What was the term used to identify officer personnel twice passed over for promotion who accepted an enlisted grade to finish career?

MSgt Virgil Baker — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 14:40:51 -0400

Back in 1986 when I worked in Personnel, I improcessed a SSgt who was a former Captain. He accepted the enlisted rank to finish his military retirement. Although the practice is no longer allowed today because of Title 10, I can't remember the term used to define this practice. Does anyone remember the word used when someone crossed over from officer to enlisted?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 1 at 2021 5:09 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 17:09:21 -0400

RIF, reduction in force. Past tense RIFed.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Apr 1 at 2021 7:56 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:56:17 -0400

ALL I knew/knew of were Reserve Officers in the Army of the United States and retained their Reserve Commissions. My Bn SGM at Fort Jackson in 1965 was an SGM USA and retired while I was there as a COL USAR. He was RIFed for over strength a couple of years after the Korean Police Action as a Major, AUS. Kept up his schooling, ie C&GS and eventually was a COL at retirement. Meanwhile, he became a Technical Sergeant E-2 or E-7, USA. Not sure when they reversed the pay grades and added two more. There were still MSGE7, SFCE-6, etc in the early 1970s. Army did ranks like MSGE7, MSGE8, SP4E4, etc so one would know rank and pay grade.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Apr 2 at 2021 12:25 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 00:25:48 -0400

I have seen some officers that it was apparent why they were passed over but not always. That always seemed to Me to often be a pretty extreme measure and price to pay for not being promoted. Those I knew that stayed in and had to serve enlisted seemed to do a good job and despite the setback weren't any less dedicated and still a part of the team. Those that didn't fit that mold were a very small number. Sometimes reductions in force as the force became smaller such as post war periods it was avoiding being too top heavy on a smaller force. RIFed or Reduction in Force. One RIFed USAF major in our unit became a TSgt and quickly a MSgt but He had pilot wings on His shirt as He had been a pilot as an officer. One Army SFC that was a member of the Military instruction group at Bordentown Military Institute where I was a Cadet had been battlefield Commissioned as a second Lieutenant in WWII and in the post war the Army wanted to send Him to West Point to become a permanent officer, He declined that offer and went back to enlisted NCO ranks. He was very sharp and well respected by the Cadets.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Apr 2 at 2021 10:09 AM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 10:09:26 -0400

My dad (10th Mt. Div. WW2) was commission a 2LT in 1940 and fought in WW2. By 1955 he was a Major. Then the was a big reduction in force (RIF). In order to finish out his 20 years he enlisted. I was to young to know what they were called. He retired as a LTC. During his retirement ceremony some of his enlisted buddies were overheard to say something like, "hey, isn't that LTC up there Dave Arnold?" Apparently most of them didn't know he was an officer in the reserves.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 2 at 2021 1:51 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 13:51:11 -0400

Our S2 NCOIC, was shot up badly in SVN, battlefield promotion- came out as a CPT and no college, took a bust to SSG to stay in, Was an SFC, and once a month, dressed in his O greens- drive down street to the USAR HQ and reported in. Came back in couple of hours, changed uniforms and drove on.

Response by SP5 Edward Chapman made Apr 2 at 2021 8:09 PM

SP5 Edward Chapman — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 20:09:54 -0400

In 1963 I worked for a Major who worked his way down to MSGT. Great guy though.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 2 at 2021 8:31 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 20:31:09 -0400

Sergeant was most often used in the Air Force. Chief if they made it to E9

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Apr 2 at 2021 8:40 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 20:40:46 -0400

During Vietnam, to compensate for a shortage of officers during the build up, select SNCOs were chosen for "temporary" commissions. They competed for promotion with their officer contemporaries, but never became permanent in any commissioned grade. When the RIF occurred after the war, those individuals were offered the opportunity to retire or revert to their "constructive" grade. The "constructive" grade was that grade they would have held had they successfully competed on each promotion board they would have faced with their enlisted contemporaries. Although they retired in their enlisted grade, once they reached their 30th anniversary of their original enlistment, their retired grade was changed to the highest grade they had ever served honorably, i.e. the officer grade they served.
For instance, I served with a Major who had participated in the program. He was a Staff Sergeant when he was appointed a Second Lieutenant. He was selected for, and successfully completed flight school and flew C-130s, then helicopters. When the program ended, he reverted to Master Gunnery Sergeant, served a few years as a C-130 crewman to complete his 30, and retired as a Major.
At the time we called them temporary temporary Lieutenants, Captains or Majors, as was appropriate to the grade they had achieved in competition with their officer contemporaries. Interestingly, although the reversion was difficult for the men, the greatest adjustment problem was with their wives who may have spent their entire marriage as an officer's wife.

Response by 1SG Leon Espe made Apr 3 at 2021 8:03 AM

1SG Leon Espe — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 08:03:51 -0400

All I can remember is RIF (Reduction in Force). I knew a SP5 last named Crew in Germany sometime between 1957 and 1960 who had been a full Colonel during WW2. He was promoted to Brigadier General in the Reserves while he was being retired as an active duty SP5. He wore the star on his collar and the SP5 stripe on his sleeves the day of the retirement ceremony as a joke. I told him I didn't know whether to salute him or kick his ass. He was a good guy.

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Apr 3 at 2021 1:28 PM

SMSgt Bob W. — Sat, 03 Apr 2021 13:28:35 -0400

I can think of many; however, RIF comes to mind.