Perhaps you could have cleaned your own stateroom or picked up after yourself in the wardroom, and let "tradition" be damned. I was a Staff Sergeant (E-5) at Phu Cat AB in Vietnam and shared a barracks with about 40 other enlisted guys, while our pilots shared trailers at the rate of 2 men to a trailer, which was about half the size of our barracks. No one complained, except maybe because their trailers were air conditioned and ours were slatted. I always enjoyed the smell of the honey pots, wafting through our rooms. Smelled like victory.

Anyway, fast forward 20 or so years and now I'm an O-6. You can bet your butt that I expect to be treated better, housing wise, either at home station or on deployment. Why? Because I had earned it. This argument is really a moot one, because the truth is that the vast majority of enlisted guys have no problem with doubling (or tripling) up, as long as there's enough room for them and their gear. Whereas officers, especially pilots, expect something better. Do they deserve it? Hell YES.

JJ

 

My first skipper gave the best speech I have ever heard. The enlisted in our squadron were complaining that they to vacuum, take out the trash, and wipe down the sink in our officer staterooms.

He explained that every officer in the command was here voluntarily and could have better QOL and pay else where. We instead chose to serve our country doing one of the most dangerous jobs in the world (flying off a ship). He then said when he was enlisted he saw what the the officers received, and thought to himself I want that too. He earned his degree and got a commission. He concluded that if the enlisted wanted the same, go earn their degree and get a commission. We didn't hear any complaining after that. We did start to see some officer packages.

CAG also said that if he ever found an officer waiting in line at the ship's store, he would rip you a new one. One officer does it, then the enlisted think all officers should wait in line. He believed an officers time and mission was more important than the enlisted.

Unfortunately, I haven't heard these type of speeches since. I think now it is easier to pander than to stand up for your junior officers. I don't complaint about the VIP treatment an O-6 gets. If I don't like it, I should work hard to become an O-6.

The difference in opinion is does RHIP or not? Most of think RHIP because RHIR. Officers are held to a higher standard. To what degree RHIP is up for debate too.

 

JJ, I agree with you, but the fall of Siagon was in 1975, 35 years ago. I hope you are retired by now.

 

S3toHerk and JetJok....spot on.

 

I'm with you here, I never really liked the china-service atmosphere either. Holdover from a bygone era. I always wonder if some people get off on that. But it's probably rooted in necessity...on smaller ships everyone would be tripping over themselves. On submarines at least, everyone (O & E) gets served at the table due to space constraints.

 

Yes. Retired in December of 1999, 2 weeks short of 34 years of service.

JJ

 

Wow, finally something we can all agree on. You sir, are a patriot! Thank you for your service.