Who is the highest Military Rank and Pay grade?

In 1996, while I was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Navy played Cal in the Aloha Bowl.

We were on the beach in Waikiki when some snot nosed Midshipmen tried to give our group grief. Talking like that already had their commissions, but certainly not acting like it.

A buddy of mine flipped one of them a quarter and said, "Call your Mom and tell her you met a real sailor."

That p|ssed off the midshipmen, but there wasn't a whole lot they could do about it.

I did have the pleasure of working with some very bright and thoughtful midshipmen in my time though.

Jeff in Flagstaff

 

^^ Thats hilarious.

 

The officer pay scale doesn't include them because they are on a cadet pay scale which resides between the O and E scales...and really the pay scale isn't the important part...The order of precedence is.

Here is some Army policy ( http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_20.pdf ) that CLEARLY shows cadets on a list of precedence higher than enlisted members. Later in that pub is puts cadets after WOs but before NCOs for temporary command.
I don't have access to great internet right now, so I can't pull all the service directives and related law, but this isn't just an Army policy.

The authority to command is usually withheld completely with special exceptions given via local commanders thru qualification, OJT, or emergent circumstances.

And I've said it before - SMART cadet won't tell any enlisted member that they are the senior person, much like a smart officer won't and shouldn't need to. The Middie in the Pearl story was a moron and likely would have been told so if he reported the incident.

 

LMAO!! ya something like that.

 

Thank you I appreciate the information.


I understand Army policy as well as Marines who have similar policy in regards to Cadets, but also have entirely different military structures from the CG. I however have not read CG policy that mirrors or even approaches Cadet rank structure (not to say it is not policy, I am confident there is instruction on it, I have not read it).


My intent was not to discredit nor cause debate, if it was taken that way I apologize. how I interpreted your comment though was to say that a Cadet will report to a tad unit in a role as an officer (much the same as an ensign or JG), which is not necessarily true.

 

Not sure how the military structure of the Army/Marines is that different from the CG. The titles are different, but the pay scales and laws behind them and federal and apply equally to all the armed services. You'll notice that Army policy places Navy middies in the same place as Army cadets...and the Navy and CG are very closely mirrored.

And you are right - They report as a cadet for training based on their cadet rank...For more senior cadets that will be positions that mirror the JOs and the more junior cadets will tend towards the non-rate/PO life. They are all senior to the enlisted crew in the strict order of things, but again...A cadet that makes a big deal out of that or tries to run the show will likely get a talking to. And even if presented an opportunity where a cadet would be "in charge" they would be sorely mistaken to disregard the council of the enlisted crew...Just like any CO or Supervisor.

And I just post this info to ensure none of the young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, or Coasties on the board get bad gouge that leads them to bad decisions.

 

I agree entirely that (And I just post this info to ensure none of the young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, or Coasties on the board get bad gouge that leads them to bad decisions.) is the most important!

 

Until they formally put on their bars, they hold no rank. Their pay category is also listed as 'special' as they hold no formal paygrade.

But that's how I feel about it.

 

I cannot find any instruction but in naval aviation midshipmen at rag (training squadrons) are considered special ranks and even an E-1 is higher on the command then a midshipmen. They are at Training squadrons to get on the job training from the enlisted instructors and LT instructors. The navy policy may be different but that's how naval aviation treats midshipmen and cadets for this reason.
I did 4 years of ROTC that is my source and I have worked with 7 rag squadrons all using the same instruction to train midshipmen in between classes where they get to go out to their field for OJT that is the naval aviation SOP. The navy and army policy are separate documents.

 

Okay....I've explained it. Believe and do what you please.

 

Jeez. When I joined there was about a 5 sec turn around time from putting your name on the MK list, to going. Can you not strike it anymore?
I believe HS and PA were the only two rates that had over a year wait. Seemed like they were cutting the numbers as I happily got out. Sounds like they've really thinned the ranks.

 

Alked with a guy last night....Been on his cutter 3 years waiting for HS. Leaves for school in Feb...

 

Can't strike many rates anymore. Have you seen the new prays?!?! Times are definitely changing!!

 

Lol, yes I meant prac's. D?#! autocorrect

 

Looks like I'm senior.... E9 Active... BMCM

 

O6 - AF Retired - 2010
28 years (F-4s, Trainers, JTAC (AF Airborne living & providing air support w/ Army - 172SIB, 75th Ranger Rgt, 18ABN, 3Corps) plus required staff qweep).

Got my Tacoma 03 after being deployed in AFG w/ the Regiment and seeing Tacomas taking a beating over there and keep going. Some of the special operators we worked with had their own Tacomas.
Good thing about deploying a few times, Less miles on a 10yr old truck.

 

I'm just a lowly LT, O-2 in the Texas Guard haha

 

Active duty USAF E-7, 18 years this summer. This is my ride...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5JbOizelGM