Can a Specialist make a Private stand at Parade Rest for him?

The company I’m apart of tries to implement the whole parade rest thing when talking to an E4 but most of us just find it annoying and that died out within a few hours. If you’re working and trying to get things done I find it unpractical. Unless that E4 is in a leadership position like a team lead and has to discipline a soldier then it doesn’t really happen here even if the higher ups want it to.

This is a modified position of Attention if you will. I only used this in Training schools, Other than that if I had a Soldier at Parade Rest you can bet the conversation is going to be one sided and you can bet the only thing I want to hear at that point is yes or no answers beginning with my rank and during formations other wise why would you want to do this? Imagine if the Soldier has a hot cup of coffee and everyone around him/her is of higher rank the coffee will either get spilled and create a safety hazard or will end up in the Trash Because the Soldier never got to drink it. Now if I am in the barracks and the 1SGT. Or Higher rank enters the barracks every body junior in Grade to the 1SGT. better be at Parade Rest. If and E-4 Choose to enforce that for themselves Shows me a lack of Leadership ability for that E-4 or they have a swelled head about their Authority.

SPC Elijah J. H.
To be honest with you, I didn't really care much for that even though we're require to render proper respect and courtesies for higher ranking personnel. With that said, I would have to agree with you, for a Specialist to do is a little overboard, especially if they're not promotable. As for me, an acknowledgement of the rank/position it would be sufficient.

Back in the day, I had to as we were scared shitless of the E-4s but in todays army......good luck lol

Technically if someone out ranks you they are suppose to display the proper military courtesy and stand at parade rest when speaking. Hell, I have had many SPC as team leaders, filling in for junior NCO's when we were short. It was great training for the SPC's- and I would barbecue any flippin PFC/PVT that treated my SPC's as one of the "guys"- especially if my SPC was in a leadership position.

I wish a special private would of tried to make me stand in parade rest when I was E4 and below; the only E4 I would have stood in parade rest for would have been at CPL any one else got a LOL.

Typically no. Although when I was brand new to my unit I was told to stand at parade rest for anyone who outranked me so even PFCs. If the SPC is a team leader you should certainly be standing at parade rest, although I never liked my guys talking to me like that. The exception being if I was hemming them up.

If they're a team leader then depending in your organization, yes. There's rank and then there's position. But army regulation says parade rest is for ncos.

No but yes? During my time as a Cadre, students were required to stand at parade rest and address me by rank. Given the position I was in and the soldiers I was training, it was deemed appropriate. Outside of that circumstance, I would 100% agree with SSG Therrien.

Parade rest may not be reg or military tradition but there are times when it is required for the mission. A private is doing something that is incorrect or dangerous, parade rest is required to stop him doing that and receive undivided attention to instruction. A private is paying more attention to his buddies than his job. A private is acting as he has no situational awareness. Many more examples can be listed. If I am lower rank I will pay attention to someone of higher rank because he can judge and report my fitness and obviously because I respect his experience and position. Follow the orders of those appointed above you.