DA Photos: Officers vs. Enlisted

2015-03-23T04:20:16-04:00

Why is it that, 90% of the time, an Officer will smile in the DA photo, but the Enlisted will not?

Is there some rule about enlisted smiling in their DA Photo? Do/did you smile for yours?

Edit: Removed picture, since it was command photo, not DA.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 5:21 AM

2015-03-23T05:21:14-04:00

There is no regulation per say about smiling for your DA photo however, you are standing at the position of attention and if you are smiling, you are not at the proper position of attention.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 5:34 AM

2015-03-23T05:34:42-04:00

SSG Houde, I rarely smile in pictures period. My wife scolds me about it all the damned time. I think long ago I heard that you don't smile in DA photos. I have never seen the reg on this so I can't confirm it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 6:42 AM

2015-03-23T06:42:51-04:00

I'm not smiling in my DA photo, but maybe it's because I was enlisted first. I remember being told you never smile for official photos. As others have mentioned, it may be due to generational differences or that smiles are not part of the position of attention.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 8:23 AM

2015-03-23T08:23:10-04:00

Maybe they smile bc they get paid way more than the enlisted. Lol.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 9:10 AM

2015-03-23T09:10:32-04:00

Whoever added the pictures, there is a difference between command photos and DA photos...just saying.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 9:22 AM

2015-03-23T09:22:44-04:00

Because Senior Enlisted do not have a sense of humor that they know of.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Mar 23 at 2015 9:42 AM

2015-03-23T09:42:19-04:00

I was once told that we should smile in our DA Photos as they are communicating to the board that I am happy to be here and I like what I do...

and to me, that makes sense.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 9:48 AM

2015-03-23T09:48:59-04:00

It is command photos not DA Photos. Officers are told it is a good idea O-4 on up to smile in the photo.

Response by SPC Tim Brown made Mar 23 at 2015 10:34 AM

2015-03-23T10:34:20-04:00

Because we do the dirty work, and there is nothing fun about it.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 23 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-03-23T10:53:48-04:00

I don't know what you all are talking about. Both pictures have gentlemen smiling.

The lack of "I'll eat your soul" scowl on the left (enlisted) photo is an obvious smile.

Response by SSG William Burgess made Mar 23 at 2015 10:59 AM

2015-03-23T10:59:55-04:00

Well, once an officer hits, say, 0-4, they become a uniformed politician.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Mar 23 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-03-23T11:10:11-04:00

I always smile in my command photos but not in DA photos. As I recall, the photographer for the DA photos always advised me not to smile.

Not sure it makes a difference if you smile or not in a DA photo, although a big wide grin would probably be inappropriate.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 23 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-03-23T11:18:50-04:00

I took one of each, then used the one I like better. I was not instructed either way.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 23 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-03-23T11:21:46-04:00

Side note: Those are not DA Photos.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Mar 23 at 2015 11:25 AM

2015-03-23T11:25:23-04:00

Sounds like CW2 Private RallyPoint Member may have an opinion on this!

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/who-smiles-in-their-da-photo

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-03-23T12:18:26-04:00

I didn't smile. I didn't want to taunt the poor souls who had to look at my mug every time they walked by.

I have often been asked to smile by the photographer (miracle workers I tell you), but photo days always seemed to be with everything else was going wrong..."Where are you going, sir?" "I need to take a photo so you can hang it on every wall in every building in the unit footprint!"

Ugh.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 1:42 PM

2015-03-23T13:42:02-04:00

i dont know how to smile

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 23 at 2015 2:01 PM

2015-03-23T14:01:05-04:00

Agreeing with CSM Mike Oldsen, these are Command Photos not DA Photos. I will answer your question with a story. It has to do with strategic communication. It will not answer the immediate question but will likely answer why one is smiling but not why the other isn't.
- LTG Mike Ferriter was the IMCOM Commander. As the Senior Commander of an installation, he had a smiling command photo, which was displayed along with the Garrison Commander, GCSM, and Senior Commander's CSM.
- LTG Ferriter tells the story of a young PFC and his spouse that were at some installation agency and could not get help with something. The couple was at wits end and did not know where to go next. Finally the PFC looked at the photo of Ferriter, smiling, and said "Let's go see him, he looks like he would help us."
- this was part of his strategic communication. LTG Ferriter inculcated this. It is the same reason I am smiling in my Garrison Command photo (my profile pic). Approachable. That and I like to be content (not miserable, who wants to spent 1.5 hours in Command and Staff with that guy?). I don't think there is that 700watt bulb version of unmedicated happy. I subscribe to the Denis Leary version of happy that it comes in little spurts, like a good oatmeal cookie or first time expert at the 9mm range or the jackass who just cut 3 people off gets hemmed up by the Highway Patrolman or a frosty Guiness with great friends.
- I can only guess why the CSM isn't smiling. Perhaps it is the role of the imposing, omnipresent, unyielding, no excuses standard bearer. How many are/were scared sh!tless of the CSM? We need that role played to enforce good order and discipline. Just a guess.
- saying senior NCOs do not have a sense of humor is unfair. Some of the funniest guys I know are Senior NCOs. I would say they probably have had the humor pounded out of them from wading through everyone else's emotional sewers. Most of the people on here trumpet how NCOs need to resume their crotchety mantle to save us from the jaws of indiscipline, but at the same time chaff at the very TTPs to do that.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Mar 23 at 2015 3:01 PM

2015-03-23T15:01:07-04:00

Just use one of them: I know something about you. Looks

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 24 at 2015 7:27 AM

2015-03-24T07:27:59-04:00

I never smiled in any DA photo... You are supposed to be at the position of attention.

Nor did I ever smile in a chain of command photo. For the latter, I think it is up to what you feel best with.

My wife said, says, I always had a goofy face in command type photos....

I did find one with a smile, one with a semi smile (circa 80-81)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 11:05 PM

2015-04-21T23:05:59-04:00

Prior enlisted here.

I was trained not to smile.

Response by MSgt Darum Danford made Aug 16 at 2015 10:05 PM

2015-08-16T22:05:47-04:00

My TI threatened to kick my teeth in if he saw my teeth, so self preservation was the reason for the non smile in my first through my last official photo.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2017 3:01 PM

2017-02-01T15:01:17-05:00

Enlisted are simply Bad azzz no room for that smiling crap...lol

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2017 3:05 PM

2017-02-01T15:05:14-05:00

It's bcos Senior Enleted are Hard-core Bad azzes... No time for all that flowery smiling stuff... LOL

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2018 9:11 PM

2018-05-13T21:11:24-04:00

If you’ve ever seen the HRC on promotion boards, it is said that the DA Photo is there to humanize the board file. Reviewing Evals and Records only gives you a singular picture. I e always been told to smile in my DA Photo, it helps the board believe that (god forbid) you like being in the Army and your job. I never smiled as an NCO but changed how I took DA Photos when I commissioned. Everytime I ask a Senior Officer to review my file and provide me feedback, they all remark that they are glad that I smiled in my photo. But smiles are based on the individual, teeth or no teeth. Those with poor smiles should probably stick to the straight face.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2019 5:39 PM

2019-04-12T17:39:20-04:00

Standing upright with an assertive and correct posture: famously "chin up, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in". Arms fixed at the side, thumb or middle finger parallel to trouser or skirt seam, depending on military drill specifics. Head and eyes locked in a fixed forward posture. Ideally eyes unmoving fixated on a distant object. Blank facial expression. Keeping the heels together, with the toes 45° apart. No speech, facial or bodily movements except when as required by military drill.

Response by SGT Paul Russo made Jul 11 at 2022 12:05 PM

2022-07-11T12:05:54-04:00

If The Army wanted you to smile , you would have been issued a smile , Otherwise Carry On .