How do any other Mil Techs on here approach rank while on Tech status?

(This will probably have you active folk cringing or confused)


The endless debate I'm always hearing is should Mil Techs conduct themselves in all aspects as if they are on orders, IDT, AGR, some kind of actual military status or as civilians which we really are, just the condition that we have to stay in the Guard/Reserves to keep the job.

Outside of you can't out rank or have more time in grade than your supervisors, wearing the uniform within reg, and doing your job how the Army says to do it.... that is kind of where the "Army way" ends. Which I believe plays into why the Tech program is sometimes viewed negatively or undisciplined.

I work with a CSM that loves to remind other Techs who try using their rank that they have no rank, and that they are only senior to someone by their Tech pay grade and step. I run into this one a lot now because in my section all of the Techs senior to me have moved on. Gets me a lot of confused looks when the Sgt on Temp status is directing them to me or asking me for guidance or what needs to be done. Also creates situations that seem disrespectful, and would be any other time, when I have to explain to NCOs and officers from units we support that I don't take orders from them, but from the Warrant that supervises my section.

I haven't seen too many Techs completely throw customs and courtesies to the wayside. In public, emails, working with AGR/Mdays,or on a base I, and most Techs I've seen, make a point to address by rank, salute, and all that jazz, but at the shops it is just last names, nick names, sometimes first names. The worst offense I see is not dropping the "buddy, buddy" interactions when not on Tech status. You get to know a lot of people of all ranks, but some forget to flip the switch get back in their lane.

The argument I hear the most is that Techs should act as if on a military status since you're in uniform, preforming military work, and are still a solider. It is a good point, and I agree for the most part. However, it also isn't really set up to work that way. You have people in higher pay grades who are senior to others who have more rank on their chests, all but a few regulations don't apply, and you're not getting any of the other things Active, AGR, and ADOS receive.