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Recursion

(56,582 posts) Thu Aug 23, 2018, 08:43 PM Aug 2018

Ways the State department is different from the military

My wife is doing some actually really cool training with DoD this month, as part of their bid (despite the President's idiocy) to incorporate diplomacy more closely into defense planning.

(This is, btw, 100% Mattis, who is the only decent figure in Trump's cabinet, and I really hope he's not damaged too much by having taken this job)

Anyways, long story short, I had to drive her to the Pentagon today to do a hand-off of some stuff. She kept saying "I don't know the guy's rank, but he seemed really junior".

Now, keep in mind my rank maxed out at Lance Corporal, 15 years or so ago.

After battling through the rush hour Pentagon traffic, we finally make phone contact with the "really junior" guy, and he guides us in to the right point to meet him. As I start being facetious, the blood drains from my face.

"Thank you, Colonel", I manage to say.

Yeah. State is a different world...

6 replies

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Highlight:

Ways the State department is different from the military (Original Post) Recursion Aug 2018 OP

In the Pentagon, a Colonel ain't that much of a much. TomSlick Aug 2018 #1

Colonel is equivalent to GS-14 Major Nikon Aug 2018 #2

Yeah Recursion Aug 2018 #3

Do you mean State or Defense? The Velveteen Ocelot Aug 2018 #4

Well, I meant State is different from Defense. Recursion Aug 2018 #6

Very cool! elleng Aug 2018 #5

TomSlick

(11,098 posts)

1. In the Pentagon, a Colonel ain't that much of a much.

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Thu Aug 23, 2018, 10:04 PM

Aug 2018

Some years ago, as an Army Captain I caught the DoD bus at the Pentagon for a ride up to my office in Falls Church. There was a Marine one-star strap-hanging on the bus - and no one got up to give him a seat. Fortunately, I was strap-hanging too so I didn't have to make that decision.

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)

2. Colonel is equivalent to GS-14

Reply to Recursion (Original post)

Thu Aug 23, 2018, 10:21 PM

Aug 2018

In DC a GS-14 is pretty junior.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)

3. Yeah

Reply to Major Nikon (Reply #2)

Thu Aug 23, 2018, 10:25 PM

Aug 2018

My wife's an FSO-2 select for 1, which is roughly equivalent to a light-bird brevetted for full colonel. And she still thinks of herself as "junior" or "mid-level", so there's that.