Why Is this 1969 Specialist 5th Class Wearing Full Color Ranks But Wearing Subdued Private First Class E-3 Collar Ranks?

[patches]

What is the explanation for this  LOL., In the 82nd Aviation Battalion Chow Hall at Bragg say 1969.

 

 

[12thengr]

 Are those aviator wings over his pocket?

[patches]

47 minutes ago, 12thengr said:

 Are those aviator wings over his pocket?

No Aircrewmam Wings, Cav Vet home and now at Bragg in the 82nd in his next duty station, it's also noteworthy that he at least is not jump qualified

[Jim McCauley]

Weird.  He'd have to be at least a SP4 to be wearing crew wings. 

 

I notice the guys at the table on the left are looking at him and laughing. Maybe he's goofing with the PFC rank on his collar.

[patches]

It's a new Grade they tried back then, Private First Class Specialist, kinda like the failed trial during the Korean War, Corporal Captain.

[Vanderbilt]

On 7/4/2022 at 12:52 AM, patches said:

What is the explanation for this  LOL., In the 82nd Aviation Battalion Chow Hall at Bragg say 1969.

 

 

...newly busted to PFC and hasn't removed  his Spec 5 rank. Probably why those around him appear to be joking. He is now one of them. The E4 mafia in Europe when I served made short work of those that got busted. It was even worse if said soldier was left in the ranks of the unit he was busted from. Most were thankful if they could wrangle a transfer.

[Blacksmith]

30 minutes ago, Vanderbilt said:

...newly busted to PFC and hasn't removed  his Spec 5 rank. Probably why those around him appear to be joking. He is now one of them. The E4 mafia in Europe when I served made short work of those that got busted. It was even worse if said soldier was left in the ranks of the unit he was busted from. Most were thankful if they could wrangle a transfer.

Maybe some units were more lax on that, but I don’t think so.  If you lost rank via UCMJ proceedings, there was no ‘transition period’.  Any reduction was immediate, and continuing to wear your previous rank would have subjected you to more action - oh, and already being on the proverbial “radar” makes that a doubly-bad idea.
 

What is more likely is that his buddies switched his collar rank without him knowing it.  That was a classic barracks past-time in my day.  You’re a SP4, and leave your cover on the bunk to hit the latrine.  On the trip to the chow hall with your buddies, all the Privates are saluting you.  That’s odd…. Until you realize that your hat has Captain’s bars on it.  
 

A buddy of mine was in Ranger BN, and has a great ‘PX promotion’ story, that resulted in a CPL showing up to formation with a “full bird” on his cap.  🤣

[Vanderbilt]

11 minutes ago, Blacksmith said:

Maybe some units were more lax on that, but I don’t think so.  If you lost rank via UCMJ proceedings, there was no ‘transition period’.  Any reduction was immediate, and continuing to wear your previous rank would have subjected you to more action - oh, and already being on the proverbial “radar” makes that a doubly-bad idea.
 

What is more likely is that his buddies switched his collar rank without him knowing it.  That was a classic barracks past-time in my day.  You’re a SP4, and leave your cover on the bunk to hit the latrine.  On the trip to the chow hall with your buddies, all the Privates are saluting you.  That’s odd…. Until you realize that your hat has Captain’s bars on it.  
 

A buddy of mine was in Ranger BN, and has a great ‘PX promotion’ story, that resulted in a CPL showing up to formation with a “full bird” on his cap.  🤣

....never witnessed a prank like that!! If someone would've done that in the 2/11, my old 1st Sgt would've had someone "up on charges" right then and there, lol....my reference was to those being busted in rank.  Anyone that had been an NCO that got busted to E 3/4, had lost all cred and had to earn his place back. Most hoped to be transferred to another unit. 

[Blacksmith]

48 minutes ago, Vanderbilt said:

....never witnessed a prank like that!! If someone would've done that in the 2/11, my old 1st Sgt would've had someone "up on charges" right then and there, lol....my reference was to those being busted in rank.  Anyone that had been an NCO that got busted to E 3/4, had lost all cred and had to earn his place back. Most hoped to be transferred to another unit. 

Oh, right.  Gotcha.  
 

I agree.  We had a few NCOs that got Field Grades - several that got maxed out.

 

I felt bad for those guys.  Usually good soldiers, that just made a bad decision.

 

And we were blessed with awesome leaders, who administered punishments justly, and remorsefully.  

[268th C.A.]

Those stories are always funny, I have a pic somewhere of my Dad in a Sgt. Striped HBT jacket. I asked about it. He said it was borrowed. He was a PFC. LOL...