Posted on Nov 7, 2014
Disrespected while correcting a Soldier, how would you handle this situation?
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Ok so there I was at a court-martial asking a Soldier why he was wearing ACUs and not ASUs. He started to catch an attitude, so I told him to go to parade rest. He turned away from me looking at my paralegal, putting his hands in his pockets.
My paralegal tells him that he does not need to be looking at him, but at me, because I was the one addressing him, and that he needs to show respect. As the Soldier continues to stare out at my paralegal with his hands in his pockets, I continue to correct him when a civilian comes out to where I was correcting the Soldier stating that she had work to do and I could "yell" at him some other time.
I was so mind boggled and dumbfounded because said civilian used to be in the military. I'm sorry, but the last time I checked the Soldier was given a direct order by a CPT and myself that the duty uniform for the court-martial was ASUs and an alternate uniform had to be approved by the judge, so I was doing my job by asking him why he was in the wrong uniform and then correcting him when he began to disrespect me.
I felt so disrespected I just walked away and sat in a room to cool off.
How would you have handled the situation?
My paralegal tells him that he does not need to be looking at him, but at me, because I was the one addressing him, and that he needs to show respect. As the Soldier continues to stare out at my paralegal with his hands in his pockets, I continue to correct him when a civilian comes out to where I was correcting the Soldier stating that she had work to do and I could "yell" at him some other time.
I was so mind boggled and dumbfounded because said civilian used to be in the military. I'm sorry, but the last time I checked the Soldier was given a direct order by a CPT and myself that the duty uniform for the court-martial was ASUs and an alternate uniform had to be approved by the judge, so I was doing my job by asking him why he was in the wrong uniform and then correcting him when he began to disrespect me.
I felt so disrespected I just walked away and sat in a room to cool off.
How would you have handled the situation?
Disrespect
Civilians
Counseling
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 380
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If disrespect was blatant enough to meet the elements in article 91, and soldier was not responding to other measures then it's time for you to detain him as an NCO and contact base police.
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Back in the 82nd the E4's of that Soldier's Platoon would've paid him a little visit after duty hours and 'encouraged' him to show the proper respect toward NCO's. PVT Snuffy probably wanted nothing more than to see you blow up, so points for taking a minute to cool down.
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I believe it is simple. You are an NCO, correct the Soldier. I assume he is a witness there for as a former paralegal it is the unit's responsibility to ensure that the Soldier is in the right uniform. Not sure you have to yell to achieve the correction, but corrective training that fits the act should work, and if not that will be another order they fail to follow and could be used for nonjudicial or judicial punishment. I would recommend that you have the Soldier report at various times to the staff duty in different uniforms, and/or teach a class on AR670-1. Correcting a Soldier is your job, and so is training. Train the crap out of the Soldier.
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Well you handled it appropriately had you lost it on the Civilian you would be standing before your Officer explaining your actions. Have you addressed the Civilian since this incident or have them addressed by there superior because im pretty sure if a soldier is being corrected for a flagrant show of disrespect they are not to intervene.
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I had a sergeant bring a young soldier to me while I was the company XO at Tripler Army Medical Center. He was walking outside without his cover. Just before I could begin talking to him I received a phone call from a ward to tell me that he had been sent because he was harassing burn victims (from the explosion and fire on the USS Forestall. When I confronted him, he gave me attitude. He expected to get away with it because the chief of the neuro-psychology ward was of the opinion that bad boys should be treated rather than court martialed. With a little judicious finagling, we got past that medical officer and I arranged transfer to the stockade at Schofield Barracks. I gave a .45 to the sergeant who was going to escort him and loaded it in front of the miscreant. I then told the sergeant that if he shot the young man on the way there, I would cover for him. The change in attitude among all the troops at the hospital was astonishing.
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I experienced something like that and my response was... "Excuse me, last time I checked I am the one in uniform!"
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Maybe some bread and water time would shape him up. As for the civilian.. None of their business.
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Your corrective action was correct, however , if it took place in civilian environment or even military where civilians are employed! I can see where it would get blown out of proportion. Of course the disrespectful soldier is wrong and additional charge clock running. Suggest you jerk his tail back to stockade and take corrective there in controlled environment
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A Soldier in this is already lost, there will be no getting through to him. when I was stationed at Ft. Polk I had a Soldier in my squad who refused to get out of his pup tent during our annual FTX. Not know what to do I brought in my Warrant Officer who went nuts and ripped his tent apart. The Soldier further refused to comply; eventually he was sent back to rear and the Chapter 13 was initiated. A situation such as these will escalate to the point of everyone losing control. these types of soldiers have no business in the Military and can be carrier breakers for Officers and NCO's. That is why Counseling Statements are so vital at the onset of a problem, it makes the chapter 13 much easier to process, this is just my opinion.
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He is still in the service, if you outranked him, and he acted that way. He is just added to his court martial charges.
Depending on the rank of the one he turned his back on. He is in violation of Article 91: Insubordinate Conduct, or Article 89: Disrespect towards a Superior Officer.
Depending on the rank of the one he turned his back on. He is in violation of Article 91: Insubordinate Conduct, or Article 89: Disrespect towards a Superior Officer.
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A court martial which was apparently held on base? I would have told the civilian lawyer to just go ahead and do your thing. After the session I would’ve made it clear that he just got another charge added on. After having 6 others conduct a private session.
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That civilian and former service member would be standing locked until I finished my immediate duty and then dealt with. Regardless of the title or position they held. Civilian is a support role and I don't care if it is I that may need to provide them of that reminder. I will do so as tactfully as they allow the conversation to be.
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During my time in the Marine Corps, 1968-1972 I was personally too proud of the Corps reputation for discipline to ever consider hesitating let alone disobeying an order. I viewed myself as one of the best, the American Spartans and I couldn't bring disrespect on the reputation and legend of the Marines that had come before me.
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that's why todays military has gone straight to hell. If a subordinate needs correcting, you correct him. If the turns away from you, TURN HIM BACK. Then write him up for the appropriate charge and let him explain to his CO why he was in the wrong uniform and copping an attitude when called up on it.
I was a Corpsman in the Marines, and depending on my duty status that day I had quite a few different uniforms I could wear. But I wore the one prescribed BY THE PLAN OF THE DAY.
The way things are today, you probably did right by going and cooling off. 40 years ago, it never would have happened in the first place---and if it had, correction would have been SWIFT.
I was a Corpsman in the Marines, and depending on my duty status that day I had quite a few different uniforms I could wear. But I wore the one prescribed BY THE PLAN OF THE DAY.
The way things are today, you probably did right by going and cooling off. 40 years ago, it never would have happened in the first place---and if it had, correction would have been SWIFT.
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Looks like a pussy needs a safe space because his feelings have been hurt. Time to join the Girl Scouts.
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