Do military officers think they are superior to enlisted soldiers? Do they treat them like scum?

Question

I've met enlisted people who have their Masters in various disciplines. I've met officers who have a BA in History, Literature, Philosophy, and Political Science...with admittedly poor grades. The military encourages officers to behave in a superior manner to enlisted. I was in the military as an enlisted man. It was the most demeaning experience of my life. I would never return to it. I remember going to sick call for strep throat, in serious pain, and having to wait for the doctors to put a band-aid on a reserve Air Guard Lieutenant's hand..who came in after I did. All I wanted was something for the pain. I was given nothing. The military was a totally humiliating experience and I discourage any young person from enlisting in the military. Does the military treat enlisted like scum and treat officers like royalty? The Army is the worst, I understand, and the Air Force is best as far as treatment of enlisted personnel. So, I can understand if opinions are a little skewed.

Old Smokey. I am 43. I have been out of the military for 15 years. I doubt if I have much growing up left to do. I realize that there are good officers and bad. I attended a military academy for two years. It was constantly hammered into our heads that we are not enlisted, that we are better than enlisted. That is the brainwashing that goes on in academies. I excelled academically and physically, but decided that I didn't want to be a member of a bunch of pretentious buffoons that chose the military because only there would they de facto respect. The military is different from civilian occupations because if you do not respect your boss in your civilian occupation, you can always opt to quit. If you do not respect your boss in the military, you cannot quit, you have to pretent to repect him or her or go to jail.

Old Smokey. I am 43. I have been out of the military for 15 years. I doubt if I have much growing up left to do. I realize that there are good officers and bad. I attended a military academy for two years. It was constantly hammered into our heads that we are not enlisted, that we are better than enlisted. That is the brainwashing that goes on in academies. I excelled academically and physically, but decided that I didn't want to be a member of a bunch of pretentious buffoons that chose the military because only there would they receive de facto respect. The military is different from civilian occupations because if you do not respect your boss in your civilian occupation, you can always opt to quit. If you do not respect your boss in the military, you cannot quit, you have to pretent to repect him or her or go to jail.

Answer 1

In my experience, this is not true. All the officers I knew were mature and evenhanded.

Answer 2

It sounds like you had some bad officers. There's also the possibility you had a chip on your shoulder and may have brought some of that on yourself. As regards your sick call experience, I, as a physician and field-grade officer, bounced myself off an x-ray for a higher priority routine film (no injury or illness) for a dog, per protocol, so you really don't have a gripe there, just a lack of understanding.
I bet those enlisted men with masters degrees are NCO's that have the respect of their officers. If you were paying attention while you were in the service, you might have noticed that the NCO's are the backbone of any military, and the vast majority of the officer corps are very much aware of that fact, though it sometimes takes the butterbars a little while to learn (along with everything else they have to learn) but even if you don't have respect for the LT, you should have respect for the uniform and rank.

Answer 3

In the military, enlisted people are expendable. Back in Civil War times, they were called "cannon fodder" - that is, they were used to "feed" the cannons the same way they used hay as fodder to feed the horses - and the privates were as expendable as a bale of hay.

It hasn't changed much since then.

Officers, on the other hand, are considered important. They are the bosses of the military, and their lives are considered far more important than the enlisted people's are.

Just look at how the military justice system works - enlisted people accused of a minor offense get locked up in the stockade, while officers accused of felonies get sent to their room (as long as they "give their word" that they won't desert).

The modern armies of the world are decended from the medieval armies of Europe - with their aristocratic officers on horseback with heavy armor and the peasant serf enlisted men on foot with no protection - and they still have that same fedual structure.

Of course, you already know that - based on your own experience in the service.

Answer 4

As a SGT in the Army, I can personally say I have alot of respect for most of my officers. However if an officer tried to cross the line with one of my soldiers, i'd definately let them know that they're wrong. It's not an officers job to try and be superior to enlisted soldiers. That's our job as SGT's, and it's not being superior. It's taking care of that soldier and training them to be the best they can be. If officers do try and act rowdy, it's usually the little LT's that think they're cool, but they get a dose of reality. But again, i've never really had a problem with officers.

Answer 5

Having spent over 20 years in the Navy as an enlisted man, I have run across outstanding officers and only a few jerks who thought their crap didn't stink. Normally, the BEST officers are the 'mustangs' and Warrants who remember what it was like to be an enlisted man/woman. I've worked for some demanding officers, but they were professional and did not expect to be put on a pedestal. I've also been stationed with some arrogant, overbearing, SOB's who were enlisted and thought they were better than the others in their command(regardless of their pay grade)...one in particular comes to mind because his daddy was SOMEONE back home in Podunk. One other (SKCS...E-8)was your stereotypical, ignorant redneck, with a 'redneck name' even [BEAUFORD T (no name, just the T) (I kid you not!)(last name is immaterial]! He loved trying to put people down in front of the WHOLE division. I've never been stationed with an OFFICER who ever did that. If you needed a butt chewing, EVERY officer I worked with took you aside. If you needed a back slapping, ATTABOY, it was done so EVERY ONE heard it.
(USN/retired)

Answer 6

I work in a TMC and we see patients by their scheduled appt. I'm sorry you had to wait, but the LT probably had an appt before you. I am also sure that the doctors reprimanded him for coming in for something trivial. I know mine would.
We try to see every patient. As soon as possible, but people who come in before their appt time may have to wait.
For strep throat all that is usually given is antibiotics with no pain medication. You were advised to take Tylenol correct?

Oh and I've never had any of my officers treat me like crap. Or any officer. And I'm a PFC.

Answer 7

I am currently in the Navy and enlisted. I have never been treated like scum before by any officer, maybe an idiot, but never scum. You had a bad experience, but the military has changed.

Answer 8

I'm a vet too. and it's just the same wish you hear every vet say. "if I knew then what I knew now" They call it a volunteer army. but lets face it, alot of the kids I joined with were at their last thread in life, before it even got started. The guy's that struggle through inner city war zones only to be mind mashed into another warzone.

What does it take for poor people to make it? one thing, selling your soul to a demon beast, of weak minded hopeless control freaks.

I laugh at this hospital story on Walter Reed, they force the head officer to resign. When in actuality those officers are rotated ever years to six months. That guy just picked the wrong rotation. If they really spent the money on the troops instead of siphon it off into guns that they end up giving to rival troops anyway. we wouldn't have to worry about war ever again.

but that is just one soldiers idea for peace.

Good luck and God bless

Answer 9

Don't know what happened in your case, but in my military experience, I found both good and bad in the officer corps. Mostly, I found good. I was two years Army and four years Air Force.

Answer 10

Like anywhere some pompous and high and mighty and then there are regular guys doing a job. No different than the private sector. I have been in sick bay, sitting next to a Capt or Lt, and they waited their turn. Higher ranks must go right to the top, as I never saw a Colonel. or General in sick bay, Too bad you had a bad experience. For every bad experience there are thousands of good ones.
Mine were good

Answer 11

Look at it this way. Officers are upper management While NCO's are middle management. It's no different than the civilian world. Based upon your attitude, I wouldn't recommend entering the military until you grow up.