Why is it that enlisted/ officer relations are better in some forces than others?

Answer 1

I think that it all depends on the person. While in the Navy, encountered a wide variety of officers, there was no set pattern. Some of the LDO's, and CWO's were easy to get along with, and other's went through such an effort to maintain proper enlisted to officer relations that they ended up alienating those that worked for them. Encountered the same range when dealing with academy grads and other college educated officers. Aviators for the most part weren't that hard to get along with, just do your job and all was right. As previously stated there was no set pattern, it all depended on the person.

Answer 2

I believe it is down to the collages that the officers train at. I am a Navy officer and we are almost told to keep our distance and refrain from social contact with the enlisted men, army and marine units work very closely and rely on officers for life and death decisions which the air force and navy dont as much, their style of training is much more intense which can lead to a change of relation with the men.

Answer 3

I think Erik S has it just right. The closer you get to the pointy end the closer the unit cohesion you find. Outfits that are in combat have a close relationship between officer and enlisted. The further away from the gun smoke you get the more you hear about an officer and a gentleman.

Answer 4

Everyone here has made valid points... and my experience is based on my 15 years in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club (USN). It's a combination of the JOB, the PEOPLE, and the COMMUNITY.

I started as an Aircrewman in an HSL (Helicopter Anti-Submarine, Light) Squadron... our relations were rather tight: we deployed with 6 pilots, 3 aircrew, and 12-15 maintainers. Aircrew was very tight with the pilots because we spent our entire day in working closely with them. The Maintainers often "hated" aircrew in other squadrons (HS, VS, and VP) because of this closeness... they called us "FAW" for Fv(%ing Aviation Waitresses. But in the HSL community all aircrew were also qualified plane-captains and many were qualified in at least ONE maintenance rate since we were such a small deployment group.

I also point out the difference between airedales (aviation) and black-shoes (ship's company)... Shoes are VERY strict in their heirarchy !! Even a frocked 3rd Class PO thinks he's God compared to a Seaman... just because of the "Shoe" mentality. Yet an airdale Airman will often address his LPO (Leading Petty Officer) by his name... we're just more relaxed on the surface. Yet we're strict on the JOB... you screw up a tiny thing and you kill yourself or the crew flying the aircraft you're working on.

On a few cross-country flights... when we would stop at an Air Force base, one of my pilots would often toss me a spare cover (hat)and they would pass me off as an Ensign so I could stay in the BOQ and dine with them.

I will also note that Academy graduates were almost always the most stand-offish, followed by NROTC grads, and then there were the AOCS grads who were rather cool.

And of course... those of us who became LDO's (Limited Duty Officers) were the coolest !! I did 8 years enlisted, and 7 as a commissioned officer. BOTH were a BLAST.

Answer 5

I think it has something to do with how prone that service is to being shot at at the platoon level. No offense to the Navy or Air Force (in general that is. I know your special forces units get in the ****) at the platoon level they aren't tried in combat. For the most part Marine officers are trained in the same mold as Navy officers (as the last respondent stated taught to keep their distance). How ever after faceing a fire fight I'm sure they feel alot closer to their troops. As for the Army (in witch I proudly served) officers are also taught to "keep their distance", they however come to realize that their life may well come down to how close they are to their troops.

Answer 6

Auditor4u2007 - that is a sad story of gross unprofessionalism on all three counts.
In the UK, we have a concept of Officer Like Qualities (OLQs).
Taking **** off someone whom you regard as sub-human but have to call sir, while maintaining at least a pretence of politeness, is one of them.
Senior Officers supporting junior officers in front of their subordinates is another.
Respecting the experience and wisdom of senior non-commissioned officers is a third.
There are many more.

Answer 7

Because some officers believe that they are "holier than thou". For example, while stationed at Reese AFB, in Texas, which was a training base for pilots, I was the Non Commissioned Officer in charge of Base Operations. My boss was a Colonel. One day, a 2nd Lt (the lowest ranking officer) came into my office looking for a specific map. I told him that all of the new trainees grab hand fulls of those maps, that show the entire US, so that can hang them on their walls and put pins in the places they fly to during training, and that we were temporarily out of stock. He looked at me and said, "Sergeant, do you know that you are talking to an officer, and you should stand at attention and call me sir?" By the way, I was a Master Sergeant at the time with over 20 years of service. I told him that I'd be right back. I went down the hall and asked the colonel if he would mind coming to my office. He did. I returned to my chair, and when the Colonel came in, he asked me what I needed. I told him the story, all the time sitting down, and addressing the Colonel as Colonel...no sir anyting. The Colonel looked at me and said, "so what did you tell the 2nd Lt?" (who was standing there all of the time). I said to the Colonel, that I thought that it would be better is you were here, when I answered him. The Colonel replied, I think he got his answer, and left, walking back to his own office. The 2nd Lt stood there for a minute, then left.
We (the 2nd Lt and I) both had college degrees, but he had been selected for officer school, whereas I hadn't. That was the difference...yet he thought that he was "better" than me for some reason.

Answer 8

its all about personalities and the relationship between them. i wouldnt say its a branch specific thing, but a unit thing.

i'd also say it has alot to do with the training/past experience of the officer. former enlisted officers are alot more understanding to the enlisted than someone who went through the academy.