General Discussion

Travelman

(708 posts)

16. It was an automatic promotion

Mon Jun 9, 2014, 11:20 AM

Jun 2014

Barring anything else, he would have gotten that promotion to Sergeant anyway by virtue of his time in the Army. If the Army takes away one or more stripes, then that's another matter, but at least for now, he has earned the rank of Sergeant and should be afforded that title.

That having been said, I heard over the weekend that he has said that he does not feel that he has earned the rank and has asked to be addressed as Private instead. Frankly, I don't know what the Army's stance is on something like that.

Until the Army says otherwise, I'll be calling him Sergeant because that's the rank he has earned.

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Why call him Sergeant Bergdahl? [View all] Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 OP

Why not? jehop61 Jun 2014 #1

Wouldn't that be something that commanding officers need to decide? Skidmore Jun 2014 #2

Such promotions are standard. longship Jun 2014 #3

"Only" received his promotions in absentia? Lefta Dissenter Jun 2014 #4

Military policy and tradition is that POWs get promoted on schedule hack89 Jun 2014 #5

Exactly. Jeneral is clearly no General. n/t FourScore Jun 2014 #34

Why does it matter? pipoman Jun 2014 #6

great question Enrique Jun 2014 #23

In absentia? rbrnmw Jun 2014 #7

As I understand it, many soldiers get what are called battlefield promotions justiceischeap Jun 2014 #8

it's not a battlefield promotion Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 #26

If you actually read the Wiki article you would see that being held hostage justiceischeap Jun 2014 #36

Sergeant is the rank that he would have presumably reached if Lurks Often Jun 2014 #9

WLC (PLDC) is no longer a prerequisite to get giftedgirl77 Jun 2014 #10

Thanks, I've been out a while n/t Lurks Often Jun 2014 #11

Lol... I could tell by the PLDC... giftedgirl77 Jun 2014 #13

5 years to a Sergeant? Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 #28

He probably would have picked up rank on re enlistment pipoman Jun 2014 #38

Mostly you seem to be trying to make something out of nothing Lurks Often Jun 2014 #43

Even Bowe does not want to be referred to as Sergeant. nt kelliekat44 Jun 2014 #12

"In absentia"? Nice try. hatrack Jun 2014 #14

That's actually correct Travelman Jun 2014 #17

Yes, let's strip him of his rank... Oilwellian Jun 2014 #15

It was an automatic promotion Travelman Jun 2014 #16

Because that is his current rank. Ikonoklast Jun 2014 #18

Why call you "General"? Sgt Bergdahl was not promoted "in absentia" but while a PRISONER OF WAR Hekate Jun 2014 #19

What is his current rank? NCTraveler Jun 2014 #20

No, YOU are now "in absentia." BERGDAHL was a POW. WinkyDink Jun 2014 #21

I believe the guy will be "med-boarded" out based on his psychological state Victor_c3 Jun 2014 #22

That's his rank. Iggo Jun 2014 #24

He's a private Jeneral2885 Jun 2014 #27

You're wrong. Iggo Jun 2014 #29

It's always entertaining watching someone pipoman Jun 2014 #39

what qualifies you to make that judgment? frylock Jun 2014 #44

Clueless nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #25

Standards.. doxydad Jun 2014 #30

Because that's his rank. He's a Sergeant. MineralMan Jun 2014 #31

How about because sarisataka Jun 2014 #32

Why is this important to you? nt Zorra Jun 2014 #33

just because he was stuck in a cage and tortured bigtree Jun 2014 #35

Post removed Post removed Jun 2014 #37

Any promotions should be rescinded immediately until certified... Orsino Jun 2014 #40

Sergeant seems to be one Spirochete Jun 2014 #41

This isn't the first time I have hoped you would find a home in Discussionist. He's a Sergeant. Squinch Jun 2014 #42