Form No E 5: Fill & Download for Free

Unless forbidden by policy or order, an E-5 can live off base, at their own expense.In the Marines, an E-5 (now) rates their own room in the barracks. E-5’s didn’t “rate” this when I was in. Command tried to make sure that NCOs were 1 or 2 to a room, but it didn’t always work out. According to some recent literature I read, the USMC was/is losing good NCOs as Afghanistan and Iraq draws down, so they’ve tried to make some quality of life improvements in an effort to retain these experienced troops. However, the USMC making quality of life improvements is like an android trying to ponder “love”. It’s fascinating to watch, but ultimately pointless. They are never going to “get it”.So, in short. An E-5 can live off base. If that E-5 wants to live off base at military expense, and receive BAH/BAS, then the E-5 better hope that the base is out of: 1.) single rooms in the barracks, 2.) on-base apartments, 3.) on-base enlisted housing. If the base doesn’t have any place to properly billet him/her, in the style that he rates, then and only then will the military pay for him/her to live off base. Furthermore, if there are any E-6’s or above who are occupying the single room, the on-base apartment or on-base house, the E-6 might get bumped off base, and receive BAH/BAS, so that the E-5 can move in to the on base billet. So he/she better hope that there’s no one of higher rank involved in this overflow of base housing.Of course, the previous paragraph explains what *should* happen. This is the Marine Corps we are talking about. It’s just as likely that all the E-5’s would get billeted in their very own squad bay, with communal bathrooms, and no doors on the shitters if the base was out of regular housing. So, Semper Gumby.

Personal experience - I had my middle finger sewn back on by an E-5 corpsman. When a real doctor first saw it, he shouted: “Who Did This”! I asked why and the Doc said that it was the best he had ever seen. I have full use and feeling in that finger and that was 40 yrs ago.Personal experience - I was shot in the leg. An E-4 corpsman, assisted by an E-5 treated me. No doctor could have done any better than they did.History - Beginning in WWII, most ships the size of destroyers and smaller had enlisted men corpsmen as their only medical expert. Usually, it was a Chief PO but often was an E-6 and some had only an E-5.Then, as now, they did everything - surgery included. In WWII and every war since then, the US soldiers have had a higher survival rate than any other country’s military (enemy or allies) and most of that medical triage and vital systems treatment was by enlisted corpsmen.Although it is about an Army medic, the movie Hacksaw Ridge is based on real events and real people and portrays what a lot of medics were like during wartime. Watch it and you’ll understand why the soldiers and sailors and marines all revere the medics.Outside the service, enlisted corpsmen are by far the preferable hire for civilian EMT and rescue jobs. Of course, as with any population, there are a few bad apples but I would venture to guess that there are far fewer among military medics than most other military jobs. It was my experience that they did not rise to the level of being prayed to but, for the most part, they certainly had the respect and protection of the vast majority of their peers and superiors.Here’s a few links you might find interesting:What They Mean – Combat Medic Badge10 Heroic Battlefield MedicsDecorations of Valor Awarded to Hospital Corpsmanhttp://www.med.navy.mil/bumed/nmhistory/Pages/Medal-of-Honor.aspx

The army generally makes a distinction between “young and dumb” and “should have known better. That is the E-5/E-6 line for enlisted and O-2/Higher line for officers. If you are a senior officer or NCO and you pop hot for drugs or get a DUI, your career is over. You will never see another promotion and will likely be removed from active duty.A second LT might get a second chance, depending on the severity of the event… If they aren't marked with dread “do not retain” they might live to fight another day:If they get do not retain they are done—completely depends on the compassion vs virtue signalling of the senior rater.E-5 and below typically lose a stripe they can pick up again after a year—it slows them down, it doesn't kill them.