Posted on Jan 6, 2015
Why wouldn't you answer a "Good morning", "good afternoon" or "good evening"?
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Good morning RP members, why is it that a lot of soldiers are not able to answer a simple Good Morning? At first, I thought that it was, maybe, a rank thing like "oh, he's just a private" but, I've seen me getting no response from people with my same rank. How big could be your rush to not answer back? How much do you hate what you do to not be able to be nice with people? Is this a general thing or just where I'm stationed?
Military Life
Respect
Customs and Courtesies
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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This may be the reason, well it could happen:
Sgt. Ernie Savage: Good morning, Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: How do you know what kind of goddamn day it is?
Sergeant Ernie Savage: Beautiful morning, Sergeant!
Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: What are you a f******g weatherman now?
Sgt. Ernie Savage: Good morning, Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: How do you know what kind of goddamn day it is?
Sergeant Ernie Savage: Beautiful morning, Sergeant!
Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: What are you a f******g weatherman now?
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CSM Vince Gunter Sr.
I wasn't that bad but if I look you in the face and speak then I expect a responds. Just a common courtesy
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SSG (Join to see)
CSM Charles Hayden, I mean no disrespect to the memory CSM Plumley and I did not clearly state my intent. Sometimes very junior enlisted can see someone of high rank and it can be intimidating at first. Eventually they learn that they put on their pants one leg at time like they do.
I have personally known SGMs/CSMs who 'looked hard'. Once you establish a dialogue you soon realize they're not the big meanies everyone thinks they are. However they are the first to caution you to not let that get around. But I agree there's seems to be a downward spiral of mutual respect, customs and courtesies.
I have personally known SGMs/CSMs who 'looked hard'. Once you establish a dialogue you soon realize they're not the big meanies everyone thinks they are. However they are the first to caution you to not let that get around. But I agree there's seems to be a downward spiral of mutual respect, customs and courtesies.
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SFC Ian Lumgair
you know, I was afforded the opportunity to sit down with CSM Plumley. That question came up. Did you really say that? he said. "I'm not certain that I said that exactly but I don't question it, the Col has an amazing memory. " he later explained that leadership at that level was different than it is now. CSM's never talked to lower enlisted unless you there to have them arrested, or to pin a medal on them. officers rarely talked to the CSM's unless you where the XO or part of the Commanders staff CSM's conversation where strictly with SNCO's even then, unless you where part of the commanders staff or a 1SG then it was a rare and not good situation, you where in to have a conversation with the CSM. the CSM selected all his 1SGs SNCO staff and nearly all his SNCO's' he was hand selected by his commander regardless of previous position. it was completely likely that he had served with those selections for at the least 5 years. It is not a smertch on CSM Plumley that he acted they way he did, He was in an Army that was very different. I was personally amazed by the man, I was deeply saddened by his passing. He was a consummate leader of men.
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SSG (Join to see)
SFC Ian Lumgair, thank you for sharing that experience. The movie doesn't compare to the reading material about CSM Plumley and LTC Moore. You're right it was a different Army back then.
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When I was a Drill Sergeant, I did an AT at Fort Leonard Wood. It was the first time I was "on the trail."
The full timers had had a bad experience with the Reservists in the last rotation which resulted in some of the full timers getting in trouble. Suffice it to say, they didn't like us. It wasn't all of them.
One Sergeant First Class, really hated us. And she was the acting 1SG for a few days. She came in one morning, and one of my Reserve colleagues said good morning. She ignored him, and one of the full timers said the same thing, she then turned around smiling and said good morning to him.
I lit her up! Told her she was rude in front of her team and told her that I would be happy to get back to my civilian life where at least people have the common courtesy to return a "good morning."
She cleared the room and tried to give me her mind, I had none of it. She threatened a bad evaluation, and I told her that my chain of command had already been briefed on her behavior and I was not worried about it. She was a huge jerk, and I told her in no uncertain terms that I thought she was amazingly unprofessional. Some of her colleagues thanked me for calling her out.
That's how I feel about not returning a greeting of the day. I don't care who you are, have some common decency and say it back.
Even SGM Plumley responded.
The full timers had had a bad experience with the Reservists in the last rotation which resulted in some of the full timers getting in trouble. Suffice it to say, they didn't like us. It wasn't all of them.
One Sergeant First Class, really hated us. And she was the acting 1SG for a few days. She came in one morning, and one of my Reserve colleagues said good morning. She ignored him, and one of the full timers said the same thing, she then turned around smiling and said good morning to him.
I lit her up! Told her she was rude in front of her team and told her that I would be happy to get back to my civilian life where at least people have the common courtesy to return a "good morning."
She cleared the room and tried to give me her mind, I had none of it. She threatened a bad evaluation, and I told her that my chain of command had already been briefed on her behavior and I was not worried about it. She was a huge jerk, and I told her in no uncertain terms that I thought she was amazingly unprofessional. Some of her colleagues thanked me for calling her out.
That's how I feel about not returning a greeting of the day. I don't care who you are, have some common decency and say it back.
Even SGM Plumley responded.
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SSG Kevin McCulley
For goodness sake, even if it is a smile and a nod! It provides connection and builds trust.
CSM, I can tell you could probably have worked me 18 hour days, 7 days a week and not heard much belly aching. When Soldiers know they have a leader that will stand up for things like that, they know they will stand up for them and the tasks they assign, no matter how stupid, must simply have to get done.
CSM, I can tell you could probably have worked me 18 hour days, 7 days a week and not heard much belly aching. When Soldiers know they have a leader that will stand up for things like that, they know they will stand up for them and the tasks they assign, no matter how stupid, must simply have to get done.
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CSM David Heidke
SSG Kevin McCulley, rest assured that if I made you work that long, I would probably have been there with you. "I will never require a Soldier to attempt any task I would not do myself." Although I've had Battalion Commanders tell me that's not my job anymore. ;-)
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Some people may be grumpy, but for the most part they most likely were raised in a city where greeting everyone walking by was impractical. It isn't an insult, more likely just a culture shock that you are greeting them without reason.
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SSG (Join to see)
It was instilled in me that the greeting of the day was always given no matter what. The important part is you gave the greeting.
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SSG (Join to see)
I'm not what you would call a morning person and I'm not always overly fond of pointless banter until I've had a couple cups of coffee. That said, I always at least make eye contact and acknowledge greetings with a nod.
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