Posted on Mar 15, 2015
About the whole "it doesn't look professional" that is running rampant as of late...
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"Tattoos do not look professional".
But they do reflect the times the military exists in. Just as longer hair was the norm in the late 70's and early 80's soldiers.
Or as slicked hair and pencil line mustaches were the norm in the 40's and 50's soldiers.
Or as sideburns and beards were the norm in the 1880's to WWI soldiers.
"Walking and drinking while in uniform is unprofessional."
"Walking while on the phone in uniform is unprofessional."
"Walking while in uniform with items in your hands that would impede you from saluting is unprofessional."
"PDA while in uniform are unprofessional"
Since when does our profession require us to stop being human beings, being people that live in and are part of the world the Army is set in?
Our profession requires us to be ready to fight and win America's wars. And we do that by being the best at what we do.
We do it by ensuring our soldiers are trained to complete and succeed in their missions.
We do it by ensuring the welfare of our soldiers is accomplished, as our own mission.
"Accomplishment of my mission AND the welfare of my soldiers" or so it goes.
Not "OR", and certainly not "choose either".
So why, then, are we choosing to punish soldiers for holding their spouse's hand at the PX while in uniform, instead of admonishing the Senior NCO or the Officer walking with their hands in their pockets?
Why do we choose to shame the Private that is walking out of the store with a recent purchase in her hands, thus unable to salute a 2nd LT?...whom himself was walking and talking on the phone while in uniform?
It seems to me that professionalism is more than just looking like an old lead/metal toy soldier. All shiny and proper and robot like.
To me, professionalism equals NOT cussing your soldiers for being 5 minutes late due to the accident at the gate.
Or making your sick soldier drive 30 miles for first formation and potentially expose your other soldiers to whatever illness the soldier has...only to send him to the Aid Station to be seen and sent back to you for disposition...exposing more soldiers again. Not to speak of the simple fact that the soldier is sick. Incoveniencing his family if they have to drive him, etc.
Off of my soap box now.
I just feel the need to improve the way we treat our soldiers while improving our definition of what a professional is.
But they do reflect the times the military exists in. Just as longer hair was the norm in the late 70's and early 80's soldiers.
Or as slicked hair and pencil line mustaches were the norm in the 40's and 50's soldiers.
Or as sideburns and beards were the norm in the 1880's to WWI soldiers.
"Walking and drinking while in uniform is unprofessional."
"Walking while on the phone in uniform is unprofessional."
"Walking while in uniform with items in your hands that would impede you from saluting is unprofessional."
"PDA while in uniform are unprofessional"
Since when does our profession require us to stop being human beings, being people that live in and are part of the world the Army is set in?
Our profession requires us to be ready to fight and win America's wars. And we do that by being the best at what we do.
We do it by ensuring our soldiers are trained to complete and succeed in their missions.
We do it by ensuring the welfare of our soldiers is accomplished, as our own mission.
"Accomplishment of my mission AND the welfare of my soldiers" or so it goes.
Not "OR", and certainly not "choose either".
So why, then, are we choosing to punish soldiers for holding their spouse's hand at the PX while in uniform, instead of admonishing the Senior NCO or the Officer walking with their hands in their pockets?
Why do we choose to shame the Private that is walking out of the store with a recent purchase in her hands, thus unable to salute a 2nd LT?...whom himself was walking and talking on the phone while in uniform?
It seems to me that professionalism is more than just looking like an old lead/metal toy soldier. All shiny and proper and robot like.
To me, professionalism equals NOT cussing your soldiers for being 5 minutes late due to the accident at the gate.
Or making your sick soldier drive 30 miles for first formation and potentially expose your other soldiers to whatever illness the soldier has...only to send him to the Aid Station to be seen and sent back to you for disposition...exposing more soldiers again. Not to speak of the simple fact that the soldier is sick. Incoveniencing his family if they have to drive him, etc.
Off of my soap box now.
I just feel the need to improve the way we treat our soldiers while improving our definition of what a professional is.
Posted in these groups: 
Professionalism
Professionalism
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 9
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SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA
Pretty simple - Discipline
We expect Soldiers to abide by a code and we expect our NCOs to enforce that code. You don't have to agree with the code but as a NCO you need to abide and enforce it. Many Soldiers lack the personal courage to make a correction on an officer or senior NCO. Many NCOs are "power" crazy and think it's payback time on privates because they got the same when they were privates.
If you feel strongly enough about a regulation that seems "unfair" or outdated DA PAM 670-1 outlines how to submit a query to change subjects in AR 670-1. When you VOLUNTEER to join the military you volunteer to lose some of your rights. All young NCOs in every generation have the same complaints/opinions, I had them when I was a young NCO and there has been very little change in my 28 years of service. It's tradition and discipline, it's being a part of something bigger than yourself.
Off my soap box.
Pretty simple - Discipline
We expect Soldiers to abide by a code and we expect our NCOs to enforce that code. You don't have to agree with the code but as a NCO you need to abide and enforce it. Many Soldiers lack the personal courage to make a correction on an officer or senior NCO. Many NCOs are "power" crazy and think it's payback time on privates because they got the same when they were privates.
If you feel strongly enough about a regulation that seems "unfair" or outdated DA PAM 670-1 outlines how to submit a query to change subjects in AR 670-1. When you VOLUNTEER to join the military you volunteer to lose some of your rights. All young NCOs in every generation have the same complaints/opinions, I had them when I was a young NCO and there has been very little change in my 28 years of service. It's tradition and discipline, it's being a part of something bigger than yourself.
Off my soap box.
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Cpl Jerry Millar
I think you sum it up nicely CSM Oldsen; soldiers are held to a higher level than civilians, regardless of what the "sign of the times" are. I personally don't mind tattoos and even have a couple which are concealed when I am wearing (wore) my uniform. In fact, they are/were even concealed when I was subjected to wearing those tiny PT shorts in basic haha! I am thankful I listened to the advice of senior Marines when I was contemplating where to get tattooed because when I entered my next chapter in life, the corporate world, a visible tattoo would have been limiting, at least in my personal experience. My agreement or disagreement with that is/was irrelevant; it was a fact. It is competitive enough to get hired and ascend without something like a tattoo holding you back.
I have golfed in 90 degree weather with a coworker that was overheating in long pants and long sleeves because of his tattoos; it sucks but that is the reality.
There are industries that are accepting of visible tattoos in the work place though, just try to keep that in mind when choosing the placement is all.
I have golfed in 90 degree weather with a coworker that was overheating in long pants and long sleeves because of his tattoos; it sucks but that is the reality.
There are industries that are accepting of visible tattoos in the work place though, just try to keep that in mind when choosing the placement is all.
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Lately what is professional has been, "Whatever I think" and not necessarily something in a regulation. Much of it is opinionated.
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SSG (Join to see)
If it isn't in writing with someone's signature at the end of the document then it is someone's opinion.
However, I wouldn't buck a CSM barking at me if I happen to be walking with my cell phone at my ear.
However, I wouldn't buck a CSM barking at me if I happen to be walking with my cell phone at my ear.
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SSG (ret) William Martin
SSG (Join to see) - I am not sure if walking and talking on a cell phone is Army policy but it has been prohibited at every post I have been stationed at since 2007.
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I agree, this whole "unprofessional" thing gets a little old.
Its to the point where having an opinion and/or questioning the purpose of a reg or policy is...wait for it...unprofessional.
I am not supposed to think, just follow the regs?? At what rank or position do I get to think?? We are all leaders, yes?? But we arent supposed to question whether something is effective??
walking and talking on the phone is one of those things...if I am walking somewhere and my cell phone rings, why can I not answer and keep moving?? If I pass by somebody, I can drop my left hand and raise my right, to salute. I got this, I am a big boy now.
Its to the point where having an opinion and/or questioning the purpose of a reg or policy is...wait for it...unprofessional.
I am not supposed to think, just follow the regs?? At what rank or position do I get to think?? We are all leaders, yes?? But we arent supposed to question whether something is effective??
walking and talking on the phone is one of those things...if I am walking somewhere and my cell phone rings, why can I not answer and keep moving?? If I pass by somebody, I can drop my left hand and raise my right, to salute. I got this, I am a big boy now.
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LTC (Join to see)
MAJ Jim Steven, I tend to agree with you that the prohibition on walking and talking on a phone deserves some rethinking. Would you also endorse RP or FB checking while walking in uniform?
I think the argument can be made that senior leaders should be able to conduct business via phone while walking, but I wonder if you would support junior SMs phoning while walking? Would you restrict it only to business matters? Would a family issue qualify as business?
I think the argument can be made that senior leaders should be able to conduct business via phone while walking, but I wonder if you would support junior SMs phoning while walking? Would you restrict it only to business matters? Would a family issue qualify as business?
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MAJ Jim Steven
LTC (Join to see) Thats where is a slippery slope, and therefore, I do agree that regulations can make life easier (which kinda contradicts what I initially said). I wouldnt really care who you are talking to, but when the time comes to salute, or speak to me....do something with your phone - kinda like when you approach a check out line, or in a movie theatre...
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SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA
Walking and chewing gum may look silly. But how is that unprofessional?
Is ORACLE's CEO unprofessional for walking and talking on his phone?
Or a Senator/Congressperson, are they unprofessional when they chew gum during session?
I think the definition of professional vs unprofessional is what is getting out of hand.
Is ORACLE's CEO unprofessional for walking and talking on his phone?
Or a Senator/Congressperson, are they unprofessional when they chew gum during session?
I think the definition of professional vs unprofessional is what is getting out of hand.
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