Question about Bates' rank

[alyse]

Does anyone know what rank Sgt Bates holds? I mean, obviously Sergeant Bates, but he's USMC, isn't he? So is he Sgt Bates? Staff Sgt Bates? Gunnery Sgt Bates? What rank does he hold? Does anyone know? The SciFi site only lists him as 'Sergeant', but that's the lowest Sergeant rank, and Bates seems to have more experience than that, plus both Markham and Stackhouse are also both listed as Sgts, and seem to defer to him, suggesting that somehow, in the labrynthine rank structure he's a more important Sgt than they are :)

I haven't seen any shots of his insignia, but there's this guide to what they mean.

And why does it have to be so complicated? The other characters probably think of him as 'Sgt' but Bates strikes me as the type of man who would think of himself by his full rank.

Comments

[titti]

Considering that he's head of security, I'd say that he's at least a Sgt. Major. That's just my opinion not having seen any caps of his ensigna. Then again, I had a cap of Ford with the Canadian flag even though he's a US Marine. LOL

[alyse]

Thanks :) I was thinking that he'd have to be a Gunnery Sgt at least.

[yorkybar.livejournal.com]

I seem to have developed an unjustifiable, pathological dislike of Bates.

It doesn't help that everytime someone mentions him I get the Captain Pugwash joke about 'Master Bates' in my head.

Oh, and I've got no idea about his rank. Sorry. :)

[alyse]

LOL. True. I was trying not to think about Captain Pugwash. He's annoying, but he's often right. Plus, he has a thing for Teyla.

[perian.livejournal.com]

I had decided not to comment on this in my feedback to your story, since I never know if people want concrit or not, but then I saw this post, so...

I don't think Bates is a gunnery sergeant, if only because then he would most likely be referred to as "Gunny". Maybe not by Sheppard, since he's Air Force, but definitely by Sumner and the other Marines. It's possible that he is only a Staff Sergeant, but I would guess that he is actually a First Sergeant. Here's a different description than the one on the page you linked: The First Sergeant rank is command-oriented, with Marines of this rank serving as the senior enlisted Marine in a unit, charged to assist the commanding officer in matter of discipline, administration and the morale and welfare of the unit. [wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#Ranks)] This makes sense if we assume that a company (approx 100 men) of Marines was sent to Atlantis, despite having a colonel in charge, instead of a captain. He may be a bit young for the rank, but I would think working for the Stargate program would include some decent promotions...

Geez, didn't mean to babble on at you that much. I know it's too late for this story, but still thought it might be interesting to you.

[alyse]

I never know if people want concrit

Oh, I'm all for concrit - or rather, I never actually enjoy being told what I've got wrong (and am wary of those who say they love it :) because, really, who likes being told they got something wrong?) but I think it's essential, so thanks for taking the time to point it out. I'm always grateful for it, once I've finished kicking myself for screwing up :)

I ended up plumping for Gunnery Sgt simply because I knew he had to outrank Markham and Stackhouse, who are also both sergeants, and also he didn't look old enough for some of the other ranks, and this was somewhere in the middle. Plus, and this is the completely unscientific reason, I liked the sound as it rolled off the tongue. It made sense that Bates would think of himself by his full title, and I think there's a certain sneaking pride in being a little better than the other sergeants ;)

I'd heard of the Gunney thing - vague, very vague NCIS viewing, largely when I'm sat down by a friend and made to watch an ep so I think I've seen three so far ::g:: - but it hadn't actually occured to me that officers such as Colonel Sumner would use the term too. So thanks very much for putting me straight, and I'll bear that in mind in future.

[I couldn't be too specific with questions at the time cos I didn't want to tip maryavatar off that I was writing Bates fic :)]

[perian.livejournal.com]

Phew. As soon as I commented I felt bad that I had said that all in a total stranger's lj, so I'm really glad you didn't take it the wrong way. I actually love how you worked his rank into the story (I can totally see him thinking of himself by his rank), so it wasn't even really meant to be criticism. I'm just anal about strange little details and like to inflict it on share it with all and sundry. *grin*

I actually learned the Gunny thing from JAG, which I watched for about half a season years and years ago -- everyone from the Admiral on down called Gunny, Gunny. Obviously, I don't even remember his actual name. But, yeah, it's come up on NCIS a few times too, and in other things I've read and watched, so I think it's actually true and not just a JAG-ism. But your reasons are excellent ones too!

[alyse]

I am so far behind on replying to comments that it's no longer funny :)

I'm fairly placid about people leaving comments in my LJ, even if I don't know them and even if they're concrit, so don't worry about it :) I only get irked if they're flames like u suxxor or disgusting. And yes, I've had those and the urge to hunt them down and kill them teach them some manners is immense ::g::

My own JAG viewing is very, very old, back before Gunny and when it was the blonde. That dates me, doesn't it?