which I am in, promotes enlisted people by TIG (time in grade aka. how long you have been at your rank), TIS (time in service aka. how long you have been in the military), EPRs (evaluation performance reports), and yearly testing once you have met the previous TIG and TIS requirements. This is a very basic explanation, however it is a LOT more complicated than this. The highset rank ANYONE can obtain as an enlisted person is E-9. However, officers work in a tottally different rank bracket. They are commisioned at their rank, they do not enlist. In the AF, there is USUALLY a set amount of time they have to stay in in order to pay for the schooling the AF has sent them to. Once that time is up, they can leave. They are no longer in a contract with the AF other than they are a military member thus held to military standards and subject to the UCMJ. They usually get their first few ranks, up to Capt., automatically after they are in for a set amount of time. (I believe it is 2 yrs from 2LT to 1LT, and another 2 yrs to Capt.) After that, it becomes VERY political! During this initial period in an officers career, they are usually stuck with an NCO to teach them everything about their job. It is in this period that makes or breaks an officer in my opinion. They will either develop a deep respect for the NCO corps, and turn out to be great leaders, or they will think they are better and turn into horrible leaders that will eventually get transferred to a desk job, or otherwise put in a position where they will NEVER have any subbordinates.
There are also Warrant officers in the other branches, (Army, Marine, Navy, CG). They are usually the most repected people in the military. They are in between enlisted and officer ranks, and are usually EXPERTS in the career field. The AF, however does not have these due to the very technical nature of our branch and the fact that so many of us already have degree in our respective job.
I hope you understand now what I mean when I said you are right, but don't know why. And enlisted person, like me, cannot be promoted to an officer, and an officer cannot be demoted to enlisted rank. An enlisted person can apply for a commision, go to OCS/OTS and eventually be commisioned as an officer. It is similar with the warrant officer rank. E1 thru E9 is lower ranking than W1 thru W5, which is in turn, lower ranking that O1 thru O10 ranks. However, please don't think for even a second, that an O1 has more leadership abilities/pull/clout/power or whatever you want to call it just because he is an O1. The enlisted and warrant officer ranks will still salute the O1 and give all the customs and coutesies that are expected of that rank, but that LT will likely not be bossing anyone around. (Especially not the higher enlisted ranks and ,God knows, not the Warrant Officer ranks!) And yes, I HAVE seen a MSGT break a Capt down to tears. Yes it was unproffesional, but it DID happen. I have seen on multiple occasions jr officers get told off by Sr NCOs. Granted, it probably doesn't happen in other branches (Army/Marines)because their officers have a deeper respect for their troops
As far as the NCO running the military comment, they do! Sure officers make all the political decisions, attend all the lucheaons and meeting, and do all the hobknobbing. NCOs are the ones with the hands on experience, respect of their men, and overall leadership ability that keeps ALL the branches going from day to day. NCOs are the heart and sole of Esprit D' Corps, they are what hold the military together. 1regul8nsti said it himself, he makes the decisions but he relies on his NCO's experience. This is how mutual repect develops between officer and enlisted, and I can tell, he will likely make a great CO!
Lastly, I don't think you have PROVEN anything to us reguarding the possible rank you could be commisioned at. I will give you that chance if you want. Get in contact with your nearest recruiter. Tell him about this discussion, and ask him what rank you could be commisioned at. Post his name on here and i will contact him via AF Global email, and i will post the email i get from him here. If you truly believe what you say, this is your way to prove it.

 

Much the same as an Private First Class, Lance Corporal, Airman First Class, or a Seaman. I think in the Army, it takes either 36 or 42 months to get promoted to CPT.

I can reinforce that. I am an O-3 Captain with 17 years of service. I don't #&(% with E9's (Sergeants Major in the Army)

LastLaugh, I'm guessing you are not an A1C. Your words paint you as a very experienced Jr NCO.

Anyhow, you bring up a great point but I need to put another slant on this. Officers (Commanders) make all of the decisions in the Army. That's the key distinction between the two rank chains. Officers are responsible for everything that happens or fails to happen.

Based on that, and knowing that the NCO corps is where the majority of knowledge and experience reside, an officer is a fool who makes decisions in a vacuum.

Sure, NCOs make decisions, but everything that an NCO decides is within a stated intent and vision of his commander.

Bottom line, all commissioned officers are commissioned and further promoted by the President. Upon selection to the GO level, Congress has to approve the promotion.

That puts a major amount of accountability on us. If something goes wrong in my unit....it's my fault. There's no question in my mind.

 

The military would colapse without E4's (Hard stripe Corporals, TL SPC's, PO3's and SRA's). That's all I have to say.