Should the Army provide an incentive for "Green Tab" positions?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 09:52:58 -0500

Does the staff Captain deserve the same pay or recognition as the Captain that is charge with the Command of a Battery / Company / Troop? Should the Master Sergeant in charge of a 10 man staff section be of equal status of the First Sergeant?

Since we already have special duty assignment pay (SDAP) for specialty positions (e.g. Recruiters, Recruiter Trainers, Guidance Counselors, Drill Sergeants), why not expand that to those "Green Tab" positions that carry a higher level of responsibility than their staff counterparts.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 9:59 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 09:59:16 -0500

I absolutely think there should be a pay difference as you mentioned sir. There's a big difference in what a MSG and 1SG do just as much as that CPT commanding vs the one on a staff.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 12:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 12:26:26 -0500

Actually this makes a lot of sense. Why aren't we funding this?

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 26 at 2014 12:34 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 12:34:17 -0500

Sir, much like 1SG Rink's response, I agree that there should be a designation between those who are CDRs and 1SGs from those who are not, let me expound on the following. There are some MOSs, positions, etc, that do not emphasize Command and 1SG time as much as others. Selfishly, I do not know why someone would want to be in a position like that, but I digress. I always give advice to senior SFCs and young MSGs that they should seek out and secure 1SG positions. I do the same for young CPTs. Nothing is like Command. Nothing is like wearing a Diamond. So if you are afforded an opportunity to do so, you should. You should absolutely do so. An assignment as a 1SG or Company Commander is like nothing else. It is the epitome of leadership and should be coveted.

As far as the same pay, etc...I will defer that to the powers that be. I am addressing the fundamental positions of leadership that we all should strive for.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2014 3:21 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:21:37 -0500

I don't think we need a special pay for leadership positions because they pay for themselves in the long run. Rated Platoon Sergeant and First Sergeant are (as good as) pre-requisites for promotion to the next higher grade IAW DA PAM 600-25. Officers are pretty insistent on command time being more valuable than staff time; it reflects in selection rates for officers who did not get command time/did poorly in their respective commands.

On that note: the above listed positions that receive SDAP are specialty slots held only by very few and almost all distinguished with a badge. Most Master Sergeants should have First Sergeant time unless they actively dodge it and retire three years after their DOR. A Sergeant's Major career stalls out if they don't get their battalion, brigade, and higher CSM ASIs. And, as often quoted to me "officers command."

Response by MAJ R. Andrew Hoskinson made Oct 21 at 2019 6:42 PM

MAJ R. Andrew Hoskinson — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 18:42:54 -0400

I agree with your proposal- green tabbers at all levels should get speciality pay to account for the greatly increased scope of responsibilities involved in directly leading troops/exercising command. 28% of my duty positions on active duty were command/green tab positions, and they were by far the most demanding positions.