Blog Type: 
FUMA Blog Date Posted: 
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 Byline: 
Dan Thompson

Some months back, a visitor arrived on our school's campus, and as he got out of his car I instantly felt my muscles tighten and my brain go on full alert.  

You see, he was wearing the uniform of a US Navy officer and on his navy blue uniform coat I saw two narrow gold bands and a very wide gold band ringing his sleeve at the cuff. Without even thinking about it, I knew that this man was a powerful leader, a top-level officer, because I instantly recognized his rank as that of Vice Admiral...that's like a 3-star general in the US Army.

I was born a Navy brat. My father was a Chaplain in the US Navy who retired at the rank of Captain. I knew that a Vice Admiral was a big deal...and even though I was a middle-aged man now and hadn't been on a navy base in decades, I had an instinctual reaction when I saw that admiral's sleeve.

For most families, however, that send their sons to a military-style high school like ours, military rank insignia can be baffling to them at first. It seems like some kind of secret code symbol that only the initiated can understand. Recent surveys tell us that only 7% of adults in the US are military veterans, so the number of people who are very familiar with military rank insignia is quite small. I often get questions from family members asking "What does all this rank stuff really mean?"

In this blog post, I'll help you understand what military rank means, how you can identify an individual's rank by the insignia on the uniform, and what role rank plays in the leadership structure of a typical Corps of Cadets at a military school.
 

Understanding Military School Rank Insignia

Here at Fork Union Military Academy, although we are an independent military system and are not affiliated with the US military, we use a rank system similar to that of the US Army, and we use the same rank insignia as is used by JROTC and ROTC programs. You may have observed our cadets on campus or viewed pictures of them in our photo galleries, you have probably noticed that some of them wear metal insignia pins on their hats or uniforms. These insignia show the cadet's rank in our Corps of Cadets.

What is rank?

A cadet's rank indicates where that cadet fits in the hierarchy (or chain of command) of leadership within the Cadet Corps. Rank is a clear identification as to who is in charge within a group of cadets. You might think of rank as a badge of leadership.

• Our cadet ranks are based generally on the rank structure used by the United States Army.
• The concept of military rank dates back to at least the Greeks and Romans, and perhaps even farther back in history than that. The US Army's rank structure came into being during the first days of the Continental Army under George Washington's command during the struggle to gain independence from Great Britain in the late 18th century. The Continental Army in turn drew its rank structure from the military traditions followed in Europe, including Great Britain.
   

What does "chain of command" mean?

The chain of command is the basic leadership structure of the Cadet Corps.

• Authority and responsibility flows down from the top through a specific series of ranks. Each person in the chain of command is accountable to a superior, and may himself have leadership responsibility for cadet units that are accountable to him.
• Cadets are responsible for setting the example for other cadets, listening to the guidance of those above them, and following the orders or directions given to them by those cadets who are at a higher rank.
• The rank insignia is worn on the uniform in designated places where it will be easily visible.
• Once you have learned how to identify a cadet's rank based on his rank insignia, you will better understand where that cadet falls in the leadership structure of the Cadet Corps.
   

Cadet Ranks Used at Fork Union Military Academy

Enlisted Ranks

Cadets start out at Fork Union Military Academy as part of the enlisted ranks.

• As they continue in their cadet career here, those cadets who demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and leadership potential have the opportunity to advance in rank.
• As cadets are promoted in rank and become Noncommissioned Officers (called NCOs), they gain greater responsibilities and may be given authority to lead other cadets in units of progressively greater size and complexity. First a cadet may become a squad leader, then may earn leadership posts at the platoon level, then the company level, and ultimately, perhaps, at the battalion level.

Enlisted rank insignia consists of a single chevron or stripe (for a Private, if insignia is worn by Privates), and an additional bar or rocker underneath for a Private First Class.

Cadet NCO Ranks

As a cadet earns promotion to the noncommissioned officer or NCO ranks, he begins to have the opportunity for more responsibility within the Corps of Cadets.

NCO rank insignia also are made up of chevrons or stripes, and bars or rockers. Simply put, the higher the number of stripes and bars, the higher the rank.

Cadet Officer Ranks

Officers are the cadets who have been put in charge of cadet units or oversee significant functions and responsibilities within the Cadet Corps.

The rank insignia for officers consist of either silver balls or silver diamonds. The greater the number of balls or diamonds, the higher the rank, with diamonds indicating higher rank than balls.

The Value of Military Rank at Military Schools

The military rank system at a boys military school like Fork Union Military Academy helps create an environment that supports positive peer pressure.

Unlike most public schools where social standing is often defined by the brand of clothing or athletic shoes worn by students, or other skewed measures of personal value, a military rank system builds social standing based on actual achievement. Students who perform well can earn promotions in rank and gain greater responsibilities—as well as benefits—as they rise in rank.

This completely reconfigures the social hierarchy in high school.

The adolescent cliques based on superficial criteria are no longer the dominant factor when a student enrolls in a military school. Instead, the student's own ability and performance become most important in determining that student's place in the hierarchy, without regard to the student's socioeconomic background, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, or other factors beyond that student's control. This creates a sense of empowerment for students because their place in the school's social status system is completely within their ability to help determine.

Want to learn more about Fork Union Military Academy?

I hope that you will find the military system employed at schools like Fork Union Military Academy to be intriguing and something you'd like to learn more about. I encourage you to surf through our website and learn more about Fork Union Military Academy!