There is no comparison of enlisted folks to officers, even today. I
probably wouldn't trust anyone below (E-6) to make a decision on
their own, where it involved multi-millions, or 40 peoples lives. I know
there are exceptions, but speaking generally, I think lower enlisted grades
should have Squadron level endorsement on marriage benefits being paid.


Have you ever been in the military? What makes an O-1, 2 or 3 anymore qualified
to make such judgements than an E-4 or E-5? The college? There are officers
with no college and there are enlisteds with PhDs. Check out the regs. An E-4
is capable of doing his job with a minimal ammount of supervision. An E-5 can
be a 7 level. In other words he can sign off on safety of flight items.

Set your predjudices aside a recognize that officers are no better men than
enlisteds. The guys that fix the aircraft are E-1 - E6. Most of the wrench
benders are E-2 through E-5 and they make decisions every single day. The
multimillion dollar systems from aircraft to ICBMS are maintained extremely
well by the people you have insulted.

The other branches are similar in that regard.

Dan, U. S. Air Force, retired