Re: Force sizes-Confusing US ranks

On 22-Mar-02 at 12:22, John Atkinson (johnmatkinson@yahoo.com) wrote:
> 
> --- Scott Case <tgunner@hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > of the E-4 rank... which can either be a specalist,
> > a guy who has the grade 
> > and pay, but hasn't gone to PLDC or the Primary
> > Leadership Development 
> > Course, and so CAN'T be promoted to Sergeant. Not
> > going to PLDC, in peace 
> > time, and being an E-4 means that you are well on
> > your way to becoming a PFC 
> > (private f&*(%^$ civilan) once again ;)
> 
> That's not true.  I've been an E-4 for forever--came
> in the Regular Army that way.  Specialist the whole
> time.  
> 
> Specialist:  Overpaid senior private.  It's almost
> automatic at 26 months of service, but can be given at
> 18 months (with waiver).  Frequently acts as an NCO in
> an E-5 slot, but without the NCO legal authority.
> 
> There are 3 hoops you have to go through to make E5
> Sergeant.
> 
> Promotion Board:  Stand up in Class As and answer a
> bunch of questions.  Pretty stupid, but there's about
> a 75% pass rate and you can retake it
> 
> PLDC:  Primary Leadership Development Course.
> 
> Points:  Arcane system, not given to discussing in
> brevity.  
> 
> Now, you have to have all 3 to permenantly be promoted
> to sergeant.	If you have just the Board, or the board
> and PLDC, you are a Specialist (Promotable).	If you
> have the Board and the points, you can be "Frocked" to
> E-5 which means you get the promotion but it's
> contingent on passing PLDC.  If you flunk PLDC, then
> you not only get busted to SPC, you get to pay back
> the difference between SPC and SGT pay for the time
> you were recieving SGT pay.

Wow, frocked enlisted get paid at their frocked rate in
the Army?  In the Navy you get paid as your pre-frocked
rate until you are officially promoted.  The scary thing
is if you get busted while frocked first they remove the
frocked rank then they bust you.