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Do you call at ease for an E7 that you work for? Here is the change of command where I work. I work for an E7 who reports to another E7 who reports to the 1SG. Now its my understanding that you call at ease for someone in the position of 1SG or CSM. Am I wrong?
One day out of the blue the E7 that I work for, walked in the room and said .. so you guys **cking with me. So you guys arnt going to call at ease.I out rank you. Lets try this again. There were about 8 Staff Sergeants that were looking around at each other like is he really doing this.. So he walked back in an someone called at ease. After the meeting all the Staff Sergeants were talking about it. None of us have ever called at ease for an E7 that wasnt in a 1SG position. All the E6's that I work with have been in at least 14 years. So now im wondering have we been doing wrong all these years?
One day out of the blue the E7 that I work for, walked in the room and said .. so you guys **cking with me. So you guys arnt going to call at ease.I out rank you. Lets try this again. There were about 8 Staff Sergeants that were looking around at each other like is he really doing this.. So he walked back in an someone called at ease. After the meeting all the Staff Sergeants were talking about it. None of us have ever called at ease for an E7 that wasnt in a 1SG position. All the E6's that I work with have been in at least 14 years. So now im wondering have we been doing wrong all these years?
Posted in these groups: 
Customs and Courtesies
Customs and Courtesies
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 30
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Regulations say you are supposed to call "at ease" when an NCO senior in rank to the group enters the room.
Having said that, this cat is on some kind of power trip. Outside of Basic Training, I haven't seen ANY NCO insist on this - not me, not any CSM I've had - unless it was a formal setting or a meeting. Frankly, I don't want the work of my unit to come to a halt every time I get out of the office and walk around. If I want to get their undivided attention, well... let's just say we First Sergeants have our ways.
Having said that, this cat is on some kind of power trip. Outside of Basic Training, I haven't seen ANY NCO insist on this - not me, not any CSM I've had - unless it was a formal setting or a meeting. Frankly, I don't want the work of my unit to come to a halt every time I get out of the office and walk around. If I want to get their undivided attention, well... let's just say we First Sergeants have our ways.
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I am disappointed that this question is even being asked.
ANY TIME a senior NCO is in your area, you will call AT EASE. Then the most senior person, even an NCO, in that group is to expeditiously move to that Senior NCO and greet him.
The only time that you do not call at ease in this situation is when safety is paramount. As the Senior person in that group you will put the next lower ranking person in charge and the most senior person will expeditiously move to that senior NCO.
In this situation, I have never hesitated to perform this act of courtesy and respect, for me it is second nature and an automatic reaction.
If NCOs are not teaching this, and if they are not exercising this, then I truly am concerned for the Corps.
ANY TIME a senior NCO is in your area, you will call AT EASE. Then the most senior person, even an NCO, in that group is to expeditiously move to that Senior NCO and greet him.
The only time that you do not call at ease in this situation is when safety is paramount. As the Senior person in that group you will put the next lower ranking person in charge and the most senior person will expeditiously move to that senior NCO.
In this situation, I have never hesitated to perform this act of courtesy and respect, for me it is second nature and an automatic reaction.
If NCOs are not teaching this, and if they are not exercising this, then I truly am concerned for the Corps.
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Only NCOs I've seen the room called to "at ease" for (outside of Basic/AIT because TRADOC is a world unto itself) are the 1SG and SGM/CSM. Just like the only officers I've seen a room called to attention for is the Commander or GO. This is out of respect and deference to the position, not necessarily the rank (ie I would not expect a room to come to attention when I walked into a room, even as an O-5, because I am not the Commander). Stand at "at ease" when speaking to him or being spoken to? Sure. Calling the room to their feet? Not so much.
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SSG (Join to see) Service Cultural Difference. Marines call "Attention on Deck" for Commanders and for Colonels and above. The officer for whom it was called gives the "At Ease." We do stand when talking to someone senior to us, but the situation you're describing sounds silly to my ears.
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PO1 (Join to see)
I'm with you on that one Capt Richard I P. - you army guys are waaaayyy too sensitive for silly shite like that.
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PO1 (Join to see)
CPT Michael Barden Saluting seniors? As in enlisted saluting enlisted simple because of senior rank?
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An interesting question no doubt. But SPC Thundercloud asked a very important question, "how can I discern which regulations I'm required to follow and which ones I'm not?" The answer is simple you follow the guidance that is in black and white! A lot of what I see in some of the Forum questions and answers I see here is directly related to her question.
We as seniors (some not all) often get complacent. We use the common response of "we don't do that here, or I have never done that" when we know for a fact that it is in writing in the FMs, ARs and TMs. We know this because we go over these basic functions in our ALC/SLC courses.
To my previous statement of what I see in these "Forums" some NCOs and Officers will post a question that they do not have a clear answer on or a situation that they witnessed and or had happen to them and they rave about soldiers not following the regulations or not knowing basic things, when those that are at fault are the very ones that will dismiss this type of scenario. I acknowledge that other services have various customs and courtesies but if you were in the Army this was a no brainer!
We as seniors (some not all) often get complacent. We use the common response of "we don't do that here, or I have never done that" when we know for a fact that it is in writing in the FMs, ARs and TMs. We know this because we go over these basic functions in our ALC/SLC courses.
To my previous statement of what I see in these "Forums" some NCOs and Officers will post a question that they do not have a clear answer on or a situation that they witnessed and or had happen to them and they rave about soldiers not following the regulations or not knowing basic things, when those that are at fault are the very ones that will dismiss this type of scenario. I acknowledge that other services have various customs and courtesies but if you were in the Army this was a no brainer!
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I just don't get calling the command "at ease" when you aren't at attention in the first place...
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TSgt (Join to see)
LTC Paul Labrador I guess they don't like saying "attention" so they say "tench hut", TSgt Joshua Copeland Just going off my experience on the matter.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
TSgt (Join to see), is this being done outside of tech school? I have friends that were at DM over in LRS and they never heard of this.
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It's definitely an Army thing. In the Navy, you don't call anything for anyone entering a room except for calling "Attention On-Deck" for O-5 and above (the officer in question would then say "Carry On" to allow people to continue about their business).
I also find it interesting that in the Army, apparently you stand at "Parade Rest" while addressing seniors whereas in the Navy and Marine Corps, you are not permitted to speak while at parade rest and would stand at attention while addressing seniors (for an "official" conversation, not casual, of course).
I also find it interesting that in the Army, apparently you stand at "Parade Rest" while addressing seniors whereas in the Navy and Marine Corps, you are not permitted to speak while at parade rest and would stand at attention while addressing seniors (for an "official" conversation, not casual, of course).
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CAPT (Join to see)
Yes. You are permitted to speak at attention in response to questions or when standing at attention while addressing a superior in an official capacity. You are not permitted to engage in casual conversation at attention in formation.
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SFC Harry (Billy) Tison
Ralph, it is an Army thing that is taught in basic training. That being said, a lot of NCO's and officers have a chip on their shoulders thinking that it should be called on every occasion they enter an area. For the most part, most do not say anything unless you do not at least acknowledge that they are there by saying, good morning, afternoon, or evening, (whatever their rank is). Most do understand that the work place, especially a maintenance bay or an ammo dump, is not the place to be calling at ease or attention
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CAPT (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - yes, when spoken to. If you are asked a question and are, for instance at parade rest for some reason, you would pop to attention to respond.
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CAPT (Join to see)
Got it. My new reserve unit CO just implemented a policy where first time coming in the room in the morning we call attention on deck for him then not for the rest of the day which is a common practice though in the reserves it's been rare for me to hear it called at all except in very specific circumstances.
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Personally, as a 1SG and then CSM, my units gave an "At Ease" only when I entered the office the first time in the morning and when I left at the end of the day, and an "Attention" for the Commander for the same occasions. The only people who received this custom/courtesy/respect was the Commander and 1SG/CSM.
At the O3 Command level, they called "Attention" for any O4 or higher and "At Ease" for any CSM.
At the O5 Command level, they called "Attention" for any O6 or higher and "At Ease" for any CSM working for an O6.
At the O6 Command level, they called "Attention" for any General Officer and "At Ease" for any nominative CSM.
Given the different branches, TRADOC vs FORSCOM, etc, I recommend everyone check what is expected of them on their respective base/in their unit. I don't think there can be one {right} answer here.
At the O3 Command level, they called "Attention" for any O4 or higher and "At Ease" for any CSM.
At the O5 Command level, they called "Attention" for any O6 or higher and "At Ease" for any CSM working for an O6.
At the O6 Command level, they called "Attention" for any General Officer and "At Ease" for any nominative CSM.
Given the different branches, TRADOC vs FORSCOM, etc, I recommend everyone check what is expected of them on their respective base/in their unit. I don't think there can be one {right} answer here.
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