Posted on Nov 7, 2014
Disrespected while correcting a Soldier, how would you handle this situation?
284K
1.74K
630
77
77
0
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
0
0
0
I had a Marine do this to me one time. He caught an attitude over me telling him, for probably the 4th time, to open his blinds. He was on restriction abd that was the room order. Needless to say i went of on him and got in his face, but I never put my hands on him.
You did the right thing, but id be sure to hand that soldier his ass after that was over. Id make him regret disrespecting any authority again. Especially while he/she is still in the military
You did the right thing, but id be sure to hand that soldier his ass after that was over. Id make him regret disrespecting any authority again. Especially while he/she is still in the military
(0)
(0)
LCpl Steve Smith
Because you are active duty Comm We will believe you when you say you didn't put hands on and we will stick with that story lol.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Not having the whole story makes this difficult to know the correct amswer(s). Who was the court martial for? (the guy in ACUs?) who was the CPT (in his CoC or a JAG?) Was the soldier in ACU's there for the court martial (or picking something up from the paralegal?) who was there first?
The civilian? well, we don't know really how much 'yelling' was going on, and how long for, so I cannot just judge based on this.
So, yes, maybe the CPT walking away until he/she calmed down and put self control in place, was the right way to deal with it until a whole story was known, and the proper chain of command was advised.
The civilian? well, we don't know really how much 'yelling' was going on, and how long for, so I cannot just judge based on this.
So, yes, maybe the CPT walking away until he/she calmed down and put self control in place, was the right way to deal with it until a whole story was known, and the proper chain of command was advised.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I miss the old Army... Now you have to be careful what you say and how you address others. Now we gotta bunch of privates not scared to do shit because we can't touch them.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
You should make clear that the person you are talking about was a witness and not the person being court martialed. Does it make a difference, absolutely not. Does it clarify confusion, completely.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
After reading your question, then looking a bit at who you are and what you do, then pulling myself back together... First, and foremost, thank you for doing what you do. Above and beyond your service, for being a voice for people that sometimes CAN'T speak for themselves; thank you for that.
Hold these people accountable for their (in)actions.
To answer your question, you did right. You held YOUR bearing.
If you need to find a nice Maj Payne to come stick his foot knee deep then do it. As for the civilian, if it ever happens again, politely give her the same knife hand you're giving him and tell her you'll "address her concerns in a moment, Miss".
Sometimes you have to remind people that you ARE a soldier, first and foremost.
Hold these people accountable for their (in)actions.
To answer your question, you did right. You held YOUR bearing.
If you need to find a nice Maj Payne to come stick his foot knee deep then do it. As for the civilian, if it ever happens again, politely give her the same knife hand you're giving him and tell her you'll "address her concerns in a moment, Miss".
Sometimes you have to remind people that you ARE a soldier, first and foremost.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I would have told him to get in the correct uniform and then I would have told the civilian to mind her own business and move on and after I would have gone to her boss and filed a complaint against her
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Hard to answer the way things have changed in recent years. There was a time I would have given the soldier some much needed wall-to-wall counseling. Personally, I feel that it is needed sometimes, but in today's political climate (yes, the Army can get political) I'd have to bite my tongue. While this would save my career, it would not correct the soldier's problem of what sounds like a pure case of attitude. Probably diagnosable as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or F.U.P. (F-ed up parents)
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
The whole scenario is about as clear as mud to me, but once the CPT you refer to was involved that was your cue to let the higher ranked and lawyers handle it. The attitude thing was probably about trying to get you to lose it and taking a time out was smart on your part. The Court was in charge and it's up to them to maintain order. Not sure where you fit into that. You were within boundaries to attempt to square him away. If he was a defense witness the defense lawyer should keep him in check in the interest of his client, but anyone senior has proper authority. Once it elevated to a higher paygrade and the civilian got involved it was above your paygrade. He was on active duty at the time so he's accountable for his actions per UCMJ. You could tack silent contempt on under article 134 along with any others that applied such as 91 & 92, but that might have been best handled by the senior personnel. Not sure what the civilian's capacity was but she does have a senior and although she doesn't fall under UCMJ she is still accountable. That one is up to the Officers of the Court and/or her reporting senior. Bottom line for you is take a time out, make note of the event, and let Court and/or seniors and attorneys handle it.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I sure know what I would feel like doing. Some good old school discipline is called for.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google