Army ROTC 2009 - CSM Jeffrey J. Mellinger Part 1 of 5

[lvrpatriot01]

yea. technologically the command sgt has to listen to a 2nd lt. in a perfect world of course.. but if a 2nd lt had the balls to do so the sgt major would probally tell the officer to go f him/herself

[HuasoPodrido]

What is it with the butter bar remarks, any soldier that has gone through OCS / West Point and graduated is worthy of the bars on his/her shoulders. As a former NCO I appreciated the experience of being able to further mature the young officer into the leader of tomorrow. I never had a 2nd lieutenant be anything but an eager student and some one deserving of respect.

[doubleestark]

How many of these newly commissioning officers think in their back of their minds how they have upon receiving their butter bar that they are already higher than the sergeant major, who is an enlisted man?

[lancerglx82]

Butter bars (2nd Lieutenants) are technically higher than any NCO and all NCOs must salute him/her out of respect for his rank and commission. However experience-wise, any NCO beats a butter bar hands down. A new officer who wants to pull rank with a senior NCO had better think twice or else his officer career is gonna go downhill. It's all about giving and receiving respect..