Talk:Gentleman ranker

This article is within the scope of the Military history WikiProject. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks. To use this banner, please see the full instructions.Military historyWikipedia:WikiProject Military historyTemplate:WikiProject Military historymilitary history articles

This article has been checked against the following criteria for B-class status:
Referencing and citation: criterion not met Coverage and accuracy: criterion not met Structure: criterion met Grammar and style: criterion met Supporting materials: criterion not met

Associated task forces:
/
	British military history task force
	European military history task force

concept of a gentleman[edit]

A gentleman ranker makes sense in the context of the British Army. In the British class system, which was in full flower during the Victorian era to which the Kipling poem refers (Trooper of the Empress), one was born to the distinction of gentleman, one born other wise could not (in theory at least) attain the distinction.

This whole concept does not translate to the American Republic, where the term gentleman refers to an adult male who conducts himself with dignity, courtesy and honor, but says nothing about his birth. By this definition, many enlisted men are gentlemen, and some officers are not. So the concept of gentleman ranker does not apply in the US Army. It is not commonly used in American speech.

I dont edit Wiki articles, but I suggest somebody take out the part about enlisted men who have earned a degree while in the service, but have not obtained a commission. Going to night school while on active service does not automatically, or even frequently, turn a non-gentleman (by the American understanding of the term) into a gentleman. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.163.115.114 (talk) 21:42, 10 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]