Posted on Apr 6, 2014
As a NCO, do you require Soldiers to address you in passing?
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While we are required to salute Commissioned Officers, I've noticed that Enlisted Soldiers are quite comfortable walking pass a NCO their senior without acknowledgment. Do you care?
Posted in these groups: 
Customs and Courtesies
NCOs
Customs and Courtesies NCOs
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 37
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<p>I do care! </p><p><br></p><p>I try to make eye with whomever the Soldier or civilian is while in passing AND if I do not receive a greeting of the day from the Soldier, then I offer one up to them. That short encounter tells me a little bit about that specific Soldier at that point in time, if he or she seems stressed or overwhelmed it really gives me the opportunity to help them. Also, when I see someone doing something positive (pick up trash/just doing the right thing), I typically thank them and also shake their hand. We are in the people business, and our Soldiers are people too.</p>
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
CSM,
Thank you for being a good leader. There's many NCOs out there that don't care why they weren't addressed, and see it as a personal insult. There's many times where I've given a half-hearted greeting of the day, because I'm supposed to do so, when I've been going through some very trying times. So again, thank you, and I wish there were more leaders like you in the great Army that you and I serve in.
Thank you for being a good leader. There's many NCOs out there that don't care why they weren't addressed, and see it as a personal insult. There's many times where I've given a half-hearted greeting of the day, because I'm supposed to do so, when I've been going through some very trying times. So again, thank you, and I wish there were more leaders like you in the great Army that you and I serve in.
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SFC (Join to see)
In the ARNG it is very hard to get junior soldiers to address you while your looking right at them giving them a duty. Female soldiers worst than males soldiers with bearing. I have to say something to every junior soldier when they come up to me... I might be a little too "active duty", but when I was a junior soldier I would always show my NCO's the respect they deserved, they earned it... same with guard, but it seems to be a hassle for junior soldiers to stand at parade rest... I hate it.
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<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: 13.5px; font-family: serif; left: 205.2px; top: 706.681px; transform: rotate(0deg) scale(1.07728, 1); transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px;" data-angle="0" data-font-name="g_font_2068_0" data-canvas-width=" [login to see] 9999994">I do expect soldiers to give a greeting of the day. I always give a greeting of the day to anyone I see, juniors, peers, and seniors alike. Almost everyone returns my greeting. If they are junior to me and do not return my greeting, I will say something briefly.<br><br>There's a few reasons why I "require" a greeting of the day. First is that FM 7.21.13 says soldiers should greet NCOs with a greeting of the day. Second is that I find it rude not to acknowledge another human being regardless of rank. Third, I've just acknowledged you and I find it down-right uncivilized to ignore someone's greeting.<br><br>Of course there's plenty of times when its not practical to give a greeting, just like it's not practical to always go to parade rest when addressing an NCO. I don't get upset if someone junior to me doesn't initiate a greeting. I also don't yell or go on a tirade, I just let them know they should give a greeting of the day to NCOs.</div>
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CPT Brandon Christensen
Totally agree with you SSG Morgan. It's just being polite to give a greetings of the day, regardless of rank.
On a side note, just giving that greeting of the day could prevent that Soldier for doing something horrible to themselves or others.
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Army or not, I was taught you speak when passing anyone. At home if someone walked by me without saying something and vice versa it was considered disrespectful. Thats just how I grew up, not saying that's the way it should be.
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SGT (Join to see)
Im from Alabama, I talk to everyone. Id probably strike up a conversation with a man robbing me at gun point. Its just respectful on a human level nothing to do with rank or regulations.
My favorite thing to do, on the off chance Im not the initiator, is answer TERRIBLE when asked how I am doing. I follow it up with a quick laugh and just kidding, but the looks from that are priceless.
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