"No Rank Amongst Lieutenants"

[AZwildcat]

Stumbled across this gem in an email...sounds familiar

Commentary by Col. David Rearick

17th Training Wing vice commander

5/11/2010 - GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE,Texas -- I often have the privilege of talking to groups of young officers and enlisted on a broad range of subjects. The one question I get most often is, "What is the key to a successful Air Force career?" Through the years I have pondered this question over and over in my mind and I have boiled it down to a few simple points. In this article I'll discuss one point aimed at our young officers.

Saluting. I've come to learn over the past couple of years that there is "no rank amongst lieutenants." What does this mean? Some second lieutenants and first lieutenants do not salute one another; nor do they follow other proper customs and courtesies generally shared amongst those of different ranks. You may have seen it I'm sure; second lieutenant and a first lieutenant pass each other on the troop walk without rendering proper courtesies.

So I've asked our young officers, where is this written? The answer I always get is, "it's an unwritten rule." Aha, I completely understand. Actually, I don't get it. How and when did this unwritten rule become standard practice? Who gives us the authority to develop "unwritten rules?" I could ask a million questions regarding this misguided principle shared by our young officers, but I'll get to the meat of my discussion on why it is vitally important for second lieutenants to salute first lieutenants.

1. Okay, Lieutenants, guess who really notices when you don't salute? The enlisted corps. Here's the message you send to the very people you have been charged with leading: "As officers, rules don't apply to us." But woe to the young Airman that fails to salute one of these young officers. The wrath of God will descend upon them like a plague of locusts perpetrated by the same individuals who believe falsely that there is "no rank amongst lieutenants." How does one charged with leading today's Airmen do so when he or she blatantly displays that standards don't apply to them? How does one discipline someone when one fails to meet standards every day right in front of us all?

As a young officer, you are attempting to destroy your credibility by following this "unwritten rule." If you don't believe this, ask a noncommissioned officer what he or she thinks.

2. This isn't just a Goodfellow phenomenon. This "unwritten rule" permeates throughout the Air Force. Go to just about any base and you'll see it's the same. So imagine this. You are a brand new second lieutenant. You arrive at your first base, come across three first lieutenants and proudly salute and render a heartfelt "Good morning, Sir or Ma'am." One first lieutenant grins and says, "You must be new here. Didn't you know there's no rank between lieutenants?" You walk away confused. Immediately your gut sends off warning signals that this is not right. It goes against everything you were taught. But didn't you hear them making fun of you when they thought you were out of earshot? And sure enough, that's when you notice, it's true. There is "no rank amongst lieutenants." Life just got better. No longer are you at the bottom of the officer food chain. Man, it feels great to not have to salute every single lieutenant walking by. You accept this "unwritten rule" and thus you are accepted by all other lieutenants as one of them. You are part of the club.

This is the first crack in your integrity.

"Come on Colonel Rearick," you say. "It's just a salute. It's small stuff. It has nothing to do with integrity."

I look at it this way. This is your first test as an officer. How you respond builds the foundation for how you will lead. When you decide that it is more important to be part of the crowd. When you decide that peer pressure is too great to do the right thing, the thing you know in your gut is right. Well, you've shown to the world, and more importantly to yourself, that you are a leader who is willing to compromise on integrity. What you've shown is you are not a leader at all.

What will be the next big test? Will you do the right thing, or will you succumb to the peer pressure? Every time you compromise your integrity, no matter how small, it becomes easier and easier in the future.

So which one of you second lieutenants is going to lead the fight by saluting first lieutenants? Which one of you is willing to be labeled with unflattering terms, to be pushed aside by your peers simply because you choose to do the right thing?

Which one of you first lieutenants is going to enforce the standard and require a second lieutenant to salute you? This in itself is more difficult than the second lieutenant saluting. You open yourself up to all sorts of ridicule from your peers as "too gung ho, too rigid, and too high on yourself"?

I ask you to look at it this way.

Who amongst you chooses to live by the Air Force's core values?

Who amongst you chooses to show your peers and the enlisted corps that you choose to lead, not follow?

Only you can answer that question.

The days of what's on the outside that matters are over. It is what's in the inside that will carry you through a successful career. You must never bow to the peer pressure when you know what is right.

Saluting is a no brainer. It's an integrity check and it's the first step to a successful Air Force career. Good luck.

Next article, "Club Membership, What's In It For Me? Wrong Question."

Link: https://www.goodfello...sp?id=123204054

[Champ Kind]

Sounds like the kind of commentary I'd expect from the vice wing CC at a base with no flying mission.

Tool.

[Guest Crew Report]

Space and Comm "Wings?"

[nsplayr]

I will counsel any second lieutenant that salutes me that if it happens again I will punch them in the face. It goes without saying, you're a f*cking lieutenant. Jesus.

It's also an unwritten rule not to be gay (not homosexual, that's allowed now, just gay as in like this guy). With all due respect, the good Col. has broken unwritten rule #1.

From the article:

So which one of you second lieutenants is going to lead the fight by saluting first lieutenants? Which one of you is willing to be labeled with unflattering terms, to be pushed aside by your peers simply because you choose to do the right thing?

Which one of you 2Lts is ready for the fast-track to command? Do you solemnly swear to increase queep at every opportunity? Will you vow to totally lose focus on the actual mission after 6-9 exec/staff/school assignments? Are you prepared to be promoted BTZ?

And in his thrilling next article he's gonna push club membership? Give me a f-ing break sir, with all due respect of course...

Time for bed...so angry...

Edited May 31, 2011 by nsplayr

[Spoo]

Next article, "Club Membership, What's In It For Me? Wrong Question."

You've got to be fist-fucking me.

[StoleIt]

This guy will be a SHOE in for the next ASBC commander.

[Lawman]

What a ######ing Rube....

He'd probably be that guy that looses his shit in the Army because Warrant Officers dont salute other Warrant Officers anywhere but at Ft Rucker (TRADOC). He'd probably also be that guy that stops a Marine Warrant officer as a 2ndLt to tell that 20+ year Officer and Expert in his field that he is supposed to salute him, shortly before being Eviscerated by said WO because it is an unspoken rule in the Corps, "Bars dont salute other Bars."

###### me whats he gonna want next, E-1s standing at Parade rest when addressing E-4's in an office or better yet field environment.

Ill bet this guy was on whatever sewing circle brainstorming session that came up with the idea of different colored reflective belts for different ranks so we (and any observing enemy) can easily identify who the senior leadership is and render them honors as we walk too and from the latrine.

[Rokke]

Hmmmmmmm.....

[PSYCH]

I REALLY try not to get caught up in the queep that ensues at other bases or more importantly the medals that a guy wears on his chest. However, those medals do tell a little bit of a story. I see that he has a bronze star (copy, deployed sq/cc)--I'm thinking a tour at the 'Deid. But the most disturbing to me is the "Air Force Outstanding Unit Award" that he has 6 oak leaf clusters for. Now I'm not a very smart guy but the little device he is wearing beside that I have usually only seen on DFC's and MOH's and it usually represents valor. I could be mistaken and it could mean something else in this case---but if not---what the ######?

[BQZip01]

Hmmmmmmm.....

"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent" Quigon to Jar Jar Binks in Episode 1.

I REALLY try not to get caught up in the queep that ensues at other bases or more importantly the medals that a guy wears on his chest. However, those medals do tell a little bit of a story. I see that he has a bronze star (copy, deployed sq/cc)--I'm thinking a tour at the 'Deid. But the most disturbing to me is the "Air Force Outstanding Unit Award" that he has 6 oak leaf clusters for. Now I'm not a very smart guy but the little device he is wearing beside that I have usually only seen on DFC's and MOH's and it usually represents valor. I could be mistaken and it could mean something else in this case---but if not---what the ######?

Actually, it IS a V device and is perfectly applicable. I can also guarantee you that you have NOT seen it on DFCs and MOH's (at least those worn correctly). Those awards are, by definition, "with Valor". Bronze Stars can be given without Valor for leadership in a combat environment, but can also be given for valorous actions.

[Hacker]

I can also guarantee you that you have NOT seen it on DFCs and MOH's (at least those worn correctly). Those awards are, by definition, "with Valor".

Might as well pay up now, then.

There ARE DFCs for merit.

There ARE DFCs for heroism that do not have a V device (although a 2004-ish CSAF memo retroactively authorized these to have a V device).

There ARE DFCs for valor that have a V device.

[VFR800]

This guy will be a SHOE in for the next ASBC commander.

Well played, sir. Couldn't let this one go unnoticed...

[PSYCH]

"Actually, it IS a V device and is perfectly applicable. I can also guarantee you that you have NOT seen it on DFCs and MOH's (at least those worn correctly). Those awards are, by definition, "with Valor". Bronze Stars can be given without Valor for leadership in a combat environment, but can also be given for valorous actions.

https://www.airforce-magazine.com/DRArchive/Pages/2008/July%202008/July%2021%202008/AirmanReceivesDFCwithValor.aspx

BQ--You are part of the reason why I never post on here. This wasn't a pissing match on what pilot earned a DFC with valor but more of a question of what that O-6 did specifically to earn a medal in which he demonstrated valor.

[M2]

BQ--You are part of the reason why I never post on here. This wasn't a pissing match on what pilot earned a DFC with valor but more of a question of what that O-6 did specifically to earn a medal in which he demonstrated valor.

Well, if you want to get pissy about it, it's an award and not a medal. It's what the organization did during his time there, not so much him specifically.

And if you're that bi-curious as to why he has it, you can read his bio here and find out where he was when it was awarded. Since he has a Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze star and an Iraqi Campaign Medal with bronze star, that'd be my first guess.

[Whitty]

As a young officer, you are attempting to destroy your credibility by following this "unwritten rule." If you don't believe this, ask a noncommissioned officer what he or she thinks.

We aren't seeking validation or permission.

[nsplayr]

If the distinction between 2Lt and 1Lt is so important why does my ID card just say LT? Maybe we should start a war on ID cards so we're not losing credibility with the enlisted force every time we roll through the gate /sarcasm

[pawnman]

Wow...he'd be really upset if he spent 10 minutes watching the parking lot outside our squadron. Not only do LTs not salute other LTs, they also don't salute Capts. And most of the Capts don't salute most of the Majs either.

[Hacker]

Now I'm not a very smart guy but the little device he is wearing beside that I have usually only seen on DFC's and MOH's and it usually represents valor. I could be mistaken and it could mean something else in this case---but if not---what the ######?

Just to set this straight, all it means is that he was assigned to a unit which received an AFOUA with Valor.

Everyone who was at Al Udeid for the opening shots of OIF in spring '03 was awarded this -- they did not have to see any enemy action to wear it, since it was the Wing that it was awarded to.

There's nothing deceptive or disingenuous in any way about his wearing of it.

[zrooster99]

You know, my Dad was the first person to tell me rank among LTs is like virtue among whores. Where/when did HE pick it up? In the late '60s as a 1Lt/Capt in the Army in Vietnam. This shit was around before that O-6 was in dipers.

Edited May 31, 2011 by zrooster99

[BQZip01]

Might as well pay up now, then.

There ARE DFCs for merit.

There ARE DFCs for heroism that do not have a V device (although a 2004-ish CSAF memo retroactively authorized these to have a V device).

There ARE DFCs for valor that have a V device.

I stand corrected. I made a mistake and was thinking of the Air Force Cross.

[AZwildcat]

Apparently it can't be a tradition if it's not written in an AFI

If the distinction between 2Lt and 1Lt is so important why does my ID card just say LT? Maybe we should start a war on ID cards so we're not losing credibility with the enlisted force every time we roll through the gate /sarcasm

"Ohhh sweet glaaaviinnn, he's right, the ID cards do only say LT! How do we know who is what???!!!"

[SocialD]

You've got to be fist-######ing me.

2!

Have yet to join! the club!

[HuggyU2]

Not only do LTs not salute other LTs, they also don't salute Capts. And most of the Capts don't salute most of the Majs either.

Why is that?

[Snirifle]

Why is that?

Because there are no requirements to get promoted from 2 Lt-1Lt-Capt

Are you showing respect for their "earned" position or just for the fact that they havent had a DUI or raped anyone since getting in? Just like in the squadrons where the top performer may not be the top guy if he hasnt passed the PT test but the 95% PT avg with 2 Q-3's will still get promoted, so will the shoe clerk christmas oh wait holiday party POC. It seems like rank is more of a statement of the year you've graduated through Capt than a sign of your accomplishments and abilities (and level of responsibility) nowadays. Ok 6 am rant off...

[pawnman]

Why is that?

Because the unwritten rule in the flying squadrons I've been a part of is "one-up, one-down". Plus, as flyers, we value tactical knowledge and skill in the jet over rank earned because you've been in for x number of years. As well, many of the Capts have instructed the Majs who are returning from ALFA tours.f