Random Question

[ElDiablo]

For the Older Marines- How wierd is it having a younger person be higher rank than you?

For the Younger Marines- How wierd is it having older Marines lower rank than you? How weird is it giving orders to them and trying to be respectful at the same time?

I know its random, but I want to know. Thanks.

[Chumley]

I dealt with it moreso after the Marine Corps, when I became an operations manager at age 28. I had many technicians who worked for me that used to be my supervisor, then I became their manager. Many guys too that were as old as my dad worked for me.

It seems like a big deal until it happens, then all that seems to pass. What doesn't go away is when there's a conflict...I had to address issues between employees who were pretty childish and definately old enough to know better. In the USMC, it's much less a problem....Marines respect rank...If a 23 year old LT tells a 23 year Gunny to get it done, it happens. Maybe a little grumbling, but it happens. Civilians are much harder to work with in my opinion.

To you it seems weird maybe. To the people you are addressing, you will be judged on your performance at any age. You will either be good or not, but the age factor will only play a role if you let it. When you know your sh!t, people recognize that, and it becomes the focus.

C

[ElDiablo]

Thanks. I was just wondering because there was another thread on here, and something in it sparked my interest. For me it would be kinda weird becasue I call most people older than me (parents, teachers, etc.) sir, ma'am, Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc. I just don't see how I can go from that, to ordering around someone 10 years my senior. Just seems unnatural and wrong. But thanks for the answer, and I hope to hear from some others as well.

[rvillac2]

What makes you think you'd be ordering around anyone 10 yrs your senior? Unless you're an officer, that'll be an extremely rare case, indeed.

Besides, if you need to be ordering around anyone in a way that they resent it, age isn't necessarily the problem. Marine leaders learn to lay out the mission for their Marines so everyone knows what it takes to get the job done.

[SlingerDun]

If you know your shiat oldies will likely respect you but still test your hide on occasion. If you don't? Your just another PKIC.

--->Dave

[sparkie]

Get your job done,,,,, Or someone will do you a job. What is Fraggin?

[ecfree]

Age should have nothing to do with carrying out an order.A well trained Marine can handle it.
Some 2nd Lt's can be a pain in the butt.
If you do not like the man,you respect the rank,and carry on to the best you're able..:evilgrin:

[ElDiablo]

Thanks for the responces. I don't plan on being an officer, just wanted to know what it was like. Again, thanks.

[UsmcMotorT]

I had the same conversation several months back. A marine and a Sailor, both E-5. The Marine asks the Sailor, when did you join the Navy, the sailor says in 1980. The Marine says, wow, I was born when you enlisted and we're the same rank.

[ElDiablo]

That's the part that gets me. I would think it'd be a little akward.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

It isn't like high school. Age means nothing to Marines. You are what your rank says you are, period.

If I were to enter the Marine Corps again tomorrow there would be many people younger than me that outranked me. It wouldn't bother me in the slightest. If someone in a position of authority told me to do something, I would do it- no questions asked. That is what you do as Marines.

Discipline is the instant willingness to follow orders. If you can't do it, you don't belong in the Marine Corps.

As far as outranking someone and being younger than them- you have a while before that will be an issue. You aren't born an NCO- so you'll have plenty of time to adjust to being a Marine and how the Marine Corps works before something like that will come up.

[egbutler1]

Your rank reflects you as a Marine, I was telling a 30 year old what to do and showing him how to do simple tasks. He didn't like the fact that this 21 year old was telling him what to do. He told me he had more "life experience" than I did so he doesn't have to listen. Tell you what after he stayed up all night digging fighting holes in the rain and running around like an idiot he finally got the idea. He may have life experience but I got Marine experience.