What is the biggest thing you've had to change when you were promoted?

As I moved thru the ranks, it was about the E-6 time when I figured out that I needed to quit worrying about what everyone else was thinking and doing and start setting the example of what I wished every E-6 was like. See - I always would look at the people wearing the stripes I didn't have and think - "Man, I sure wouldn't have done that!" or "I would have done it THIS way!". So when I DID get that promotion, I made sure that I did the BEST job I could with what God gave me and I certainly didn't worry about who "treated me as senior" - Yes, you need to hold people accountable for any insubordination, disrespect and those things - with out these, the mission suffers, but at the same time, I never "expected" anyone to treat me a certain way - that's the example I wanted to set.

PO1 Shahida Virella, I agree with your statement "I feel like sometimes remaining at the command you kind of grew up in makes it hard for people to treat you as a senior." When I switched from NCO to Officer, those I "grew up with" had some trouble understanding that though I was the same person my position gave me a different perspective and different goals than I previously had.

I want to add that transferring into a new Unit 6 months later as a "fresh butter bar" had it's own challenges because then I was treated as if I didn't have a clue about what was going on because the NCOs and enlisted didn't know my background and I'm not one to go in saying I'm this or that but as they got to know me they realized I wasn't the run of the mill "butter bar".

I hope you have a great day!

When I went from Cpl to Sgt. I had to change using one knife hand to using two. That way I could guide my team of functioning idiots twice as fast. Also, in times of need you could give the ol' 1-2 karate chop, when stupid questions were asked.