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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and THIS is why I am not in favor of requiring military service of all young people. If we have these discipline problems with an all-volunteer force, imagine how broken it would be with a force ten times as big who did not elect to be there....
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Taken the individual to the stockade, trial in absentia, additional charges for insubordination.
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This is why we should be allowed to just open handed smack someone. Once a day or something. But I bet if you smacked this kid upside the head you would have his attention lol
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Your comment doesn't say whether the Soldier was the one BEING Court-martialed, however, I think it is safe to assume he was. To that end, I wouldn't think it too much of a stretch to understand why the Soldier was being court martialed. It didn't do you any good to get upset with him, since I suspect he didn't give a damn what you thought. He was probably enjoying the fact that he got you riled up.
I may have looked him in the eye, and laughed, telling him, he wasn't worth it. Or, ask him if he felt like he needed psychological assistance.
In regard to the civilian, I would have politely addressed her and told her it was none of her business, and if we were being too loud we would move to a more private location. If she had a problem with how I was handling the Soldier, I would return later and discuss it with her in private, or with her supervisor.
I would document the entire episode and add additional counseling to the Soldier's record.
I may have looked him in the eye, and laughed, telling him, he wasn't worth it. Or, ask him if he felt like he needed psychological assistance.
In regard to the civilian, I would have politely addressed her and told her it was none of her business, and if we were being too loud we would move to a more private location. If she had a problem with how I was handling the Soldier, I would return later and discuss it with her in private, or with her supervisor.
I would document the entire episode and add additional counseling to the Soldier's record.
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Back in my day, I would have start reading hi his rights, and pressed more charges. I would have told the civilian to get bent, this was a military matter. However times have changed
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In the most professional way possible I would have told the civilian to please mind their own business and allow you to do your military duty. I cannot speak for today's military but in my days in the military that individual would have been escorted to a private area for some "counseling"
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You can't make Chicken Salad out of Chicken Shit. Corrective action and counseling only works when someone is receptive. Being that the soldier was there for a CM, don't worry about winning that small battle of authority. He is going to lose the war in a very big way.
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Depends on if this SM is "salvageable" or not. If so, then it's time to stop worrying about him failing to properly cow tow and start providing some of that "Direction, Motivation, and Purpose" we've heard so much about. If not, then it's time to start the separation process for a General Discharge.
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