US Army enlisted ranks and Warrant Officers.

[Abbott Shaull]

Okay with the influx of Airmen and Sailors back in to the US Army in order to reinforce combat units. Would the senior enlist Air Force and Naval personnel keep their old branch ranks or would they accept new Army ranks in order to avoid confusion.

If they took Army ranks, would the Army even at certain locales reinstate the ranks of Specialist 5, Specialist 6, Specialist 7, and maybe Specialist 8 for senior personnel. While this would be technically it could be considered a demotion in some regards. In some cases like now it not uncommon for a Corporals to transfer to another base/unit would be place back to Specialist 4 until they prove themselves in their new unit if Corporal were even allowed in the unit.

Also while we are on this subject. Would there be many more Warrant Officers acting as Platoon Leaders in the US Army. I know in the Marine Corps there are cases where Warrant Officers do fill in as Platoon Leaders when there isn't enough Officers to go around, but the US Army in general avoid this except for certain fields/MOS. Namely Intelligence, Medical, and Special Forces where they have Warrant Officers in slots that in other branches would be filled by traditional Commission Officers.

Again this could be way to help integrate officers from the Air Force and Navy into the US Army and to train them. One of the ways to maybe taking a O-3 or O-4 placing them in Platoon, and having them learn from a mean old Platoon Sergeant. So they place Warrant Officer or Chief Warrant Office in charge of the platoon, while they both train new officer from elsewhere in how the platoon operates and to lead one effectively. Also as the new officers move from Platoon to Company they probably be under the command of 2nd Lt or 1st Lt until they could lead Company and then move on to Battalion Staff and learn jobs there too.

Especially considering that in many cases, by 1999 field commission would at best be considered locally if said Officer change units might have to revert back to their last enlisted ranks. At least if they are Warrant Officer serving in their same field, they may still have a chance retain their rank.

Just some thoughts.

[Cpl. Kalkwarf]

Well from a real life perspective. When I was in the Marine Corps back in 79-83 there was a shortage of officers. My first platoon Had a Gunny as the platoon commander. And my last Unit a Headquarters Company/Platoon in which I was the Clerk (they found out I could type and was great with math) :P The Commander Was a former Navy Seal Officer 0-3 Lieutenant whose rank title became Captain, which Transferred, after going through some sort of Marine OCS/Basic/transfer coarse.( I think it may of actually been OCS with some additional courses for history and traditions. And the XO was a fresh out of Marine OCS 0-1 2nd LT. And our 1st Sgt. was a Master Sgt. who transferred from a supply unit into a combat unit. Could of wrote a pretty good sitcom with some of the stuff that went on at times. The CO was a really great Officer. I remember the first day the New LT. arrived after the Captain gave him the nickle tour, he then turned the LT over too me, as I was apparently for the last couple of months not only doing my job but the XOs (paperwork and such). So I got to train a new butter bar LT. He was really cool about it and turned out to be an outstanding officer. Unfortunately I was not in long enough to see him get his O-2 silver bars. I was heading back to the civilian world. (in retrospect I should of stayed in)
I would if been retired by now and at least would of been a Gunny or Top heck maybe even a Sgt. Maj.

But anyways i got to rambling again :P

So yeh they would most likely be given a equivalent rank. I would think since most of the Airman and Sailors that were adapted into a foot or land unit in the army it would most likely be a technical rank like specialist for the enlisted.

There would probably be a placement coarse test consisting of basic physical fitness, mental condition, and skill aptitude prior to placement. If you were one of the basic seaman or airman with no special skill most likely you would end up as an infantryman. Though they would probably still have a brown water Navy back in the states where allot of the sailors would still retain their rank.

[Abbott Shaull]

Yeah I would agree, units in the State where become dicey as Airmen and Sailors are transferred from their regular duty roles to more of Infantry/Security Role. It will basically boil down to who was left in charge as of late 1998 and into 1999.

Even the Airmen and Sailor who were excess say in England would probably be organized into self contained new 'Security' units.

As for the Navy and Marine exchanging Officers it makes sense since both services pull Officers from the same academy. Especially with SEAL Officers since a O-3 would of most likely have experience leading a Seal Platoon or small detachment of two Platoons and staff duties with the a Team. Having them going to the Marine Corps would give them time to operate with Company size elements and Battalion staff positions that would in my opinion help them as they advance. Give them idea what larger units may be looking for in their cooperation later.