Tillman promoted posthumously

[NavyVet]

Tillman promoted posthumously by Army
By BETH DeFALCO, Associated Press Writer
April 29, 2004

PHOENIX (AP) -- Pat Tillman was promoted posthumously from specialist to corporal after the former NFL player was killed while serving as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan.

``The Army always notes that rank and promotion are not a reward of what was done well, but a recognition that you have the potential to do more,'' Army spokeswoman Martha Rudd said Thursday. ``This promotion is essentially saying this he would have been a fine leader.''

Tillman, who walked away from a three-year, $3.6 million contract offer from the Arizona Cardinals to join the Army in 2002, was killed April 22 when the Army patrol was ambushed near the Afghan-Pakistani border.

The promotion will not affect any benefits his family receives. Both ranks are E4, or the fourth rank available for enlisted soldiers.

Although Tillman never publicly offered reasons for his decision, several friends have said the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks affected him deeply.

Tillman was the first NFL player killed in combat since Buffalo offensive tackle Bob Kalsu died in the Vietnam War in July 1970. Nineteen NFL players were killed in World War II.

The Cardinals have said they will retire Tillman's No. 40 and name the plaza surrounding the team's new stadium in suburban Glendale the Pat Tillman Freedom Plaza.

Updated on Thursday, Apr 29, 2004 4:11 pm EDT

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

He had his degree. I wonder why he didn't officer?

 

[Freddie]

Do officers go to the frontline?

 

[Stout]

He had his degree. I wonder why he didn't officer?

Because he wanted to be a real soldier Sorry, just a dig on officers from an old NCO. The only thing the degree guaranteed was that he could, if he chose, hold the rank of Specialist from day one. I'm not sure if he even took that much.

 

[DeAnna]

He had his degree. I wonder why he didn't officer?

I think only if you attend one of the academies do you come out with an officer rank once you graduate.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Do officers go to the frontline?

Yes.

I think only if you attend one of the academies do you come out with an officer rank once you graduate.

Graduating from a Military Academy is the only guarantee of receiving a commission upon entrance into a service, but a 4-year degree makes it a 99% chance of qualifing for OCS (Officer Candidate School).

 

[earthsci]

Graduating from a Military Academy is the only guarantee of receiving a commission upon entrance into a service, but a 4-year degree makes it a 99% chance of qualifing for OCS (Officer Candidate School).

Completing ROTC. With the degree.

 

[cardsunsfan]

Yes.



Graduating from a Military Academy is the only guarantee of receiving a commission upon entrance into a service, but a 4-year degree makes it a 99% chance of qualifing for OCS (Officer Candidate School).

Usually if you have a college degree from a major university you're an officer... ASU degree = Officer... Probably wanting to be a ranger though would change things....

 

[Tangodnzr]

Usually if you have a college degree from a major university you're an officer... ASU degree = Officer... Probably wanting to be a ranger though would change things....

Nope...To my knowledge, Ken's right here. A college degree is no guarantee of an officer ranking. There have been many many people with college degrees that were never officers.

I don't know about now, but in the Viet Nam era, there were a lot of college grads who had gone through ROTC. But other than that you have to complete OCS, and generally it is true that you usually have to have a degree to qualify for that.

Sometimes in battle enlisted men have been promoted to officers, but its a very, very rare occurance.

 

[NavyVet]

Due to the number of billets available for officers in the Rangers, it is much easier to go enlisted. He wanted to serve with his brother, and that would have been near impossible if both had become officers, as each would have led a different platoon. Besides, Pat didn't have an ego to satisfy.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Due to the number of billets available for officers in the Rangers, it is much easier to go enlisted. He wanted to serve with his brother, and that would have been near impossible if both had become officers, as each would have led a different platoon. Besides, Pat didn't have an ego to satisfy.

That makes sense.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I used to be a corporal. Nice to share that with him

 

[Captain Matt]

Due to the number of billets available for officers in the Rangers, it is much easier to go enlisted. He wanted to serve with his brother, and that would have been near impossible if both had become officers, as each would have led a different platoon. Besides, Pat didn't have an ego to satisfy.

The same is true in all "spec ops" units. At Panama City (we had Rangers and USAF combat controllers there along with our own UCT/UDT types) there were only 2 officer classes (30 or so students) per year where there were 15 or so enlisted classes. You only need so many "supervisors" calling the shots. Enlistments have significantly less commitment time as well. As an enlisted man I only had a 5 year commitment, when I completed flight school (as an officer) that number jumped to 8 years. Every school thereafter has translated to about 3 months of additional commitment per month of school. Like many troops my guess is that he was not a career guy, he just wanted to do his duty and come home. The investment of time and effort in the officer corps usually doesn't pay dividends (action) until you've been in service for a year or more. As an enlisted guy you can hit the front lines running in 6 months or less. Immediate gratification (relatively speaking) for a guy who wanted to put the whoopass on the Taliban.