Ever been embarrassed for your rank? Branch? Both?

The posting about the Army adopting or looking at sleeves on the ACU being rolled up because some folks think that it is hot, a garrison thing or whatever, really made me red in the face and embarrassed to be a warrant officer. I pose to you the survey just so we can keep track, but the issue is that sometimes folks go out of their way to not only embarrass themselves, but everyone associated with the rank in which they wear, their branch or even service.

The 30 June article in the ARMY TIMES was highlighted by a photo of a aviator claimed to be a CW3 in the wording, with a CW2 photo of a aviation army combat uniform, otherwise known as the A2CU. His sleeves were rolled up and he was obviously wearing a Stetson, which in turn eluded to the fact he was Cavalry.

I am not going to dispute the findings of the ARMY TIMES since that article that the officer in question has a very questionable career, integrity and lack of Army Values. What really gets under my skin is his lack of regard for his brothers and sisters first of all in the warrant officer corps, then the aviation branch, followed by the Calvary and finally the Army as a whole.

I must quote his phone interview to the ARMY TIMES with regard to his everyday wearing of the uniform in violation of 670-1, "I basically give them 'the look' - dare them to say something". I was appalled and hit the floor almost passed out that a fellow warrant officer would publicly donate a photo and such words to represent the whole population. The harm is done. The amount of readers and viewers of this obviously will not see the investigation into his service and past to know that this guy is not credible.

So I am embarrassed for my rank (warrant officers) in the branch and the Army. I have to defend our rank because a knucklehead spoke out and no one will look past his comment on 30 June. It already is hard as aviators get to un-blouse their boots when flying and often forget to tuck them back in afterwards. Often aviators push limits on haircuts, sideburns and mustaches, but this was a bit over the top.

Several thing spoke to me in the article. The ARMY TIMES did not research the officer with much detail. The officer whether Guard, Reserve or Active duty is wrong. Rolling up sleeves when not authorized and walking around with an attitude against officers and Soldiers alike is criminal. Surely if an officer told him to roll up his sleeves and he gave that 'look', that he would be charged with UCMJ.

This article and policy, I really don't care about, the Army did me a favor having me wear my sleeves down. I no longer have skin cancer on my forearms! Trust me when I say it stinks having pieces of you cut out for it. If the Army gave the option today, I would only roll them up to be uniformly in a formation with the rest of the Soldiers.

So this gentleman, CW2 or CW3 Calhoun has embarrassed and tarnished the idea of a warrant officer to me. Probably to a lot of others, or he validated a prejudice already of how warrant officers can or may be perceived. He went further wearing the CAV Stetson, saying he was in USASOC, mentioning SOF and being an aviator. None of these grant him immunity from proper wear of the uniform. I would hope he was proud of his rank, branch and service enough to comply.

So the question to you is have you ever been embarrassed for your rank, branch or service?

EXAMPLES: Remember the Airman sticking the tongue out on the POW symbol? The Soldiers on funeral detail and casket? We could go on, but are you affected?