Limited Advancement Opportunities: Difference between revisions

→‎Literature: Replaced redirects
(→‎Literature: Replaced redirects)
 
(One intermediate revision by one other user not shown)
Line 43:
** The extension of lifespan brought about by pro-long has meant that several flag-rank officers have been asked to go to reserve status to open up opportunities for juniors. Presumably in the face of a needed naval build-up they are to be called back.
** The books pay special attention to the trope of officers (especially Captains) ''refusing'' promotions that would take them from hands-on command to desk jobs. Simply put, if you tell the Navy you're not up to the next responsibility it offers you... It agrees '''completely'''. Enjoy civilian life.
* In the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series, Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard alive and a shining light for the anti-Voldemort movement, is content to spend the rest of his life working as the headmaster of a school. It's mentioned that he's been offered the position of Minister for Magic a number of times, but turns it down even as it continues to go to annoying [[Obstructive Bureaucrat]]s. In ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (novel)|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'', it's revealed that this is because {{spoiler|Dumbledore doesn't trust himself with power due to [[Dead Little Sister|a tragic incident]] in his youth.}}
** He ''was'' Chief Warlock of the Witangemot, which appears to be something like a cross between Speaker for Parliament and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, leaning toward the Chief Justice side. But when politics takes that away it doesn't seem to bother him much.
 
Line 152:
== Radio ==
* ''[[The Navy Lark]]'' both averts and plays this straight. Certain characters are introduced at the same rank they finished with ([[CMOT Dibbler|C.P.O. Pertwee]], [[The Ditz|Sub-Lieutenant Phillips]]), but others such as Commander, then Captain, then Commodore [[Pointy-Haired Boss|Povey]] and [[Suspiciously Similar Substitute|The 2nd]] [[Unfazed Everyman|Number One Cmdr Murray]] rise up the ranks as much as they would in the real navy.
 
 
== Real Life ==
* The US Military's "Up or out" policy is designed to avert this, though this wasn't always the case. In the past, promotions were less focused on forcing officers to progress their careers upward. A good example is Eisenhower who spent 16 years as a major before being promoted to lieutenant colonel. In practice this means forcing a good portion of personnel to retire as options are fewer the higher one goes. Below certain levels one is not even allowed to reach the 20 year mark to qualify for retirement benefits.
** In the past, between major military actions, the US military reverted to a skeleton force (essentially a planning and training cadre), designed to be pumped up again with draftees in case of war. Eisenhower and the other WWII generals held low "permanent" ranks in the Regular Army, and "theater rank" in the provisional Army of the United States. With the large and all-volunteer post-Vietnam military, things have changed a great deal.
* As is the Royal Navy's Captain's List. You either got promoted to Rear Admiral after nine years or retire.
* Similar to the military "up or out" policy mentioned above, the [[British Coppers|UK Metropolitan Police]] had a policy for most of the 20th century called 'tenure' which was designed to avert this. It pretty much amounted to forcing plain clothes detectives who hadn't significantly improved their careers within a certain period (i.e., somebody who had been a Detective Sergeant for a decade or more without having advanced up to Inspector) to have to go back into uniform. The purpose of this was that it was supposed to stop them getting complacent, as well as allowing others within the department the opportunity to advance rank in their wake. It often had the opposite effect though, as many detectives were said to have chosen to resign rather than face the "indignity" of being put back into uniform. [[Scotland Yard]] officially abandoned the tenure scheme in the early 21st century.
 
 
== Video Games ==
Line 172 ⟶ 164:
* Adachi, of [[Persona 4]]. {{spoiler|This is the reason why he snapped.}} {{spoiler|Apparently he made a [[Noodle Incident|'mistake']] that got him sent to Inaba as an informal punishment. Also the characters call him out on the fact that he killed two people because he snapped over not getting promoted. If this was true, frustrated office workers would be killing everyone left and right.}}
 
== Web Comics ==
 
== Webcomics ==
* In ''[[Schlock Mercenary]]'', most characters have undergone several promotions, but Schlock was promoted rapidly to corporal and then sergeant early on, and then stopped there, because no one wants him to be an officer, especially Schlock himself. He has deliberately stayed a Sergeant even in periods where he technically owned the company and could dictate his own terms. Compare Breya, who made herself an Admiral in the same position. The closest he ever got to wanting to progress was being disappointed by the fact that only officers get "epaulet grenades".
** Subverted by Warrant Officer Thurl. Thurl is the oldest member of Tagon's Toughs, and the only reason paychecks go out and supplies come in when they're supposed to. He is very happy as an NCO, and has threatened to resign the minute anyone offers him a commission.
 
== Real Life ==
* The US Military's "Up or out" policy is designed to avert this, though this wasn't always the case. In the past, promotions were less focused on forcing officers to progress their careers upward. A good example is Eisenhower who spent 16 years as a major before being promoted to lieutenant colonel. In practice this means forcing a good portion of personnel to retire as options are fewer the higher one goes. Below certain levels one is not even allowed to reach the 20 year mark to qualify for retirement benefits.
** In the past, between major military actions, the US military reverted to a skeleton force (essentially a planning and training cadre), designed to be pumped up again with draftees in case of war. Eisenhower and the other WWII generals held low "permanent" ranks in the Regular Army, and "theater rank" in the provisional Army of the United States. With the large and all-volunteer post-Vietnam military, things have changed a great deal.
* As is the Royal Navy's Captain's List. You either got promoted to Rear Admiral after nine years or retire.
* Similar to the military "up or out" policy mentioned above, the [[British Coppers|UK Metropolitan Police]] had a policy for most of the 20th century called 'tenure' which was designed to avert this. It pretty much amounted to forcing plain clothes detectives who hadn't significantly improved their careers within a certain period (i.e., somebody who had been a Detective Sergeant for a decade or more without having advanced up to Inspector) to have to go back into uniform. The purpose of this was that it was supposed to stop them getting complacent, as well as allowing others within the department the opportunity to advance rank in their wake. It often had the opposite effect though, as many detectives were said to have chosen to resign rather than face the "indignity" of being put back into uniform. [[Scotland Yard]] officially abandoned the tenure scheme in the early 21st century.
 
 
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Drama Tropes]]
[[Category:Limited Advancement Opportunities]]