Does Cussing at your soldier immediately void your communication intent?

SFC Shakira Browne — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:36:27 -0500

When correcting a soldier or asking a question, does cussing at a soldier or even a peer immediately nullify the point you are trying to get across? Does it make it acceptable for you to punish them for reacting accordingly to your outburst?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 7:41 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:41:33 -0500

Yes, as we are professionals we should act in such a way. You do not see any other professions use such language. Unless you are infantry. Then you are dealing with a bunch of savage heathens that only understand the intent if you use profanity. 

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Dec 19 at 2013 7:52 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:52:44 -0500

No necessarily...I would offer that it depends on the actual language and ESPECIALLY if this happened in front of others.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 7:55 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:55:20 -0500

Cursing is a double edge sword. At times it can convey importance or urgency and other times it can kill you true intentions. I curse and that will never change. I can tell you that I will curse while talking to a Soldier but hardly ever curse at a Soldier. I believe there is a difference. If used incorrectly it can completely erode their trust and professional relationship.

Course I may not know too much being an ex-savage heathen.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 19 at 2013 7:58 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 19:58:47 -0500

You tailor your language to your audience. If you speak at a Masters Degree level to kindergartners, or if you talk to Doctorate holders like they're children, your going to lose them every time.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 8:08 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:08:11 -0500

As a Drill Sergeant assigned to the great Fort Jackson we have been asked by our higher chain of command to not curse if at all possible. Of course from time to time your going to have those slip up's of words that just come out at the wrong time.

When I hit White Phase with my privates I sit them all down and have an AAR with them to talk about how we did as a Platoon in Red Phase and we talk about White phase. This is the first time when I really sit down with them and ask them about there opinions of the Army and the training cycle so far. I will tell you that MOST of them like it when we would cuss, or turn it up on them because that's why the joined the Army. They wanted that challenge, they wanted that Drill Sergeant in there face screaming at them, and motivating them. When you say things like "hurry up warrior, or lets go hero, a lot of times it pisses them off because they haven't earned that title yet, and some would much rather be called "numb nuts, or retard". I don't know that's just what I have gotten out of mine over the last year on the trail.

So to me especially as a Drill Sergeant, you have to chose when to turn it on and when to turn it off. Everyone is going to have there own opinion on the matter, some like it when you talk to them like that, and it works for them, and then others feel like your degrading them and talking down to them. Just have to know when to do it, and who to do it to.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2013 4:21 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 16:21:29 -0500

You have to know what motivates your Soldier. What motivates one will demotivate another.

Response by SSG John Mendyka made Dec 21 at 2013 3:29 AM

SSG John Mendyka — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 03:29:14 -0500

I have a standard for speaking to people in general. It is a blessing to speak the English language and we should do so in a format that shows respect to our fellow man as a person and as a child of God. With that being said, we serve in profession that is rough,, often frightening and gives us emotions we sometimes don't even know exist until we are far back in the rear. Soldiers are people and should be addressed according to that fact. Refrain from taking the Lords name in vain is a good bench mark to start with, second, use only select words to make your point. Use them as pressure points. Third, never yell unless noise or endangerment force you to. Swearing has a place in our Army, Patton was quoted as saying," an Army that does not swear cannot fight it's way out of a piss soaked paper bag" so apply the 4 letter words where necessary but never in malice and never let the troops see you angry or let them get your blood pressure up

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2013 3:41 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 03:41:38 -0500

I think that it is dependent upon the situation, as well as teh crowd, and tha tmessage that is being conveyed. I have only had my strips for a few weeks now, but since I have been put in the position of having soldiers I find that I have been cursing a lot less. In fact I can only think of 2 instances where I cursed at a soldier, and that was when they were being extraordinarily disrespectful.

Response by SGT Thomas Brown made Dec 21 at 2013 3:51 AM

SGT Thomas Brown — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 03:51:53 -0500

I feel that cussing at a soldier isn't necessary at all. Granted it's ssomething that all do but you have to look at it as professional stand point. In my opinion cussing is very unprofessional and if you have to start cuss to get the point across to your men then you need to rethink how to approach a situation like that. The point is you shouldn't need to cuss at a soldier in order to get things done, and by not doing so shows professionalism in a soldier and to his subordinates. This allows those soldier's to take that leadership style and build on it for them to build the type of leader they will be.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2013 12:28 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Dec 2013 12:28:07 -0500

Nope, using the language I assuming your using I imagine you got your point across quite poignantly. However, for some reason the getting in peoples face isn't as effective overall as it used to be. It work wonders for me when I a E-1 thru E-4, pain being the best teacher and all, but I find that it only creates resentment these days. as for them reacting, you should punish them within reason. being a soldier means being able to handle yourself under pressure, If you cant function under the verbal assault of your leader how do you do it under the assault if mortars and the like. Good topic.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 11:06 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 23:06:54 -0400

I'm old school so I never rule out cussing although it sounds unprofessional at first. There are instances that would justify its use in order to send an important message across clearly. One example would be a subordinate disrespecting an NCO, another would be to someone whose actions show insubordination. I had a troop who had the gall to show up to work intoxicated. I do not, however, condone cussing at anyone with wanton abandon just because I can. There has to be a clear reason for it.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Nov 2 at 2014 12:22 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 00:22:14 -0400

I really try not to use profanity at all but it happens. I have conducted a butt chewing with almost yelling, and I did not use a single word of profanity. I myself do not enjoying being "cussed out" so I like to treat soldiers the same way. I think using profanity for a disciplinary situation can detract from a lesson learned.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Nov 2 at 2014 1:18 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 01:18:54 -0500

No it doesn't. Cursing made personal may warrant a correction in a leader's direction, but it does not "nullify" what that leader says. Petty barracks lawyering however, nullifies hard won professional reputation.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2019 4:06 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 04:06:53 -0400

No cussing can be ok if used to emphasize a point trying to be made but at the same time if it's just for the act of yelling at someone then it will probley go in one ear and out the other.
As far as the action that's on the leader. Just rember approach determines response

Response by SFC William Ewing made Jan 7 at 2020 11:35 PM

SFC William Ewing — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 23:35:25 -0500

When correcting cussing a not correct. It distracts from the message.

In a stressful situation cussing my get the message over better.
Such as get the f... Over here. If used sparingly cussing can be effective.

For normal situations not.

Served in Vietnam senior officers and NCOs from WWII and Korea almost never cursed. When they did it got your attention and was usually just a darn it.
Some had stars on their CIB.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 8 at 2020 12:52 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 00:52:52 -0500

I never did cuss in 20 years, but I can see myself cuss given certain situations.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2020 2:27 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 14:27:50 -0500

My opinion, yes, it does. because for me, soon as someone curses at me, I go into defensive mode.

Response by SGT Malcolm Lorde made Apr 17 at 2020 5:29 AM

SGT Malcolm Lorde — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 05:29:04 -0400

Cuss in Private compliment in Public !!!!

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Aug 5 at 2020 5:39 PM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:39:32 -0400

it is unbecoming to do that and I wrote up my Top for exactly that reason (he did clean up his language after that)

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Aug 14 at 2020 12:00 AM

SSG Paul Headlee — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 00:00:54 -0400

It can lend a dynamic to your communication efforts that in certain circumstances will yield excellent results. Most of the time I recommend that you avoid it. Using foul language can lead soldiers (and most certainly civilians) to stereotype you in a way that is detrimental to your credibility. You will be perceived as a knuckle dragger. That does not confront some people but they probably don't realize how foolish they appear. Think of the non-profane version of your thought before you speak and then employ that. Save the drama for times when you need to convey urgency and nothing else will do. You can do this.

Response by SPC Dean J. Thompson made Sep 17 at 2020 11:10 AM

SPC Dean J. Thompson — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 11:10:45 -0400

Cursing is not warranted at any time. It is unprofessional display of ignorance and is not productive.
Raising your voice with a negative tone should suffice.

Response by 1SG David McWlliams made Jun 1 at 2021 11:50 AM

1SG David McWlliams — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 11:50:28 -0400

I use to use the F bomb all the time for nouns , verbs , prepositional phrases , it’s a beautiful things . But it depends on your audience and who your talking to