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I observed this over and over while I was a DS and when I was a recruiter, new enlistees coming in at higher rank because of referrals or a degree. In all honesty having a degree did not guarantee maturity, experience or common sense. They specialize in nothing they are novice in the matters of the Army period. I believe that if we want to save money and get everyone under one career time frame we should all begin at square one and have to achieve those milestones that can only be obtain by paying the piper. There is no advantage here except to the guy with the degree once he is eligible for promotion he will have more points than his peers. I personally was never impressed by the SPC in Basic Training they were as green as the PVT fresh out of high school.
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Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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I came in as a PFC because of college and there were one or two in my BCT that were SPC because of college. We weren't treated any different than anyone else...there may have been a maturity difference as we were all older then most in our class (I was 21). But I think the ability to get promoted before you ship gives an added incentive to learn and grow before you start your Army adventure.
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MSG Martin C.
You are 100% right we cannot generalize however from the budget point of view it will make a difference in my opinion. From the experience point it won’t. The Marines begin at 1 all equal all those stand outs get am opportunity to advance at the end of Boot Camp they way it really should be in my opinion earn everything to appreciate everything.
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Sgt (Join to see)
SFC Cardenas,
The Marine Corps also has contract PFCs (E-2), and there is the possibility for personnel to be meritoriously promoted to PFC or LCpl (E-3) at the end of recruit training.
Is "success" in boot camp more of a surefire indication of leadership ability than a college degree? In my experience, the ability to communicate at the collegiate level enables me to be a better leader than the fact that I was the "Prac Recruit" and "Witch Doctor" in recruit training.
The Marine Corps also has contract PFCs (E-2), and there is the possibility for personnel to be meritoriously promoted to PFC or LCpl (E-3) at the end of recruit training.
Is "success" in boot camp more of a surefire indication of leadership ability than a college degree? In my experience, the ability to communicate at the collegiate level enables me to be a better leader than the fact that I was the "Prac Recruit" and "Witch Doctor" in recruit training.
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In my case, I had 4 years of high school JROTC, coming in as a PFC, and I already knew the ranks of ALL the services, customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, the manual of arms, marksmanship, flag etiquette, and land nav. Did I not deserve to go in a higher rank to be a junior leader in boot camp? I turned down the Marines to join the Army because the USMC would only offer E-2 versus E-3.
How many people do you think we'd recruit if the incentive of a higher rank (aka more pay) was gone for those people who went to college, etc. that we currently offer? I think having everyone come in as an E-1 devalues any experience they might already have or the talents they bring to the table which enriches the service as a whole. With the "force shaping" that is currently occurring, soon our recruiters are going to only want to take the top candidates, shouldn't they be able to have something to offer those candidates to ensure they join our team?
How many people do you think we'd recruit if the incentive of a higher rank (aka more pay) was gone for those people who went to college, etc. that we currently offer? I think having everyone come in as an E-1 devalues any experience they might already have or the talents they bring to the table which enriches the service as a whole. With the "force shaping" that is currently occurring, soon our recruiters are going to only want to take the top candidates, shouldn't they be able to have something to offer those candidates to ensure they join our team?
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I entered the Air Force as an E3. But going through BMT I was an E1 like everyone else. I did not get my stripes until graduating BMT and heading off to Tech School.
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