RichardKennaway comments on Why officers vs. enlisted? - Less Wrong

13 Post author: JoshuaFox 30 October 2013 08:14PM

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Comment author: RichardKennaway 31 October 2013 09:47:20AM 7 points [-]

Another data point: the British Police have a single hierarchy. They are all called "officers", but in this case the word does not distinguish them from "enlisted", for which there is no analogue, but from people who do not have police powers (e.g. admin staff). Everyone enters at the bottom, although there are fast-track opportunities.

Comment author: mwengler 31 October 2013 02:04:43PM 3 points [-]

all police departments that I am aware of in the U.S. are single hierarchy. The dual hierarchy is a military thing.

In the U.S. when there has been a draft (involuntary conscription) one is only ever drafted in to the lower hierarchy. The officer hierarchy was always strictly volunteers.

Comment author: ikrase 31 October 2013 07:09:48PM -1 points [-]

Also, even without a draft the lower and upper hierarchy have different induction methods. Military academy for the upper hierarchy, etc.

Comment author: JoshuaFox 31 October 2013 01:30:22PM 0 points [-]

Interesting. That's a nice counterexample.