Posted on Feb 20, 2018
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
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Does general military authority allow a Specialist to require a Private to stand at parade rest for them? There was a previous thread discussing whether a Private should automatically stand at parade rest for a Specialist, but I've seen Specialists over the years tell Privates to stand at parade rest when talking to them. Can Specialists do this? It seems like an abuse of general military authority to me.
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SSG Robert Perrotto
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IMHO - no - not for a SPC, unless that SPC was holding and appointed to a NCO position - then it is the position that you are respecting. For me, just give me the curtesy of going to parade rest when you approach me, unless it is for corrective purposes, I always said "relax" - no reason to keep someone at that position for longer then curtesy demands.
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SGT Phil Marnette
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When I was a spec 4 profitable, i had my own squad of 13 people. There were times when I had to put privates and even non-promotable spec 4s at parade rest. It was rare but sometimes had to be done. At that time in our unit, a spec 4 promotable was considered an NCO by the rest of the chain of command
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SP6 Peter Kreutzfeldt
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if he is a Spc 4 tell him to get a job. If he is a Spc 6 and above better listen
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
7 y
Spec 5 and above don't exist anymore.
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CPT George Langley
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What we have here is a lack of clarity in the question. If we read it as any Specialist and any Private, then the answer is no. If we consider the specific circumstance where the Specialist is (either temporarily or permanently) in a chain of command position re the Private, then the parade rest position might be appropriate.
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SPC Kevin Murphey
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It depends on a couple of things. Yes, that’s what the regulation says but if the SPC is holding a position of command (say the PSGT designated them in command of the platoon, or 1SG, etc) then they are afforded the same respect as if the PSG was standing there. Or if they are assigned to a position that is normally held by a higher ranking enlisted. It also depends on what the command staff of the unit designated. In my last unit, if a SPC told a PV1 to do something, they were to do it and show proper respect; this was 15 years ago though.
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SCPO Morris Ramsey
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Might depend on the size of the SPC
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SPC Margaret Higgins
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When I was a Squad Leader: I never insisted that a Private stand at Parade Rest. I don't know if I could have; or not. SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
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SPC Josh Leuck
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Depends on your unit. If you are a SPC and a team leader or section leader. You can not require it unless you are a CPL. in my unit, when I was promotable the NCOs in my unit required those of lower rank to stand at paraide rest.
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CPL Thomas Artiaga
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Yes but only in certain situations. General military Authority dictates that if the specialist is the ranking individual and is in charge of that area or facility yes they can as they are in a leadership position. When a non-commissioned officer delegates the authority to a specialist even for a detail as long as they're in charge of that detail yes they then have the authority of the noncommissioned officer. The Specialist can bring a hundred privates to the position of attention if they are the ranking individual in that area at that time, provided they are tasked by an NCO to take command of that area. It can happen and it will happen there will be a time when a specialist will be the highest ranking person in the area there will be no ncos around and you will have to take command do what you have to do but I understand when the ncos do eventually show up maybe a day later every command you gave will fall squarely on your shoulders they say that an NCO should be one who seeks responsibility and takes responsibility for their own actions so be prepared for that
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SPC Derrick Evans
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Glad to re up with you man
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SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
>1 y
I extended once, now I'm getting out.
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SGM Bill Frazer
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My bottom line- if the SPC is in charge of the detail, the Fire Team, in charge of whatever- he is going it under the authority of who ever selected him for that position. that person is an NCO, and if the SPC was one of my Team leaders, then I would makes sure all the lower SM's give him the courtesy of an NCO- We hardly ever, never had any CPL's, so many of our Team Leaders were senior SPC or SPC(P). I allowed 0 disrespect of my Chain.
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SGT Rosi Teresi
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28 years in the Army and I never saw anyone come to a "stiff puppet" position when speaking to anyone who outranked them except when they were getting their ass chewed
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SPC Unit Supply Specialist
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I’m a Mrine Corps Corporal that switched to the Army and became a SPC. I wish I could put people at parade rest but that’s not the SPC’s job. SPC’s are the line in between NCO’s and Junior Soldiers. Now should they since they are the same pay grade as a CPL; in my opinion yes, but they don’t have too. SPC has no power in that sense
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SPC Caleb Aronstein
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If you are a private and you have a specialist that is holding a team leader position then yes. If he choses. I've never been smoked as bad as I have by a specialist. And never once thought ab bringing up the fact that he wasn't an nco I did what he told me to do and gave him the same respect as an nco because he was in an nco's position. It's a respect thing. He's not a private for a reason
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SPC David Hamm
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I was in a squad leader position when I was E-4. I believe this is the only time a Private should stand at parade rest for a specialist.
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SPC Jose Vidrotiru
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I was a specialist , never a fan of regulations but I respected them as a good soldiers should , never gave orders out of orderly room
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LTC Charles T Dalbec
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Pay attention to soldiering not BS please
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SGT Aric Lier
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I was placed as a squad leader and then a plt. sgt position as a spc 4 , let me tell you i didn't have to order anyone to parade rest as the other 2 had my back.and if top caught it they wished like hell they hadn't we eventually got some 5's and 6's in and I was moved to team leader. after PLDC I was laterally promoted by general Taylor
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SPC Justin Adkins
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They did in my unit when I was in
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SFC Jerry Robbins
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Although the regulations will tell you that it is not required or customary to do so. Yes! Ranger Battalion was a special time for me and in 1/75th Rgr. Bn. if a SPC was "tabbed", meaning he has successfully completed Ranger School, than any "untabbed" personnel would stand at parade rest for that SPC. Even a buck sgt or E-5, who was "untabbed" depending on the Platoon Sgt. you had at the time, wanted the Sgt to stand at parade rest for a "tabbed" SPC. Completing Ranger School was a coveted right of passage not only in Ranger Battalions but Army wide.
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