Posted on 01/31/2015 8:34:17 PM PST by Silly
Dear FReepers:
I’m writing a short work which contains a tangential reference to a character in “Stripes” (1981), Morgan, the Army recruiter who interviews John (Bill Murray) and Russell (Harold Ramis).
Can you kindly help me identify the recruiter’s rank, etc., from this screen shot? (See comment #1 for a link to the the full scene.)
(BTW, this information is not in IMDb’s Trivia and Goofs pages — I checked.)
Also, as a side question for you real military experts (not essential to the piece), can you tell me whether the rank that our FReepers identify from Morgan's movie uniform is consistent with that of real-life recruiters from that era (early 80s)? Just curious about it. I know movies do not always research things perfectly, especially in non-so-serious films.
Thanks for your help! If my piece gets published, I’ll post a link here.
— Silly
No, staff sargeanyt. SFC is Sergeant first class, an E-7. A staff sergeant is an E-6. The stripes are E-6.
Hold the phone, the photo doesn’t catch the second rocker so I apologize to those I said were wrong. The movie clip eveals the 2d rocker, thusly, SFC. ADn I forgot mention that the overseas patch on the right shoulder is for combat assignments.
Hold the phone, the photo doesn’t catch the second rocker so I apologize to those I said were wrong. The movie clip reveals the 2d rocker, thusly, SFC. And I forgot to mention that the overseas patch on the right shoulder is for combat assignments. It looks master jump wings also.
OK a barber was a little hard to find in the A Shau and that was my cleanest dirty pants.
Less hair in the box = one less thing to try to keep clean. The Bert look comes from the limited skills and rapidly dulling blade of the only swinging Richard to think of bringing clippers on a mob.
RLTW
It was an E-6 signed me up.
High and tight is preferred in the field and even in civilian life on the job where heavy perspiration is incurred. It is in many ways a matter of comfort and much more sanitary.
Also in the military in the field, it makes it a lot less likely for critters to hide.
“The Air Force likes to wear their stripes upside-down for some reason”
Maybe they look like wings?
Take a look at the far sleeve, and also the video-clip.
Thanks.
Didn't see that shot.On the one I saw I thought there was evidence of a second rocker on his left sleeve.
E-7 Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter. And he was also an actual former Army Sergeant serving in WW2 making 14 beach assaults in his time in service. I guess that's why he was a natural for his roll LOL.
In the show he was first Gomer's Drill Sergeant or DI {ducking for cover for getting the name wrong LOL} in Boot Camp and to Carter's horror afterward following Boot Camp Gomer was permanently assigned to his unit afterward.
In Sgt. Carter's quarters there was a poster saying "road to the top" showing the ranks/striping.
Why is DI "wrong"?
LOL It's a difference between Army and USMC names in Basic Training. In both services they are Sgt. In the Navy the E-6 or E-7 in charge of the recruit company is called a Company Commander even though his rank is either First Class Petty Officer or Chief Petty Officer. In basic you call him Sir. Come to think of it I think Marines call the SGT Sir in basic training so it might be the Army that has to say Yes Drill SGT or No Drill SGT in boot camp.
But in Full Metal Jacket, Gunny INSISTS on "sir, yes, sir"?
Is there a difference in the Army Vs. Marines?
Is there a difference between the Army and Marines?
Yes.
Now I will sit back and watch the fun.
Stripes is Army. IIRC He would say to Hulka "Yes Drill Sgt or No Drill SGT.
USMC which is under Dept of Navy in Basic both USMC and Navy call the NCO in charge of the recruits Sir. And I can't after 35 years remember if I had to say Sir Yes Sir or just Yes Sir to my Company Commander.
Oh it gets more confusing after basic. For example IIRC an 0-4 and down in officers rank in the Navy when addressing them you called them Mister and their last name. But 0-5 and above you stated their ranks such as Captain Smith Sir. But the Captain of the ship which may not be a Captain in rank but title was still called the Captain even if he was a LT Commander LOL. A Navy Captain outranks an Army Captain by 3 pay grades. Navy Captain is senior rank over an Army Captain.
Really on the ship only senior NCO's from Chief on - Master Chief were called by their rank. A First Class Petty Officer you called by last name same as any others. Except for me I an E-4 NCO & was called "Dog". My chief named me that and it stuck for nearly four years.
Another thing was there was an alternative to saying Yes Sir to an officer. You could say Aye Aye Sir. Confused? I was when I joined the Army NG's LOL.
Another question.
In a lot of movies and other media, the lower ranks call the commanding sergeant "Sarge".
Is this acceptable, or disrespectful?
After Basic Training it's perfectly acceptable and not disrespectful. It would be like a sailor calling a Chief by "Chief" that is the rank. When I was in the National Guards the First Sergeant would call roll while we were in formation for the morning. Some would answer "here first sergeant or "Here Top". Actually the Sgt in charge of my work group I called by his last name usually. At Voc/Tech where we were students I called him by his first name. As long as no blatant disrespect occurred the enlisted ranks among each other weren't as formal.
While in the navy my Chief half the time I called "Whale". It wasn't disrespect and he knew it as did everybody else. He had made Chief {E-7} while running our shop as an E-6 and we had always called him by a nickname he had for most of his time in the Navy. He's the one who named me Dog. He was Gung Ho Navy Lifer but in a comical way. Duriung General Quarters {Battle Stations} he would sing Anchors Aweigh for the duration which usually lasted four hours. First time he did it to me I started barking and howling at him so he called me Dog. If we were in a situation where an officer was present I would call him Chief. But then again some of the officers called me Dog. That was on ship BTW where it's a bit less formal but you remember who's in charge.
When he made Chief we all were glad because he earned it. He sent me to a PX at a Naval Air Station in Italy when we hit port to buy his new uniforms. Chiefs wore Khakis. But by traditions of the chiefs {not Navy regs} he wasn't supposed to buy them till the day he actually made rank. I went and bought the uniforms for him on the quiet. If it had slipped out the other Chiefs would have made his initiation or hazing ceremony a torment LOL. Hazing was allowed back then for many things LOL :>}
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