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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Thank the Lord that I have retired. I was in Alaska 3 years ago eating breakfast inside the dining facility in civilian clothes and a PFC politely asked me to remove my ball cap indoors
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1SG Jeffrey Mullett
Was that a good or a bad thing...as a Veteran, you should know the regulations regarding use of government facilities. You are required to remove your hat indoors, whether you are in uniform or not. It will include you, if you use a facility as a retiree, some DEFACs allow that, some don't.
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1SG Jeffrey Mullett
Although, it wasn't specifically stated, the Soldier was already under Court Martial. I doubt adding to it will make a bit of difference to him. Judging by his attitude, I doubt he is innocent.
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WOW! Just wow! I may or may not witness soldiers being corrected and their feelings hurt on a daily basis. If it was me I would have had a difficult time telling the civilian to shut her pie hole. Evidently she has forgotten our job is to support the mission not interfere. I look forward to retiring in 10 years, if I don't lose my mind first. I can understand the exodus of seasoned personnel that's for sure. We have somebody headed for the school house to be a DI. We are buying him a bag of lolly pops for his new recruits because after all they need a lolly and a pat on the head before they get tucked into bed. I went through basic and AIT 30 plus years ago the way it is now, I am fairly certain I could make it again no problem.
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Nothing says you can't tell the civilian (retired or vet) to mind his dang business! When you're within the scope of your duties to discipline a Soldier don't let anyone take that away from you.
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1SG Jeffrey Mullett
In the interest of not disrupting a working environment, the correction can be moved to a less populated area...however, I would have told the civilian that we are employed by the US military, and are subject to UCMJ regardless of Civilian or Military status. If she came up to me in a public venue and said that, I would have informed her that we would be continuing the discussion with her supervisor. If she was polite about it, I would have attempted to move our exchange to a more private area.
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I find it interesting most of these comments center on the low hanging fruit - disrespect from a SM awaiting court martial.....but I think the real question is how do you deal with an idiot civilian, former military? (I can see why). who seems to lack the understanding of why they have a job (support the war fighter perhaps?). 8 years as enlisted, 22 as an officer and now 8 years as a DoD civilian employee, I would say this....you handled the SM situation correctly...walk away and cool away. The civilian? That depends on what their job is. I would determine who the supervisor was and, with a little tact, "state my case" for the justifiable disruption in the aggreaved civilians work place, apologize then reminder her why she has a job. V/r and still serving ...MAJ (R) Joe Sitler
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I'd probably excuse myself to first speak in private with the civilian and let the person know that they chose to work on a military institution and being prior service, should know how a military base is run. Than say if you want to continue the conversation, we can with superiors later but for now I'm going back to handle this soldier the way that it is done in the military.
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Just a lowly E5 here but in my opinion an E6 shouldn't feel the need to uniform check anybody, unless it happens to be a member of his squad or someone else under his direct chain of command (detail, escort, or something like that.)
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Written him up and given a statement to his CO. Article 15 sounds appropriate!
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