# Hell freezes over, In other news, I became a Staff Sergeant today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 2, 2007, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277 "2007-07-02T21:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/21 "2007-07-03T01:44:07Z")
[QUOTE=JRDelirious] Yes, congratulations are in order on sewing/pinning/Velcroing on the 4 stripes, **SSG Schwartz**. May there be much success at this new career level, your billet is one of huge importance. Now a few more years before you start really worrying about the boards for SFC 😃 … [/QUOTE] Thank you. I can coast for another 2 years. I am thinking about becoming a PLDC or as it is now known WLC Small Group Instructor. I think I can hide out there for a few years. OP by: **levdrakon** > [@](#): > > Congrats! I remember my E-6 board. Glad I don’t have to do that again. > > No slacking now. Start getting ready for ANCOC. I think I am ready for ANCOC. I can out drink my Platoon Sergeant. I can be on time for PT, and I drink 5 cups of coffee a day. What am I missing? **OP by Happy Lendervedder** > [@](#): > > When I first read this, I confused Freedman with Col. Flagg, and I thought “Him?!” Yeah, Col Flagg is almost my mentor. This was my motto: > [@](#): > > Flagg: Don’t play dumb! You’re not as good at it as I am! SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/22 "2007-07-03T01:48:53Z")
Congratulations! _salutes and pops champagne cork_ ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/23 "2007-07-03T01:50:00Z")
[QUOTE=Sgt Schwartz] OP by: **levdrakon** I think I am ready for ANCOC. I can out drink my Platoon Sergeant. I can be on time for PT, and I drink 5 cups of coffee a day. What am I missing? [/QUOTE] Can you disappear for half the work day without anyone knowing what you’re doing yet you always have a perfectly legit excuse? Then you’re gold. Hell, that’s E-8 talent. ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/24 "2007-07-03T01:54:57Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] Can you disappear for half the work day without anyone knowing what you’re doing yet you always have a perfectly legit excuse? Then you’re gold. Hell, that’s E-8 talent. [/QUOTE] Dammit, that is what I was forgetting. I am always present when there is work to be done, but to my credit I leave before it is finished. I need to improve on my ability to make needless appointments that sound important. Such as, I’ll be at JAG. I have an appointment. Thank you, **Kythereia** , and I salute you for your fine taste in the bubbly. SSG Schwartz ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/25 "2007-07-03T02:05:42Z")
[QUOTE=Sgt Schwartz] I think I am ready for ANCOC. I can out drink my Platoon Sergeant. I can be on time for PT, and I drink 5 cups of coffee a day. What am I missing? [SSG Schwartz [/QUOTE] A damn good clerk, they can make a world of difference. “He’s tied up in a meeting. Can I have him return your call?”, He’s out of the office, let me have your number and he’ll get back to you as soon as he returns., “He’s at the C.O.'s office, is this related to that meeting?”. Then the clerk calls you if he/she believes it’s necessary, and a good clerk always _knows_ when it’s necessary, that’s how _they_ get promoted. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/26 "2007-07-03T06:54:29Z")
Congrats, Sgt Schwartz. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/27 "2007-07-03T10:40:10Z")
hooap. Staff Sgt? Doesn’t that mean all the work, none of the pay and in 5 you get a stroke? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/28 "2007-07-03T10:43:45Z")
Congratulations. Enjoy your day! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/29 "2007-07-03T11:52:55Z")
Thanks for the explanation of what you do **Sgt Schwartz**. It sounds like really interesting and vital work. I always liked Major Freedman. From now on, whenever I see him on a M_A_S\*H rerun, I shall think of you. Just think, from now on I picture you lookin’ like [Major Sydney Theodore Freedman](http://www.mash4077.co.uk/other.html). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/30 "2007-07-03T12:41:25Z")
Congrats! (I wanna tack on your promotion, too, dammit…) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/31 "2007-07-03T12:58:59Z")
Congratulations! Do you expect to get a different position now that you’ve got that nifty rocker? I mean, same MOS but with more paperwork and less field or more subordinates or a different unit or whatever… I think your job is very important; I’m being quite stressed at mine and it sure would be nice to have someone I can whine to a bit and who might be able to point me in the right direction to solve the problems. Actually, I’ve had people like that in other jobs - just not in the current one. I sure miss them. So, we finally found out that there _are_ cold nights in Hell 😃 ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/32 "2007-07-03T14:50:44Z")
So, do we call you Sir now? Or are you still gonna work for a living ? ---
**Author:** ![rhythmonly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@rhythmonly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhythmonly)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/33 "2007-07-03T17:46:10Z")
Bravo Zulu!! ---
**Author:** ![SSG\_Schwartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SSG\_Schwartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSG_Schwartz)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277/34 "2007-07-03T20:11:28Z")
Thanks, **Khadaji, NinetyWt, OtakuLoki, and rhythmonly.** > [@](#): > > Origionally posted by: Shecky hooap. > > Staff Sgt? Doesn’t that mean all the work, none of the pay and in 5 you get a stroke? No, I have spent the last 3 years doing more work than I get paid for. I got a stroke already, when my MsSchwartz found out, she stroked me. 😉 > [@](#): > > Origionally posted by: Nava Congratulations! > > Do you expect to get a different position now that you’ve got that nifty rocker? I mean, same MOS but with more paperwork and less field or more subordinates or a different unit or whatever… There is a question about what I can do for a job. I am, on paper, filling the job of an E-5 but my duties are those of an E-6. There is really not an E-6 job for me where I am now. So, the amount of time in the field is still the same. I got two Non-commissioned Officers and a PFC as my subordinates, so I get a higher rank of people to supervise. For really complicated reasons, I can’t go to another unit in the near future. So, I may look for a job elsewhere in the army such as teaching new Soldiers or NCO’s > [@](#): > > OP by: essell So, do we call you Sir now? Or are you still gonna work for a living ? I will never be called Sir. I will work for a living for as long as the Army will try to make me earn my pay. Thanks all, SSG Schwartz [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hell-freezes-over-in-other-news-i-became-a-staff-sergeant-today/410277.md?page=1)