One day a general was traveling down the backroads of Lackland Air Force base
when his driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed. A quick thinking basic-trainee
pulled the general from the burning wreck seconds before it exploded. "Son
for your quick thinking and bravery" said the general, " I want to
promote you." "Any rank you'd like is yours for saving my life".
The stunned trainee sat speechless thinking. "How's about we make you a
2nd Lieutenant?" "Would you like that, a commission right out of basic
training?" asked the general. "I don't think so, sir" the trainee
replied. "Well how about a 1st Lieutenant then, that's a step higher?"
Again the trainee thought, and refused. "Well son, Captain is the next
step above that, and as high as I'd be able to promote you, how's that sound?"
The trainee thought for a minute and sheepishly replied, "Well Sir, 2nd
Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Captain, they all sound good, but what I'd really
like to be, well, is a Master Sergeant."
"I'm very sorry son" the general replied, "but you have to test
to be a Master Sergeant"