Is 'Spouse rank' real? Is there a place for it in the military? What are your experiences ... good or bad?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:30:09 -0500

Example: Military spouses that uses thier wives/husbands rank for gain.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 19 at 2015 12:32 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:32:47 -0500

They do not have rank unless they are service members themselves and then they are their own rank. Honestly spouses that do this are pond scum and should not be paid attention to.

Response by TSgt Kevin Buccola made Feb 19 at 2015 12:57 PM

TSgt Kevin Buccola — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 12:57:29 -0500

I've seen spouses use the military rank only in the commissary, bx and fitness centers.

Sure spouse rank is real - be disrespectful to your CO's spouse and see what happens.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Feb 19 at 2015 1:37 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:37:58 -0500

While it is true that military spouses have no rank (and I abhor those who think they do), they sometimes have positions of authority/responsibility due their spouse's position. An example would be a battalion commander's spouse being the leader of the Battalion Family Support Group or Officers' Wives Group. However, while they may hold that position, nobody is compelled to follow their "orders".

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 2:15 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:15:15 -0500

I think what is most important is experience. My wife and I married when I was a Major at Fort Leavenworth. That means she missed the entire formative company grade experience of being a commander's wife and seeing the military in the pre-COIN era. There are questions military spouses have that need answers and often they can only come from other spouses. A lot of it has to do with formalities and expectations, especially on the officer side of the house. Enlisted begin to see it at the E8 level and definitely at the E9 level. There are things that my wife is telling me that she wished someone had told her 2 years ago or 5 years ago. She believes that she has missed opportunities and requirements based on her lack of experience. While I don't think spouses have rank or should wield it that way, a great example is our Division Commander's wife. She holds monthly get-togethers to discuss what she has seen and experienced in the military and the BN CDR's wives are learning a lot. That experience matters.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Feb 19 at 2015 2:24 PM

Cpl Jeff N. — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:24:07 -0500

No, it is not real. No, there is no place for it in the military. There should be no experience with it because it is not real. Spouses have no rank, period. That doesn't mean you shoudn't be respectful of spouses etc but they carry no rank, real or conferred.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 2:55 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 14:55:46 -0500

I don't think "Spouse rank" is real but there are some that think so... SSG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Mar 4 at 2015 7:03 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:03:03 -0500

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 11:46 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 11:46:14 -0400

Complete BS. EOM.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 15 at 2015 8:06 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 08:06:39 -0400

http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/07/pentagon-releases-preliminary-military-spouse-rank-chart/

Pentagon Releases Preliminary Military Spouse Rank Chart

WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Pentagon has released a preliminary artist rendering showing a chart of the proposed military spouse ranking system. The chart released late last night reflects ranks set forth by the Pentagon under the newly formed Spousal Code of Civilian Justice, with the ranks of S-1 through S-9. The Pentagon has still not yet …

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2015 11:09 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 11:09:01 -0400

Does it happen? Yes. Do I do anything other than laugh and ignore them? No.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Apr 15 at 2015 11:16 AM

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 11:16:42 -0400

I was stationed at Fort Bragg gearing up to deploy. My Wife was "told" highly encouraged she had to go to FRG so she did once. Needless to say "Spouse Rank" was in effect and she decided not to play. To this day no FRG for her. The funny thing is she became a friend to a higher ranking spouse and it was through the garden club. Which lead to me being re-enlisted indef by a 3 star.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 15 at 2015 11:45 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 11:45:25 -0400

General Colin Powell mentioned in his book the new BGs were briefed at the pentagon that some of them will get promoted, some will reach the peter principle, and some of the BGs or their spouses will end the career by acting like royalty.

Response by SP5 Michael Rathbun made Apr 15 at 2015 5:23 PM

SP5 Michael Rathbun — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 17:23:15 -0400

No idea how it is now, but my wife met and talked (briefly) with many wives of officers up to about O-5.

Then again, she was working as a waitress at the Officers' Club.

Response by CPT Bruce Rodgers made Apr 16 at 2015 11:35 AM

CPT Bruce Rodgers — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 11:35:05 -0400

My wife has always Benin Home-6, but that's it

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Apr 16 at 2015 11:42 AM

PO2 Mark Saffell — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 11:42:43 -0400

Easy way to answer this. Did the spouses attend the Accademy or OCS? Do they understand the UCMJ? Do they ship off for months at sea for us Sailors? Do they land a jet on a pitching deck of an aircraft carrier at night? Answer is NO to all. Sorry they should always willingly give up there spot in line so those that do risk all.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 16 at 2015 12:06 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 12:06:18 -0400

Many spouses wear their husbands rank. There is a dichotomy to this. A spouse can really help other spouses or they can create cliques which are not spouse friendly for lower ranking spouses.

Sometimes a spouse can really help or hurt her husbands career. I knew of a 2LT PL at Ft Hood whose wife received a call from a subordinate's wife that she was in labor and needed a ride. The 2LTs wife replied she was no damn taxi service and hung up. He carried that stigma until he left the battalion.

Response by SGT Dave Oman made Apr 17 at 2015 2:43 PM

SGT Dave Oman — Fri, 17 Apr 2015 14:43:43 -0400

I think some of you are taking this a little to seriously. Spouses have no rank, but if they use their soldier's rank in a positive manner it should not be a problem.