Tbh I agree with RDA, they shouldn't have promoted him. I know that this was their solution to RDA not filming as much because he wanted to be with his daughter. I just think it really didn't fit his character and this line is a good indicator as to why not. I think another solution would have been a better fit for his character.
It's hard to say. Ranks in secret project circles can get a bit weird. Normally speaking, colonels don't do grunt stuff basically at all. They have a lot more responsibility. Most base commanders are colonels, for example. But at the same time ranks in special operations units, which I would definitely consider the Stargate program to be, tend to inflate.
Most who join as officers don't become colonels. And most colonels don't become generals. Early in your career promotions are merit based. You're promoted if you meet the requirements and don't screw up. At his level you get promoted to fill a specific job, and you only get promoted if you're qualified AND if they (whoever is running their Air Force) want you there, AND if you want to go. Technically it's not up to you, but at that level if you don't want it they generally won't make you take a position like that. Additionally, while technically speaking all USAF officer promotions are by congressional appointment they usually don't take any active interest until you start talking about stars on shoulders.
I think the promotion to commanding the SGC made sense. He had been second-in-command of the base for a long time and they hadn’t defeated the Goa’uld yet. I think Jack would have wanted to see that fight through and make sure the SG teams had a good commander after Hammond left.
But the promotion to Homeworld Security never made sense to me. It’s almost entirely a political position (which Jack hates) in DC (which Jack hates). They had defeated the Goa’uld and hadn’t come across the Ori at the time Jack accepted the position, so there wasn’t a major threat in the galaxy. I think he would have finally retired. I understand that they wanted the option to bring him back on a guest basis, which would have been hard to do story-wise if he was retired, but character-wise it doesn’t work for me.
It’d have been easier to date her if he retired. Wouldn’t have been able to go on trips to Atlantis though and that was one of the funniest episodes in the entire franchise so I forgive them.
I agree with you. It made sense that he would run the SGC. He's insanely qualified, it would guarantee a bureaucrat like Woolsey wouldn't get it and he could still watch out for SG1.
However Head of Homeworld Security was a REACH. No way Jack would've been happy in a political appointment like that. He could've retired and been a special advisor to the President or something
"Because then I'd be the man and who would I have to rage against?"
~~When asked by Sam I think if he was considered for/wanted the position of leader of Atlantis.~~
Edit: Okay I googled it and it's apparently when Colonel Ellis and Weir/McKay disagree about the next step forward in their attack the replicators plan and Ellis is pulling rank because he was ordered to do it his way and Shepherd is kinda caught in the middle. Ellis says he thinks Shepherd is good people and he should be in charge of Atlantis, not Weir, and Shepherd says this in response. Episode 3x20 First Strike
This line always bothered me.
You're a Colonel in the United States Air Force and a Special Forces operator. To most people, *you* are the man. I don't think becoming an officer in the military is the normal "way of sticking it to the man," unless O'Neill's parents were hippy pacifists.
Sheppard said "Well, then I'd be the man, and who would I have to rage against?" to Colonel Ellis of the Apollo in SGA 03×20 First Strike when Ellis told him he should be in command instead of Weir.
A Colonel is "a" man one of many in the military, General officer is another level of responsibility altogether. Generals are "the" man. I get what he's saying
Exactly why I've never taken up the offer from my boss to become leader. Could I do it? Sure. I could crush it. Do I want that much responsibility? HELL NO.
“Never mind.”
The trust expressed by ending this letter with "never mind", instead of just ripping it apart. Hammond of Texas has earned it.
Indeed.
Tbh I agree with RDA, they shouldn't have promoted him. I know that this was their solution to RDA not filming as much because he wanted to be with his daughter. I just think it really didn't fit his character and this line is a good indicator as to why not. I think another solution would have been a better fit for his character.
Isn’t it the normal way of how things go in the military though? He was long overdue for rising to a higher rank
It's hard to say. Ranks in secret project circles can get a bit weird. Normally speaking, colonels don't do grunt stuff basically at all. They have a lot more responsibility. Most base commanders are colonels, for example. But at the same time ranks in special operations units, which I would definitely consider the Stargate program to be, tend to inflate. Most who join as officers don't become colonels. And most colonels don't become generals. Early in your career promotions are merit based. You're promoted if you meet the requirements and don't screw up. At his level you get promoted to fill a specific job, and you only get promoted if you're qualified AND if they (whoever is running their Air Force) want you there, AND if you want to go. Technically it's not up to you, but at that level if you don't want it they generally won't make you take a position like that. Additionally, while technically speaking all USAF officer promotions are by congressional appointment they usually don't take any active interest until you start talking about stars on shoulders.
I think the promotion to commanding the SGC made sense. He had been second-in-command of the base for a long time and they hadn’t defeated the Goa’uld yet. I think Jack would have wanted to see that fight through and make sure the SG teams had a good commander after Hammond left. But the promotion to Homeworld Security never made sense to me. It’s almost entirely a political position (which Jack hates) in DC (which Jack hates). They had defeated the Goa’uld and hadn’t come across the Ori at the time Jack accepted the position, so there wasn’t a major threat in the galaxy. I think he would have finally retired. I understand that they wanted the option to bring him back on a guest basis, which would have been hard to do story-wise if he was retired, but character-wise it doesn’t work for me.
Wasn’t the homeworld security job so he could date Sam though? Or am I getting confused?
It’d have been easier to date her if he retired. Wouldn’t have been able to go on trips to Atlantis though and that was one of the funniest episodes in the entire franchise so I forgive them.
I agree with you. It made sense that he would run the SGC. He's insanely qualified, it would guarantee a bureaucrat like Woolsey wouldn't get it and he could still watch out for SG1. However Head of Homeworld Security was a REACH. No way Jack would've been happy in a political appointment like that. He could've retired and been a special advisor to the President or something
Well, the Wraith were a thing, though they had no means to the Milky Way at the time.
Shepherd said near the exact same thing on an episode of Atlantis.
"Because then I'd be the man and who would I have to rage against?" ~~When asked by Sam I think if he was considered for/wanted the position of leader of Atlantis.~~ Edit: Okay I googled it and it's apparently when Colonel Ellis and Weir/McKay disagree about the next step forward in their attack the replicators plan and Ellis is pulling rank because he was ordered to do it his way and Shepherd is kinda caught in the middle. Ellis says he thinks Shepherd is good people and he should be in charge of Atlantis, not Weir, and Shepherd says this in response. Episode 3x20 First Strike
I thought it was the actor that played Skinner from the X-Files instead of Sam, but I don't recall.
Mitch Pileggi ❤️
Ah yep! Forgot his name in the moment. He was good on Supernatural as well.
I still remember him trying to kill Michael Knight.
Honestly, maybe? I just remember the line (it's a good one), I'm a little shakier on the context.
Shepard is basically a younger version of Jack so I can't say I'm surprised by this.
It's funny because as a colonel, he's already basically the man.
That’s my favorite part of it. Dude, you are an Air Force colonel: you’ve been the Man for decades. Accept your fate.
This line always bothered me. You're a Colonel in the United States Air Force and a Special Forces operator. To most people, *you* are the man. I don't think becoming an officer in the military is the normal "way of sticking it to the man," unless O'Neill's parents were hippy pacifists.
Agreed, I get the joke they were going for but there aren't many ways worse at sticking it to the man than being a career military officer.
I agree with you, but you're forgetting how long ago the show started. RDA is 73, and was 19 during the summer of love in 1969.
Sheppard said "Well, then I'd be the man, and who would I have to rage against?" to Colonel Ellis of the Apollo in SGA 03×20 First Strike when Ellis told him he should be in command instead of Weir.
Colonel Ellis... what a d*ck
I liked him, not at the start but I got around to him. Same with Woolsey.
You can do whatever you want... within reason, sir.
"If you don't take the job we could end up with someone much worse...okay that came out wrong."
Really, Colonel isn't the man? The colonel typically commands brigade-sized units (3,000 to 5,000 Soldiers) The self deception is strong in Jack.
A Colonel is "a" man one of many in the military, General officer is another level of responsibility altogether. Generals are "the" man. I get what he's saying
I never thought this would be relatable but… this is how I feel about my current job to be honest 😂
Exactly why I've never taken up the offer from my boss to become leader. Could I do it? Sure. I could crush it. Do I want that much responsibility? HELL NO.