Promoted

[JALU3]

Looked on the AR PERSCOM site at my records last night.

Apparently I was promoted to PFC on 22DEC02.

I still haven't recieved official orders, but hey, congrats to me.

So do you all think I should add a rocker to my sig?

[Sea Tyger]

Grats, PFC Uden!

Yer still a booter ta me, sunshine!

[Cmdr Powers]

Congratulations, JALU3!

I never had any doubt.

[Captain Leana Craig]

Just out of interest, does being promoted to PFC confer any extra benefits or responsibilities? Or is it just a pat on the back for not shooting yourself (or others) in the foot.

Or is it similar to the British system of a newly minted second lieutenant (1 pip) being automatically promoted to lieutenant (2 pips) after a year in grade.

[Ineti]

Congrats, JALU3! Do the lower ranks get to call you "sir" now?

[Sea Tyger]

Originally posted by Captain Leana Craig
Just out of interest, does being promoted to PFC confer any extra benefits or responsibilities? Or is it just a pat on the back for not shooting yourself (or others) in the foot.

Or is it similar to the British system of a newly minted second lieutenant (1 pip) being automatically promoted to lieutenant (2 pips) after a year in grade.

Now, I'm a Navy guy, so there are differences in the system between what I know and what is exactly going on over there in the Army Reserve.

PFC (Private, First Class) is the third rank in seniority in the enlisted ranks. The Army has two levels of Private. Almost everyone starts out at the lower private rank, and then, if you don't shoot yourself or anyone else in the foot, you usually get your first chevron at some point after 9 months in the service (at least it's 9 monts in the Navy from E-1 to E-2).

The second promotion (PFC in the Army) is a little more difficult to achieve, because you're actually required to know some stuff (depending on your specialty) before you can get promoted. You also have to wait 6 months after your last promotion (again, that's how it works in the Navy, the exact minimum time between promotions may be different with the Army).

Of course, JALU's next step is Specialist (which used to be called Corporal, but that's been turned into primarily an infantry rank), which he's up for in 9 months, if it's close to the Navy sched?

[Greg Smith]

Congratulations JALU.

[Dan Gurden]

Originally posted by Sea Tyger

The second promotion (PFC in the Army) is a little more difficult to achieve, because you're actually required to know some stuff (depending on your specialty) before you can get promoted. You also have to wait 6 months after your last promotion (again, that's how it works in the Navy, the exact minimum time between promotions may be different with the Army).

So if I read this right, and the Army/Navy differences are about the same...

PFC is about the same as our Corpral/Lance-Corpral grades?

Is that right?

[Sea Tyger]

Actually, we have quite a few more enlisted grades than the Brits do. IIRC, all you have is:

Private
Lance Corporal
Corporal
Sergeant
(Colour Sergeant...is that still active, or is it a positional rating?)
Sergeant Major

Or something to that general effect.

The US Army has:
Private (E-1)
Private (E-2)
Private 1st Class
Specialist (Corporal)
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Sergeant 1st Class
Master Sergeant
Sergeant Major

So, I would say that yes, PFC is probably equivalent to your Lance Corporal, and our Specialist/Corporal is equivalent to your Corporal. From there, it appears we have a number of sergeant ranks interposed between your Sergeant and Sergeant Major.

[Sarge]

Good for you, JALU3. Now gimme twenty.

[Phantom]

Originally posted by Sea Tyger
Actually, we have quite a few more enlisted grades than the Brits do. IIRC, all you have is:

Private
Lance Corporal
Corporal
Sergeant
(Colour Sergeant...is that still active, or is it a positional rating?)
Sergeant Major

Or something to that general effect.

Its been awhile since I checked, but I believe the British Army uses a similar system we use in Canada;
Private
Corporal
Sgt.
Staff Sgt.
CSM
RSM

Then you have Warrent Ranks.

The Brits might still use the rank of Lance Corp. not sure if so then it puts a rank inbetween Private and Corp.

[Kaiddin]

http://www.geocities.com/ph_armstron...a/CDNRAnks.htm

Trust me I deal with a lot of Master Corporals.

[Cybrludite]

With the USMC, it's a bit different than the Army. Enlisted ranks are:

Private
PFC
Lance Corporal
Corporal
Sgt.
Sgt First Class
Gunnery Sgt
Master Sgt/First Sgt
Master Gunnery Sgt/Sgt Major
Sgt Major of The Marine Corps

The 1st Sgt and Sgt. Major are the highest ranked enlisted in a unit. (IIRC, 1st Sgt is at Company & Battalion levels, and Sgt. Major for larger units, but you might want to ask someone who was in longer than I was...) The Sgt Major of The Marine Corps is the senior enlisted Marine in the Corps. It is possible to come out of Marine boot camp at a higher rank than Private due to meritorious promotions. I was garunteed to be a PFC due to having some college with a high GPA. You could Also get that for recruiting a bunch of your friends, being the best shot in your training platoon, or showing leadership consistantly during training. The highest you could come out of bootcamp as was a Lance Corporal. No instant NCOs...