|
Author
|
Topic: Astronauts' military ranks and promotions
|
Altidude
Member Posts: 94
From:
Registered: Jan 2016
|
posted 10-20-2021 08:36 AM
   
Does anyone know why some astronauts were promoted by their respective military branches to admiral or general, e.g. Alan Shepard, Jim McDivitt, while others remained captain like John Young? |
cosmos-walter
Member Posts: 733
From: Salzburg, Austria
Registered: Jun 2003
|
posted 10-20-2021 08:47 AM
I assume they attended a general staff academy. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 2063
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 10-20-2021 09:00 AM
Interesting question. What is a general staff academy? Thank you. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1688
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 10-20-2021 09:22 AM
Young chose to retire and stay with NASA.Promotion to general is not an award. The military expects a lot in return for the promotion. And it is based on what one can do vs what one has done. Both the Air Force and Navy got burned by McDivitt and Shepard. McDivitt retired only 4 months after being promoted. Shepard never went back to the Navy. Stafford was the model that the military was be looking for. And others like Kevin Chilton and Susan Helms have followed that. |
mmcmurrey
Member Posts: 182
From: Austin, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2012
|
posted 10-20-2021 01:27 PM
Just because you are promoted to higher rank does not automatically allow you to retire at that rank. There is a set time that you are required to serve in that rank before you are eligible to retire at that rank. McDivitt probably retired as O6 vs his promotion to O7. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1688
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 10-20-2021 04:22 PM
quote:
Originally posted by mmcmurrey:
McDivitt probably retired as O6 vs his promotion to O7.
Maybe didn't keep the pay, but he kept the title. |
advertisement