Calling At Ease for an E7?

SSG,

Understand that what the Army publications state are what guides soldiers. But, there are different workplace situations in which the command group can deem certain rules to be more/less strict or nullified by setting policies/orders. These types of situations should be brought up to them. Every individual work environment is different. Bring this and similar situations to the attention of your leadership and command group and let them know your side. They can decide from there. Until then, the FM is what you should follow.

In my 20 yrs, you only call at ease when the most senior person comes in the building. For examples: I'm at BDE HQ and a BN CSM walks in, nothing other than "good morning sergeant major" is said, but if the post (questionable) or regimental (definite) CSM walks in you call at ease, because by position, they are senior to the bde CSM. If the BDE CSM is not in, then you would call at ease for the BN CSM or S3 SGM, because they are the senior NCO "on deck". Same scenario for officers, if the deputy commander comes in first, he/she gets the "unit level" attention, but if the higher commander is there, they get a good morning sir/ma'am.

My undersatnding is that you do call at ease for a senior NCO regardless of whether he or she is in a 1SG or above position, unless otherwise directed by said NCO. That's what happens in a majority of the cases, especially in the workplace because if you called at ease everytime an E-7 walked into the room, no work would ever take place

I always do it, especially when I'm new to a unit. If the senior NCO then carry on or tells us that to not do that, then that is their discretion and I will no longer say it. Personally, please do not say it for me when I walk in the room. If you do, then thank you because technically that is how it is supposed to be done, but I honestly do not care unless it is for formal reasons. I will tell other to "carry on" in a heart beat.

Technically the E-7 is right, notice I didn't say the Sergeant First Class, you are supposed to call at ease for an NCO senior to you when they enter the room. It is along the lines of a conversation about certain ranks and certain courtesies way back when that we are all trying to forget, and one person is tired of hearing about.
Technically right does not mean that the anti-respect garnered from acting like a total (very nice guy) is worth it. The last time this happened to me, I stood at the door waiting for the &(very nice guy) to enter the room, scream "AT EASE!!! at the top of my lungs into his ear in my drill and ceremony command voice, for the next couple days. I ENTHUSIASTICALLY followed his orders and proper courtesy. For some reason that seemed to change the (very nice guy)'s opinion of ridged adherence to courtesy.

Sounds like this army E7 needs a reality check.

I have seen a few comments posted by Senior NCOs in this forum saying that they don't expect or demand these actions and it is a pity.

This courtesy is given freely, it is not to be demanded.

If you, as a senior NCO, have to demand your soldiers offer the very basic of respect and courtesy, then you have a very serious issue involving not just the junior soldiers, but the lack of knowledge and leadership by your subordinate NCOs. Your unit is septic.

At the same time, if your subordinates have to be forced to render such courtesies then you most definitely have a unit discipline problem, especially with your subordinate NCOs and how they are teaching their soldiers by setting the example, or shall we say lack of example.

When superiors and their subordinates fail to render, and/or recognize, these simple gestures it tells a lot about the culture of that unit. These courtesies are given freely, they require only 2 simple ingredients....respect for oneself, and respect for others. When one of these is missing, neither are present.

Be careful when you say you don't expect or do not want these customs and courtesies to be rendered. Leaders lead by example, so if your soldiers are not doing it for you, then you must not be doing it for your superiors.

FM 7-21.13 "Military courtesy shows respect and reflects self-discipline. Consistent and proper military courtesy is an indicator of unit discipline, as well. Soldiers demonstrate courtesy in the way we address officers or NCOs of superior rank."

The above passage says it all. The military "way of life" all boils down to the basics of self and unit discipline and readiness. When we lose sight and do not perform (moral actions) and uphold (legal actions) these customs and courtesies, we no longer have a "way of life" you only have a set of in-actions without consequence, better known as a job.

When was the last time that an NCO in these forums handed out a copy of this FM and had a true discussion with their troops about the how and why things are done. It is not enough to tell them, you have to let them know the history for them to understand.

Upon that logic let's see an example:
A group of E-4 and below soldiers are in a room, an E-5 walks in and they call 'at ease'. Twenty minutes later an E-6 walks in and 'at ease' is called again. An hour later an E-7 walks in and 'at ease' is called. <- Not sure how anyone could get any work done in that type of environment. If we conitnue with the logic that the senior NCO leaves, and reenters multiple times a day and 'at ease' needs to be called everytime...then I don't think anything would ever get done. It makes sense if the NCO is in a command position, but even then we use to only call it when the CSM walked in first thing in the morning, and left at the end of the day.

FM 7-21.13 seems to indicate that my example is the way it should be, but when have Army regulations ever been logical?

We call at ease to the lower rank to relax. I can do this to a higher rank in the Army? What witchery is this?