Why do SNCO, WO, and high-ranking Officers get their own parking spaces at stores on post? Aren't we supposed to be treated equally?

NCO Creed “ I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.”

CPL Ryan Carnes - Good point CPL Carnes. Fortunately there are PRIVILEGES like these that make it so that Seniors who have the most responsibility can effectively serve and support the most service members as possible by not having time squandered on lines and waiting in chairs. When I had a ABN BDE to support as a CW3, I was only responsible for 3500 paratroopers, just like PFC Snotlocker who could hardly handle being a squad member. Think before you write!

CPL Ryan Carnes - Those individuals of higher rank are not using their "grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety." Let's break this down.

Pleasure - This would entail using your rank to influence those around you or under your command of equal or lesser rank, to do such things as buy your drinks, bring you presents, or possibly have sex with you.

Profit - This would be abusing your rank to covertly steal military equipment for example and then take that equipment and sell it at a pawn shop or on the black market.

Safety - This would be using your rank to push others to the front of a dangerous situation, as in forcing a poorly trained private to enter a hostile area first, instead of being a leader and leading your fire team yourself, thereby taking yourself out of harm's way.

Following the NCO creed in NO WAY keeps them from using a parking spot set aside for higher-ranking individuals. As others on this forum have pointed out, these individuals, due to the significant increase in responsibilities, have a limited amount of time to perform personal errands. While you and SPC(P) Gildardo Navarro are back in the barracks running your mouth about the inequality of parking spaces (in the Army of all places), your upper-level NCOs and Officers are still in their office doing paperwork, planning missions, ordering equipment, approving payroll, writing letters to family members of deceased soldiers, etc, etc, etc.

So, man up and shut your collective mouths and quit whining about the benefits of rank, or make your decision to get out when your enlistment is over. Either that or decide you're going to give your all to being the best soldier you can be and moving up in rank yourself. This means no whining, staying on mission, bettering yourself (physically, by working out or mentally, by taking every military or civilian class offered to you). Lead those around you by example. Be what you want to see in a leader and NEVER forget, that there is ALWAYS someone watching. Always. Lastly, remember that if being a servant is beneath you, then leadership is beyond you. Think of others before yourself, especially the men and women you are responsible for. Leaders eat last.

Hoo-ah? Hoo-ah!!

CW4 John Beebe, BS, DML - I don't think you're going to be able to reach CPL Ryan Carnes on this subject. There's either an underlying sense of entitlement or lack of awareness and understanding. What junior Soldiers fail to understand is that they are not special. They are not the same as their superiors. They are not entitled to accolades and privileges they have not earned or deserve. Their time or feelings are not as valuable as their superiors. Not because we don't care about them or they're lesser than us, but because of the authority and responsibility placed on more senior leaders as they advance in rank. What Soldiers fail to realize is time is a commodity that they have an abundance of but senior leaders have much less of.

A parking space is not seeking "pleasure, profit, or personal safety" or putting their needs above anyone else. A reserved parking space, in this situation, is to give that senior leader who works 2x the hours of the Soldier complaining about it and holds magnitudes higher levels of responsibility the ability to knock out what they need to do in the small amount of time they have to do it. CSMs and Commanders don't get to take 100 minute lunch breaks and still show up late.

SSG Bob Teachout- Thank you for the correction.

Some of the 'perks' may need to fade. A lot of Fortune 500 companies eliminated such things, even designated parking for their executives. The military, however, cannot compensate for the loss of such things with an outsize pay package, so some may be retained. Officers do eat last in the Army. I contrast that with the Navy and CG which retain the antiquated Wardrooms and Chief's Messes. In any case, the tone of this reply hopefully isn't an attitude shared by current leadership. If it is, recruiting will become an even bigger challenge.

PO2 Greg Donahoe - antiquated wardroom my ass. Do you think they are playing diddlywinks in the wardroom. Enlisted do not need to know all that is going on. It is called need to know. There is little privacy aboard ship. I might also add that chiefs also have a private mess. Having a wardroom or chiefs mess avoids unnecessary scuttlebutt and junior enlisted serving in those areas damn well better keep their traps shut about what they hear.

My issue, as I made clear, is nothing against having the room for meetings amongst Officers but the loss of unity and singular mission focus by not eating together. I really don't need you to school me on shipboard conditions either. I served as well as should be obvious.

CWO Collins, When I was in I ma already taking responsibilities of an E-6/E-7 with my current rank so curtail your comparison a little bit. Not all E-5s are the same and perform their responsibilities the same. Though I've seen E-5s that are what you describe,

On the subject of discussion, I agree that rank comes responsibilities and the higher your rank regardless if your're an NCO or an Officer the more you are responsible for so if they're given perks, they deserve them. If you're a lower ranking soldier and have an issue with this, you don't belong in the military of any entities. Managers and other bosses in the civilian world also have their own parking spots etc (in their company lot)

Congratulations. I have met many former service people. Your story is a gym compared to the vast majority, and I am genuinely happy for you and all our comrades who do well.
I could not get a job with Walmart distro. As I did not have names and addresses of three references I had worked with for at least 9 months. Never expected to see them again so didn't keep personal info.
I put in for regular Walmart jobs and never got an interview.
Life is not as rosy for everyone. I only wish I had "bilge pump cleaner" on my resumé!

With rank comes privilege and responsibility. When things go totally fubar and the press and "higher ups" are looking for someone to blame/screw over" the CO is usually the first to get the shaft (see the recent CO of the aircraft carrier fired bya paper pusher). Interestingly, it never seems to affect the screw ups in Congress.