Posted on Apr 19, 2017
Is it age or the rank of a Private that basically makes a Private seem arrogant?
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I enlisted Active Duty at the age of 27 and started basic as an E-2. I was promoted to E-3 while in AIT. I didn't really pursue a promotion and after my 4 year enlistment was up, I chose to go home. One thing I notice though, is a lot of E-1s to E-3s act like they're invincible and know everything. I've never acted that way. It's got to be age related, doesn't it?
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I would say that the perceived arrogance has nothing to do with the rank or age/maturity. The boot camp/AIT/TechSchool process is designed to create the kind of self confidence that may be perceived as arrogance. For most recruits (of any service), accomplishing boot camp is the first difficult thing any of them has done. They are told they are the elite of the population, noble in their decision to serve, and accomplishing something as trying as basic training proves their mettle. They are then sent to learn their trade, but not just any trade THE BEST TRADE IN THE ARMED FORCES!!!, doesn't matter whether you are a cook, personnel specialist, infantry, or pencil pusher, ONLY the select few can do what you do. This is done to install a sense of pride in your career choice. So when that Private gets to his/her first unit thay may have an overinflated sense of self-worth. Usually gets corrected pretty quickly.
Good NCO's know not to burst that bubble, but to slowly deflate it to a point where all the egos fit in the room and work well togather....
Good NCO's know not to burst that bubble, but to slowly deflate it to a point where all the egos fit in the room and work well togather....
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They probably weren't trained on how to speak to you Chief. In basic I wasn't taught how to interact with Commissioned Officers, forget about Warrants. I've come across others that were taught the former, but not the ladder. I suppose they think we'll just figure it out... which I did not. Got chewed out for not saluting a Warrant I didn't even see at my first duty station. Didn't find out everything I needed to know until I asked a combatives instructor weeks later because I trusted him. I can't say any of us had a fear or Warrants, you were much more of a mystery. I do remember trying to stay away from COs though, except for the salute I knew I was supposed to give. Nightmare
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