# What military branches are represented on the SD? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 14, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118 "2007-02-14T00:51:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/41 "2007-02-14T20:19:41Z")
Spec 4. US Army, 1984-87, 15E (Pershing Missile Crewmember). Stationed at a NATO base in (formerly) West Germany and then at a Mechanized Infantry unit in Fort Sill, OK. ---
**Author:** ![giant\_freakin\_marine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc348/32.png) [@giant\_freakin\_marine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/giant_freakin_marine)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/42 "2007-02-15T02:15:27Z")
USMC 1970-1976 one shot… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/43 "2007-02-15T02:43:48Z")
[QUOTE=erie774] Spec 4. US Army, 1984-87, [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t that be SP4 1984-1985 & SPC 1985-1987? 😉 FTR, I think it’s totally bogus of the US Army to have an E4 rank that’s not NCO. Those Specialists have some seriously hard jobs and that includes a major dose of leadership as part of the job! ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/44 "2007-02-15T04:16:12Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] Wouldn’t that be SP4 1984-1985 & SPC 1985-1987? 😉 FTR, I think it’s totally bogus of the US Army to have an E4 rank that’s not NCO. Those Specialists have some seriously hard jobs and that includes a major dose of leadership as part of the job! [/QUOTE] Nope. E1 through E3 while in Germany then when I got sent to the states I was promoted to E4. There weren’t enough slots for 15E in Fort Sill so I got placed with the mechanized infantry unit. I was put in the headquarters where I was in the training office. I got to ride in APCs, tanks, fire mortars and LAWs plus blow up C4 and claymores. It was fucking great! ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/45 "2007-02-15T04:46:33Z")
Major (0-4), USAF, 1980-1987, Medical Corps ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/46 "2007-02-15T04:58:50Z")
erie, I was referring to the fact that as of 1 October 1985, SP5 & SP6 ceased to exist and thus the abbreviation for Specialist (at the E-4 paygrad) changed to SPC. And yet another gripe I have with the Army’s treating Specialists different from Corporals: one is promoted to Corporal; however, one is advanced to Specialist. Total malarkey and doesn’t recognize the facts on the ground. ---
**Author:** ![dbuzman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de0a6/32.png) [@dbuzman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbuzman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/47 "2007-02-15T08:30:21Z")
USN (RM2) 1985 - 1995. Was a CTO til E4 than had to switch rates to RM in case anyone wonders why I didn’t get above E5 in 10 years. All shore duty stations except last 2 years aboard USS Lake Erie CG70 (plank owner). ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/48 "2007-02-15T09:13:12Z")
So that’s everybody but me is/was in the armed forces of one country or another? 😛 I’m itching to think of a GQ question to bring you all out of the shadows and have you tell us some interesting stories 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/49 "2007-02-15T09:30:39Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] Bit of a mistake there, though - the Private First Class rank was either abolished or is simply being ignored (knowing the IDF, probably the latter). [/quote] I’m pretty sure it **is** the latter – PFC (“Turai Rishon” ( טוראי ראשון ) ) is still on the books, I believe. > [@](#): > > Incidentally, as I was promoted last year, I’m supposed to get a set of the new SFC epulettes, which I will never wear (reservist enlisted don’t wear insignia of any sort). Mazal-tov! 🙂 And since we **are** doing furriners here: IAF (Israeli Air Force) 1985-1993, regular, reached rank of Major. IAF 1993-present, reserves, Major ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/50 "2007-02-15T10:38:16Z")
US Navy. 1968 - 1972 EM3 Guantanamo Bay USS Harry E. Yarnell DLG -17 BTW: For all you vets looking for old military buddies a good website is [www.military.com](http://www.military.com). (all branches) And for Navy: [www.tincansailors.com](http://www.tincansailors.com) ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/51 "2007-02-15T12:50:42Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] FTR, I think it’s totally bogus of the US Army to have an E4 rank that’s not NCO. Those Specialists have some seriously hard jobs and that includes a major dose of leadership as part of the job! [/QUOTE] Not really. I was a SP4 in the last half of my Army stint, and edited the command info newspaper. My promotion was based on time in service, time in rank. It was a pay raise, really, and not much more. ---
**Author:** ![Kyyrewyyoae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Kyyrewyyoae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyyrewyyoae)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/52 "2007-02-15T14:13:53Z")
Sgt, USMC 1999-2004. MOS 2676 I’m still on the IRR until July 2007. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/53 "2007-02-15T14:24:41Z")
Did all the Air Force types fly or did anyone sit in any bunkers waiting to turn keys? ---
**Author:** ![Kyyrewyyoae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Kyyrewyyoae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyyrewyyoae)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/54 "2007-02-15T14:50:28Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] FTR, I think it’s totally bogus of the US Army to have an E4 rank that’s not NCO. Those Specialists have some seriously hard jobs and that includes a major dose of leadership as part of the job! [/QUOTE] I didn’t understand this either, but at least it worked in my favor. If the billet of aisle supe (or any other leadership position) was up for grabs, **Cpl Kyyrewyyoae** had a decided advantage over SPC Attitude and SrA Chubby, even if one of those two had seniority in the mission or more time in grade. All are E-4’s but a Cpl in the Corps is an NCO. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/55 "2007-02-15T15:07:31Z")
OS2, U.S. Navy, 1993-1998. USS Monterey and Tactical Support Center, Sigonella, Sicily. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/56 "2007-02-15T15:58:48Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] erie, I was referring to the fact that as of 1 October 1985, SP5 & SP6 ceased to exist and thus the abbreviation for Specialist (at the E-4 paygrad) changed to SPC. And yet another gripe I have with the Army’s treating Specialists different from Corporals: one is promoted to Corporal; however, one is advanced to Specialist. Total malarkey and doesn’t recognize the facts on the ground. [/QUOTE] I know but we (my similarly afflicted buddies and I) still called it Spec4. SPC stood for “Stupid: Pretend Corporal.” It was the most ridiculous thing to be surrounded by chevrons and be stuck with a flower petal on my collar. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/57 "2007-02-15T19:44:17Z")
Submarine officer, USN, 1991-2002 (active duty). Lieutenant Commander, USNR, 2002-present (IRR). (Haven’t got around to resigning my commission.) I guess I’m one of the over-represented former submariners on the SDMB. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/58 "2007-02-15T20:01:08Z")
[QUOTE=robby] Submarine officer, USN, 1991-2002 (active duty). Lieutenant Commander, USNR, 2002-present (IRR). (Haven’t got around to resigning my commission.) I guess I’m one of the over-represented former submariners on the SDMB. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Which subs? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/59 "2007-02-15T23:17:10Z")
[QUOTE=Pushkin] Did all the Air Force types fly or did anyone sit in any bunkers waiting to turn keys? [/QUOTE] I am a flyer, yes. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118/60 "2007-02-15T23:20:24Z")
Naval Flight Officer, LCDR (O-4), 1994-present. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-military-branches-are-represented-on-the-sd/392118.md?page=4)