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Originally Posted by jester
Here is something to consider since the bureacracy was brought up.
How often does paperwork get lost or just slow in working its way through channels?
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Oh, definitely. I had a guy up for E-4 that I was delaying as his company commander to give the platoon leadership time to build his chapter packet and get him kicked out of the Army. Conversely, I also hand carried another guy's promotion packet to the Battalion Commander because the PAC Office (Personnel Assistance Center - secretarial pool in uniform basically) had lost the stuff three times.
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Now apply this to some of the more recently arrived troops in theater. Once the nukes started flying, communication got messed up, and troops were shuffled from one unit to another as stragglers or to fill in the gaps and now, there is no telling where their parent unit is. Or, Pvt Schmukatelli is with the 5th in Poland when he was with the 14th who is now in Yugoslavia, or even Iran, and they have his promotion warrant, but the folks in the 5th know nothing about it. So, he is still a Pvt as far as they are concerned and he knows.
After all, alot of the promotion records would be dust, or so far removed and it really would not be a major priority with the remaining and limited communications lines and abilities. Heck, I had it happen to me twice in peacetime when the entire system was up and running, so my view is, it would be pretty common in 2000 or 2013 <for you guys playing the newer version>
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Another viewpoint that hasn't been mentioned yet, is the relevance of these promotions, especially in a combat zone with no PXs/Burger Kings/Green Beans. Being a PVT vs. PV2 vs. PFC really doesn't mean a whole lot. Even Spec 4 doesn't mean a whole lot more unless you get put in a Team Leader slot. The only time the differences would really matter would be on Paydays.
They'd all still get picked for the same details. They'd get the same positions in a squad. They'd get shot at just the same.
For another perspective for you that haven't been in the military and just see higher ranks, putting one of these kids in charge is
typically like leaving your three year old in charge of your two year old and 18-month old. And maybe the neighbors three year old as well. It's not say that there isn't some talent individually, but in a group, Joe without leadership is generally not good.
(Which is a reflection of people in general, but it seems to apply moreso with over-testosteroned, first-time-away-from-mom-and-dad, more-money-than-they've-had-before young men.)