Posted on Aug 22, 2016
Should Senior Enlisted Ranks pay the same as Officer Ranks?
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So just looking for opinions, should E-7-E-9 be paid the same as O-4-O-6? In today's military Senior Enlisted leaders perform similar functions as the following Officer ranks, as the military has changed education is no longer a defining difference as many SNCO's have BA, MA and PHD's. Some SNCO's do 30 years but most do 20+ should they be paid/not be paid the same or at least in retirement?
Military Pay
Rank
Officer
Enlisted
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 34
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An NCO with a BA, MA or PHD has the options available to get a commission or, depending on branch of service, a warrant. If that's the route they choose, then they should get the pay of an officer/warrant. Yes, as a senior NCO I did a lot of administrative work but I still dealt with the troops and I wouldn't have traded that for the political BS of the officer corps. I loved being an NCO.
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SFC (Join to see)
You can be given an exception to policy and get a commission with an associates degree and an obligation to get your higher degree within a given time period and there is no college requirement to take a warrant.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Additionally if you are in a specialty area like a surgeon or cardiologist you can receive a waiver up until 60. The class leader in my BOLC class was a 60 year old cardiologist for George Bush Sr,
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MAJ (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - I believe that policy is no longer in place. I know it was during the height of the war as I went to OCS with several prior service who, after BOLC (OBC) were going straight to college to finish their BA. If memory serves me correctly, this policy was revoked w/I the last couple of years going back to the policy of having a BA, minimum, and no more than a SSG with less than 10yrs of AFS. The exception being the direct commissioned jobs such that CPT Cotton mentioned above.
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SFC (Join to see)
The Green to Gold Two-Year Non-Scholarship Option Program is available to Soldiers who have completed two years of college, and who can complete their college degree requirements in two years.
Two year non scholarship green to gold age requires no older than 30 years old in June of year of commissioning, however -
AROTC Brigade Commander can grant waiver up to 32 years old
Commander, USA Cadet Command can grant waivers up to 39 years old
HQDA can grant waivers up to 42 years old
Two year non scholarship green to gold age requires no older than 30 years old in June of year of commissioning, however -
AROTC Brigade Commander can grant waiver up to 32 years old
Commander, USA Cadet Command can grant waivers up to 39 years old
HQDA can grant waivers up to 42 years old
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Responsibilities are different. There's also a small word - COMMAND! Big difference in responsibilities, duties and jobs. Don't matter if a SNCO has college, good for him/her. If they want O pay, then go officer. I had a LTC, early in my career tell me I was officer material, I needed to go OCS. I replied to him - no. I was a NCO and I would not make a very good officer. I'm glad for what I did, and I got paid for what I did.
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CSM Charles Hayden
SGM Mikel Dawson I agree! All I wanted ever wanted to be was a 1SG! My SGM appointment came about by the need for a respected, compentent NCO whose positive reputation preceded me! (That happened twice, the second was a Peter Principle appointment!)
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I don't believe so and here is why: I am a currently and AD CPT with 17yrs of prior enlisted time. By the time I commissioned, through OCS, I already had my MBA. Having said that, I did not have the same duties and responsibilities as an Officer no matter if they were a LT or CPT. NCOs get to provide information and make recommendations to the Commander and they make the decisions. And contrary to what many a 1SG or CSM believe, they are not Commanders (No disrespect intended, but have seen way too many who truly think they are Commanders and treat every one like a peon). If they wanted to receive the "extra" pay, then they should go the route of commissioning. I don't regret commissioning so late in my career as I am able to use my previous experiences of an Enlisted Soldier, but never during my time as Enlisted did I think I should be making the same or equal pay as an Officer. But most won't cause they don't want to go from being "Top Dog" to bottom of the totem pole. But the thing most people don't remember it that is doesn't matter how much you get paid or what your rank is if you know what you are talking about and can back it up. JMHO.
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SSG Jason Penn
MAJ (Join to see) - I was being serious, congratulations on joining the Officer Corps.
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MAJ Samuel Weber
SSG Jason Penn I did the same thing. One thing you learn as an officer, there are exceptions for everything if you can find the right person who can grant it (usually a senior officer). I had 17 years, 6 months and 10 days prior service which made me nearly 36 years old. Just like the CPT here, I only required an age-in-grade waiver no TIS or age waiver. I was able to earn a direct appointment in the Regular Army and avoid OCS. Where there is a will...
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