Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Rank Wars

Hello everyone! I had a totally different post planned for today but after what happened I decided to post about a topic that I'm sure that everyone can relate to. In every job there are supervisor's, entry level workers and so forth. I def agree that promotions should be given when deserved and everyone should work up the ranks. I def wouldn't take anyone's job title or rank away from them. And regarding my hubby's career I always feel a sense of pride when he gets promoted and I must admit the extra money in his pay check doesn't hurt either!!But I never discuss it with others nor do I make an issue out of it. All my friends have hubby's of different ranks than mine and I could care less! What bother's me however is people who wear their rank or the spouse's who wear their hubby's ranks.

As I've mentioned before I worked at the police dept in my hometown before moving to NC. I have many family member's who are officer's and I also wanted to be a cop at one time. When I graduated with my degree in criminal justice the police dept wasn't hiring officer's so I took a job as a office assistant. There were many day's I would be addressed as clerk. Not my name but clerk. However if I were to address a Detective by something other than Detective they would flip out. NOt all of them but many. And I'm talking people I had worked with for 2 years. So my pet peeve of those with rank disrespecting those below them per say started then

So back to today. I went to a meeting for the spouse's of my hubby's unit. I should mention M's unit doesn't have a FRG so I don't know any spouses. I also don't know any of the guys he is deployed with.His unit deploys so frequently so there isn't much time between deployments for get togethers and stuff. At this meeting I was excited to meet many spouses. The first three spouse's I went up to all introduced me as this.. Hi, I'm Sgt First Class Smith's wife. No mention of their name or anything. Since I don't know Sgt First Class Smith that didn't help me in putting a face with a name. And they would leave it like that. I just introduced myself as Katie F and walked away

Then today as I was driving to my last client's house I was cut off by an officer in the army. I was working in the off post post housing and there was a long line of cars entering into the housing development. Well this guy decides to cut me off. Now I could clearly see his rank as I had passed him earlier. I'm sure he could see how irritated I was from his rearview mirror but I didn't care. Then he gets up to the MP checking id's and decides to have a long conversation with him. Never mind the fact that he was holding up the entire line or that I was now a half hour late to work. After he finally puts his car into gear he slowly pulls out all the while starting out his window at me. It took all of my nerve to not shout out I don't care what rank you are asshole, You made me a half hour late for work.

But I restrained myself and drove into the development. It's just things like that that irritate me because at the end of the day no matter what rank you are. any deploying solider is leaving behind their families and friends to deploy and when they are over in Afghanistan or Iraq they are all defending their freedom. So yes, they all might have a different job to do or have a different rank from their fellow soldiers, some may be giving order's and some may be receiving order's but at the end of the day they are all fighting for the USA and I don't think rank makes you better than someone else. Especially when wives wear rank when they shouldn't!

So sorry to vent just a little irritated today lol.Hope I didn't offend anyone
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11 comments:

  1. I undertsand how you feel. People are fanatical about in the army and I could not care less!

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  2. So far the only "rank war" I've gotten into has been with me and SoldierMan - just because he has a rank and I don't doesn't mean he outranks me! ;) We're still working on that.

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  3. I totally agree! A few weeks ago my husband and I were at the gym on base, I had been using this leg curl and realized it was breaking. My husband went and told them at the desk and we continued using it for a bit longer to finish. As we were walking away from it this guy was going to it and my husband said "you may not want to use that it's broken, I just told the front desk" the guys response "its okay i'm a senior chief" he acted as if because he's higher rank he's invinsable or something. The look my husband gave him was pretty funny!
    I can understand being excited knowing you spent years working your butt off getting to that position. But then acting like you're way better than anyone else is just plain old annoying and rude!

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  4. WOW!!! It is amazing how people act just because of rank! Like you said it doesn't matter what rank they are, they are all working towards the same mission! Some people need to get over themselves. I'm sorry you were treated that way, it's ridiculous.

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  5. I don't get it either. Just bc your husband is an officer or whatever, does that really mean that you don't have a name? I'm sorry, is this 1950? I though it was 2010! And I'm pretty sure she didn't earn HIS rank. Good grief! I'd NEVER introduce myself as SPC Kilbreth's Wife. Ever. What is wrong with people?

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  6. OMG! Thats crazy! I know that im new to all this Army Wife stuff, but even I know that I dont define myself by what my husband's job is... If I did that I would be very unhappy with myself because I would always be trying to keep up with a hero! lol ;) jkjk But in all seriousness- I would be really un-happy while he is gone because I would have nothing else that defines ME. All this rank stuff baffles me! Im sure ill understand more in a few years. ;)

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  7. Wow...that is ridiculous! Especially the wives thing...don't you think they would like to meet other wives. I am sorry I am not going to remember your 5 word rank, first names will do...jeesh!

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  8. When I introduce myself I usually say I'm "Rank Name's" Wife, but I do that so they know who I mean. But we know each other pretty well since its a reserve unit and there really are no other military families here. As for wearing the rank, I have a tattoo of my soldier's rank but I got it because it was such an important milestone in his life when he got that rank lol. I'd def never try to act like that even matters

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  9. I notice this a lot - women that go out of their way to say their husband is an officer/NCO or mention his rank. I know they'll argue that they are proud of their husbands and why can't they say that if they're proud? There's no reason to not be proud BUT why purposefully mention your husbands rank (of all things) when it's really not pertinent to WHO YOU ARE?!?! We are all more than the wife of a man with a certain rank! (And I'm sure our husbands would love to be described in better ways than what he wears on his pay grade.)

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  10. People are weird. I would have just asked, "Do you have name?" LOL..okay that would probably come out sarcastic. I never understood it either. I am very happy to be my own person that happens to be married. Oh well, it takes all kinds.

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