What Was Your Rank

USAF from 83 to 91. When I flunked spectacularly out of navigator training, I found out the often repeated threat to make me a cop and send me to Minot was no joke.

Got out as a Captain when it was abundantly clear I wasn't Major material. I had a great time and it set me up for the best job in the world.
 
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Thank you all for your service.

I'm kinda really interested in all those "mavericks" that started out as enlisted, and made it to officer country. Does that happen today?
Yes. I was a Chief Photographer's Mate (E-7), Limited Duty Officer (Photography) Lieutenant (O-3), and Chief Photographer (W-4), and, of course, a few of the lower ranks on the way up.
 
MM E-4

After basic I went to MM A school in great lakes promoted to
E-3 upon graduation all within six months of duty, little over a year later E-4 then graduated to civilian. Wish I stayed but I had a little 7 pound surprise at home. I was part of the deferred enlistment joined at 18 still in high school, out by 21
 
USAF from 83 to 91. When I flunked spectacularly out of navigator training, I found out the often repeated threat to make me a cop and send me to Minot was no joke.

Got out as a Captain when it was abundantly clear I wasn't Major material. I had a great time and it set me up for the best job in the world.
Why not Minot! my son served there, Siberia ,in the US
 
Tank company First Sergeant, US Army 20 years, 2 months and 16 days. Spanned the era from gas burning M48A2C's to the M1. A couple trips to RVN, three to Germany with Forts Knox, Campbell, Bliss, Hood, McCoy mixed in along the way.

"Best job I ever had!"
 

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Navy... E-5/HM2
8404 Field Medic w 1st MarDiv, then 8409 Aerospace Physiology @ PMTC Pt Mugu.

If I'd have stayed in another tour, I could have gone to PA school and Mustanged, but decided to stay a Paramedic and got recruited into the Fire Service. I've never regretted my decision to go Fire/Rescue.
 
Lowly A1C, E4

Three years three hundred and sixty four days is what was required to complete my active obligation. Heavy Ground Radar Tech. 1 May,1961-- 29 April 1965. Not that anyone cares but this was the deciding factor, I was still pulling KP as an E-4 and they asked if I wanted to Re-Up!

No, E-4 wasn't a Sergeant back then!
 
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In the Navy, and probably in the Marine Corps, a Limited Duty Officer is a line officer (usually) whose duties are normally limited to a particular field. An LDO can be assigned wherever the Navy needs him, unlike, I believe, a Restricted Duty Officer, about whom I know very little, if they even still exist. LDO's are selected from E-6, E-7 or Warrant Officer candidates.
 
1SG (First Sergeant) E-8

U.S. Army, 1984 to 2011. 27 years. Infantry and Engineers.

24th ID, 82nd Airborne Division(Twice), 45th Support Group, 20th Engineer Brigade(Airborne), USAREC, HRC, 911th Technical Rescue Engineer Company.

First Gulf War, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq.
 
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I'm kinda really interested in all those "mavericks" that started out as enlisted, and made it to officer country. Does that happen today?

In the early '60's I was attached to the staff of a Rear Admiral
that had started his career as a E-3 Radioman Striker.
 
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