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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Obvious to me the civilian that interrupted had no reason to comment, criticise, and should have been dismissed at the outset. Instant obedience to orders is paramount to good discipline. This “soldier” was insubordinate and appropriate UCMJ action should be initiated. Don’t waste your breath on buttheads like this!
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I would just rip his head off and shit in his neck. But that's old school me.
Call the MP's and have arrested; and tell the civilian to shut up and get out of my AO.
Call the MP's and have arrested; and tell the civilian to shut up and get out of my AO.
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Being a Federal employee for the last 15 years I am so glad that I have minimal interaction with military personnel. They can be a pain in the butt. By the way do you think someone who is going through a court martial really cares?
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I would have found a way to take this situation to the Soldier's Chain of Command and made sure I flowed up with the actions or lack there of taken.
This is a situation we all find ourselves in more and more often. If this is not corrected here and on a larger scale our Military will continue down the path we are on now.
I am glad you stepped away, for Your sake. Please continue to do the job you are doing, it takes Leaders like you to help us all.
This is a situation we all find ourselves in more and more often. If this is not corrected here and on a larger scale our Military will continue down the path we are on now.
I am glad you stepped away, for Your sake. Please continue to do the job you are doing, it takes Leaders like you to help us all.
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The soldier was being court martialed probably does not care anymore. He does not care about rules and regulations, he may think that they are going to throw the book at him. So what more can he lose? is where his thinking is at! Getting disrespected by a civilian happens all the time. The age of respect and honor has gone especially from the younger civilians . Not all of them are like this but more than would be expected.
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Start the process of getting that civilian a different job! Unless the soldier works directly for a civilian, they should stand quietly to the side.
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Seem to me four ego got involved . I would got the trooper info and found from his unit why he was not in the proper dress for a Court Martial . Or was some one having a bad day and wanted to show his rank or was the trooper having a bad day and wanted to push back . I found that EGO cause a lot of strife in unit I served in . I left MY EGO at the front gate on enter a base. Sign 40 yards
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The soldier's appearing out of uniform for a court's martial. I think the judge will instantly see he's copping an attitude and react accordingly. Remember the old rule. I can't make you do anything. I can just make you wish you had.
When I was a serving infantry captain I'd say, "I'm as nice as you let me be. What's it gonna be? You get to decide right here, right now, how difficult your life's gonna be in the short run. What's it gonna be?"
Then I give him about a minute to think it over and they almost always said, "I'm sorry sir. I was a jerk." And then they did lots better.
When I was a serving infantry captain I'd say, "I'm as nice as you let me be. What's it gonna be? You get to decide right here, right now, how difficult your life's gonna be in the short run. What's it gonna be?"
Then I give him about a minute to think it over and they almost always said, "I'm sorry sir. I was a jerk." And then they did lots better.
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This is not a situation you walk away from. Soldier has disobeyed a order and based on the current attitude, should be arrested and referred for further disciplinary action.
Ask the civilian to not interfere.
Ask the civilian to not interfere.
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