AST, AKs, and the Wizard of Odds - [cut from] - Comments and Suggestions

**converge** · January 21, 2006, 06:18

I suppose the 'gentleman' part was incorrect as well?

**Deviant Ollam** · January 21, 2006, 06:29

Originally posted by astcell

You think I'm an officer? BWAHAHAHHAA!

i did, actually. i figured you to be in the O-2 or O-3 range... either that or someone who had moved both upwards and sideways into one of the intelligence units (t-shirt). your generally collected and reserved demeanor coupled with the fact that you have a very wide range of knowledge just said "officer" to me. guess the enlisted guys i've known who were of lower rank tend to be more raucous and rowdy... particularly in bars (which is the only location where i've crossed paths with you, both at shmoocon and, well, defcon is basically one gigantic bar, as well.)

**astcell** · January 21, 2006, 07:26

Thank you for the kind words D.O. Ah well in that case I am not a "military" officer, as in O-1 through O-9. I chose the enlisted side of the scale. The bad news is I did not get promoted before because I was not in a unit, but now that I am I may just be able to get E-9 after all.

**Floydr47** · January 21, 2006, 07:42

I made E-5 and the Army asked me to re-up, they told me they would give me a rocker and a $1500.00 bonus...I'm still laughing to this day, funniest thing anybody ever asked me to do.

**Quiet** · January 21, 2006, 07:43

Good luck and stay safe, AST.

**astcell** · January 21, 2006, 08:10

Originally posted by Floydr47

I made E-5 and the Army asked me to re-up, they told me they would give me a rocker and a $1500.00 bonus...I'm still laughing to this day, funniest thing anybody ever asked me to do.

They just offered me a $15,000 bonus to stay here for 6 years. Do the math. It's a buck an hour.

**theprez98** · January 21, 2006, 10:12

Originally posted by astcell

You think I'm an officer? BWAHAHAHHAA!

Hey now, officers aren't all that bad ;-)

**astcell** · January 21, 2006, 15:32

Originally posted by theprez98

Hey now, officers aren't all that bad ;-)

An officer is like a computer programmer who never had a computer.

**theprez98** · January 21, 2006, 17:15

Originally posted by astcell

An officer is like a computer programmer who never had a computer.

Unfortunately, the stereotype exists.

**astcell** · January 21, 2006, 19:06

Originally posted by theprez98

Unfortunately, the stereotype exists.

And is proven daily.

**theprez98** · January 22, 2006, 06:40

Originally posted by astcell

And is proven daily.

I think part of that is by nature of the job: enlisted do most of the work (i.e., manual labor) while officers supervise and/or make decisions. While this overly simplifies the nature of the relationship, it perpetuates the stereotype. It is easy to quantify manual tasks because in essence, work = quantity. On the other hand, supervision and leadership are not easily quantified.

**astcell** · January 22, 2006, 13:19

I shoulda joined the Air Force where the officers do all the work (i.e. fly) and the enlisted run the support chain. Ah, live and learn.

**theprez98** · January 22, 2006, 17:30

Originally posted by astcell

I shoulda joined the Air Force where the officers do all the work (i.e. fly) and the enlisted run the support chain. Ah, live and learn.

As with anything, it depends on the billet.

We lost our two enlisted billets (NROTC unit) so there are only officers left. And there is no shortage of work.