Posted on Feb 11, 2022
Can a corporal in a team leader position have me do corrective action (“smoke” me)? And was I wrong to tell him to eat a bag of dicks?
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We just got a new Corporal who recently reclassed to mortars. He’s highly motivated (hooah), and during a training event, we had a disagreement over how to perform large deflections. He told me to "drop," but the fire mission he was calling would’ve put us outside the safety fan during a live fire and could have potentially caused injuries to other elements participating in the exercise.
Now, I understand and respect his rank, but I’ve been a mortarman longer and currently serve as the Gun 2 gunner. The fact is—he was wrong. He just became an 11C, and when he wouldn’t listen to correction or reason, I told him (admittedly out of frustration) to eat a bag of d***s.
I’m curious to hear what others think—especially when it comes to situations where rank clashes with experience and safety is on the line.
Now, I understand and respect his rank, but I’ve been a mortarman longer and currently serve as the Gun 2 gunner. The fact is—he was wrong. He just became an 11C, and when he wouldn’t listen to correction or reason, I told him (admittedly out of frustration) to eat a bag of d***s.
I’m curious to hear what others think—especially when it comes to situations where rank clashes with experience and safety is on the line.
CPL
Corporal
11C: Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman)
Edited 5 mo ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 358
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In my time, you tell me or any other NCO to eat a bag of dicks, stand by. Then I’d stand by for demotion and gladly take it. Worth it to teach some respect of rank. No matter how “long” you’ve been in. Respect the rank or get your nasty body out of my Marine Corps.
Sincerely,
OIF 1 and II Marine Vet NCO
Sincerely,
OIF 1 and II Marine Vet NCO
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LCpl Michael Cappello
That is pretty much how I got back to LCpl. Co Xo and group MSgt all had my back but they couldn't save my stripes. They were GLADLY given though. Best Xo I ever had. He ran into me at my next duty station and came home for dinner with the wife and I.
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Btw, many moons ago, I did the same thing. Although my reply was not as harsh ( and I mean that in a good way) as yours. In my situation, I told him, “ how are you going to tell me what to do coffee cup NCO?” I was wrong as well
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I don’t usually chime in, but first of all, a corporal is an NCO and has authority under UCMJ and you are to obey a lawful order from an NCO. Furthermore, even if he were a Specialist in a team leader position, he would still have authority to give orders. It’s position over rank. Either way, disrespect to an NCO is a major no-no and you as specialist, should know better.
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I am Surprised the Corporal did not snatch you up by your bootstraps and have you standing in front of the old man. It could have been an E-1 giving you the order and it would not have mattered as long as he had positional authority over you. If it is a lawful order, which it was, you bite the bullet and follow it, after it has been followed, then you follow up by talking to him in private to explain you're reasoning for the argument. Make sure you back it up with factual data, not your own personal opinion.
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Yes. He's an NCO. You aren't. Your input and experience obviously isn't irrelevant, but an unprofessional outburst like that just made it that way.
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It doesn't matter if he was a Cpl or a CSM, you are going to deal with a lot of people who don't know what they are doing, You have to respect the rank, not the person, I suggest you work on your respectfully belittling vocabulary.
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You deserve wall to wall counseling. That is exactly what you would have gotten back in my Army days.
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Just a little bit of info for you in the event that you are a soldier in the US Army, still on active duty. You just openly confessed on a public forum to disrespecting an NCO. Even if you were "smoked", that offense is still punishable under the UCMJ. Someone from your chain of command could copy and print what you say here, attach it to a counseling form and use it as evidence against you!
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Yes the corporal can have you do corrective actions. The action should reflect the situation that would help you. After that, you could have pulled the corporal to the side and talked to him about your concerns, you would have received a better outcome
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