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Sunday, July 27, 2008

Making Sergeant for the Third Time

On Friday morning, August 8, at 8 am, my youngest daughter will pin sergeant stripes on me at morning formation. This will be the third time I have been promoted to sergeant.The first time I was promoted to sergeant was in the Air Force in 1974. At the time the pay grade of E-4 was called sergeant. In 1976 it split into sergeant and senior airman--the Army equivalent of Corporal and Specialist--same money, but corporal is supervisory, specialist is not.

The second promotion was in 1976 when I was promoted to Sergeant E-5, the Army rank I will return to in two weeks. At the time I was a new tank commander on the way to three years in Germany. I left the Army the first time in 1984, a Staff Sergeant (E-6). Maybe in 2010 or 2011, I will be able to get back to where I was in 1984. At the last drill, one of my friends said at the rate I am going (Sergeant at 55) I should make Master Sergeant by the time I am 82.
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5 comments:

  1. Meredith GouldJuly 27, 2008 at 11:23 AM

    Your headline reminds me of the Stations of the Cross where you-know-Who falls for the third time. I wouldn't worry about the Master thing, you'll probably skip a few grades and be made a General. (GTB?!?)

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  2. UnknownJuly 28, 2008 at 12:21 AM

    Look at the bright side -- you're not getting the pay amount that you got as an E5 in 1976. Pay in the military has risen somewhat since that time.

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  3. Neil GussmanJuly 28, 2008 at 6:57 AM

    Actually, my recruiter made a big deal (and he should have) that when I enlisted in 1972, pay for basic trainees had recently gone up by more than $100 per month to $283 per month!! I get more than $200 per drill weekend now.

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  4. Carol Hook of Annandale, VAJune 7, 2010 at 12:13 AM

    Thanks for your service to our country, SGT Gussman. Tell us what you are doing now...you're looking happy, are you planning on that Master Sergeant status at 82?! Best wishes to you and your family, patriot.

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  5. Neil GussmanJune 8, 2010 at 11:44 PM

    Carol--It may take longer, but I'll try!!!

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