Did you always respect your Officers?

I'd like to think the Sailors in my division respected me...but to be honest, I think most of the time, it simmered somewhere around "liked" and "hoped the best from". I honestly don't know how anyone can expect much out of a twenty, to twenty-one year old JO fresh out of the Academy, or even those coming from OCS or ROTC. It takes time to learn the ropes, and unfortunately...many of our careers just don't last long enough for our sails to catch the wind. Maybe that's part of the "plan". I do know I had a few senior officers I truly respected...and more than a few I thought were disgraces to the title. The best, were those who put their people first, but still demanded the best from them. Maybe a "good" officer is one who tries to protect subordinates...and a "great" officer is one for whom subordinates will endure any risk to follow.

Hell no. I respect the rank at a minimum, but frankly, there have been several officers I have served with that haven't been worth the price of the metal they pin on their collars. (yes, I know it's all velcro now)

To respect the person behind the rank, I need to see a combination of effort, leadership, and care about the needs of the Soldier, unit and mission.

Some more than others. Even the toxic few taught me how not to lead.

I've had Officers that were so awesome that I would not have thought twice if they told me to charge into Hell and kick the Devil right in the ass. Other Officers I've had were bad enough to just warrant proper respect for their rank only. And plenty of my former Officers that are now civilians, I still refer to them as Sir or Ma'am and have a hard time addressing them by their name even when they tell me it's okay.

When I was mess cooking in the ward room, the Supply Officer assigned me to paint around the knee knocker in the flag cabin. I knocked over 1/4 full paint can on the carpet. I told the CO what happened but I so scared I almost peed myself. He was really cool about and had it taken care of. I was a PNSN (E-3) then. I always respected officers but especially him.

I got off to a very bad start during USMC boot camp in 1975. I was beaten by 6 recruits and a DI in a combat pugil sticks fighting ring. They killed PVT Lynn McClure 10 months later in the same ring under the same type of punishment. This left me with serious head trauma and mental problems that have followed me since then cross eyes.. deafness... numb head... bi polar.. Not only did I hate Most Officers and senior NCO'S.. many I wanted to harm.. In 1985 during OCS .. I flashed backed and chocked out a NG female Tech Officer and attacked a group of officers who came to her defense.. She was hazing me during training. I have also had altercations with cops and college students. We both got beat the same way.. I lived ...McClure died.

The respect of Officers and all of increasingly elevated ranks is automatic. They earning additional respect comes through there actions. So ye, I always respected to the extent of their position. If their actions warranted more they got it. If ever I thought not to respect would have been based on their actions, inappropriate or illegal. In which case I would have to report said conduct, in 30+ years it did not occur often. Thank you for your service.

I have always tried to remember to respect the office, there have certainly been some officers I did not see eye to eye on a personal level or management style, but I execute orders always remembering commanders intent.

I remember the climb up from E-1. It didn't take too long to respect the position. It took something more from the officer to fill in the rest. Lesson stuck with me as when I made O-4 and was responsible for bringing JOs along, I'd make sure they were proactive about that second piece and how easily it can be destroyed. Most took the lesson onboard. Those who didn't weren't around long. There does seem to be a higher prevalence of Marines who make O-4 and decide to put on an Alpha Hotel hat. I'd beat that out of them when I saw that too.