Posted on Jan 20, 2014
In regards to Rank Has Its Privileges or Perks (RHIP), what was your most valued privilege during any assignment and why?
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Privileges are more tangible to some than others. I know what my favorite is. I have also known a variety of people, who would create drama to get a special claim or exemption before other peers.
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 16
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My favorite perk was just earning the respect of my subordinates. When I was enlisted, I hated watching officers get perks, and I sure as heck found it hard to truly respect many of them for showing off a few bennies. When I became an officer, I refused to accept any perks that I feel I did not earn and I consider it a privilege that I sincerely earned their respect.<div><br></div><div>One simple perk that is prevalent in the Air Force is that officers travel so much by air that they earn points towards first class rather quickly. I would feel like a total jerk sitting in first class if there were a dozen enlisted returning from overseas sitting in the back, so I never accepted the free upgrade. Actually, I did accept it once, but only after I noted that there were only two enlisted Soldiers in uniform on the flight and I convinced another civilian in first class to have us both switch seats and give our first class seats to the two that had just returned from the Middle East.</div>
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SFC Robert Trodahl
Sir, that happened to me once as a SSG on R&R. I was puzzeled why a Air Force Major was sitting in the back while I was in 1st Class. I think you answered that question. Thank you for looking out for the Soldier, regardless of branch.
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Maj Walter Kilar
@SFC Trodahl: I definitely try to do this for Soldiers returning from overseas. They are easy to spot, because of the gear they are carrying. I will say it is harder to reward Soldiers, because you tend to deploy in very large groups. Airmen tend to deploy as individuals. In order for this to be successful, I usually have to pick a couple Soldiers that look the most weathered, or I just pick the two lowest ranked ones. From there I have to convince a civilian in first class to also trade, so they can have company in first class.
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SFC Robert Trodahl
I do appreciate it Sir. After a looooong flight from the middle east being crammed in like sardines, it was nice to have some space. I will pay it forward if I have the chance, regardless of branch.
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Actually getting to have my own room during a deployment and not having to share with a bunch of others. Open squad bays and two man shelter half's in the Marines to open squad bays and ten plus individuals in tents in the USAF. It took until I had been in the military for over 15 years - so I was really happy when it finally happened.
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CMC Robert Young
I had a similar experience at USAF FSA several years ago. I was the only E8 in the class and either because of that (or that I was only the second Coast Guard member they had ever seen), I got my own room in the dorm. Kinda cool.
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The best privilege I received as a company commander was not the parking space, a government issued cell phone, or the private CHU on deployment it was the ability to lead, mentor, and positively (hopefully) impact the lives of 160 people on a daily basis. There are not many jobs where you get to wake up everyday and have that kind of impact on that caliber of people on a routine basis. Some of the "privileges" that come with higher rank serve a purpose; i.e. to make the command more effective in command. If they don't serve a purpose then quite frankly they probably shouldn't be there.
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