Has anyone ever been in a screaming match or any altercation with their superiors?

Too many times to mention in this forum. Although I was always respectful a few of my superior officers resorted to vulgar language and open hostility. I found out very early in my military career that most senior officers do not like being told that they are wrong by subordinate officers. Had my heels locked 3 nights in a row at Wildflicken after the nightly Cmd and staff meeting by a Major(S3) when I was a 1LT BN Supt Plt Ldr. New S3 had just been assigned to the Battalion and was clueless, he tried to tell me how to do a job I had been doing for 12 months. Had I followed his directives, most if not all live fire would have ground to a halt, not to mention vehicle’s fuel tanks running dry. The Battalion XO was my rater so I ignored the arrogant fool and did my job. Years later as a senior captain in an ROTC assignment, I “forced” my Brigade Commander to conduct an Article 32 Investigation on an incompetent and regularly AWOL National Guard AGR Captain. When the Investigation proved my allegations and overt racism. The “embarrassed” Colonel decided to Cover up the AGR’s crimes, bury the Investigation and implicate me, in an attempt to shut me up. He came down to Tulane ROTC to personally present me with a Letter of Reprimand. I refused to sign nor accept the reprimand. He had a fit! For 15-20 minutes sitting across a small table in a small room he threatened me, called me a few choice names, including disrespectful, insubordinate, disloyal, etc. It was only after I told him I was going to see the ROTC Cadet Command Commanding General, using the CG’s “Open Door Policy,” that the ass hat backed off and agreed to terminate the AGR Captain’s active duty contract, only if I agreed to not push for a Courts Martial, I would forget the Letter of Reprimand and not go see the CG. I got the worthless jerk off active duty and away from my cadets, so I felt like I accomplished my primary objective. That incident finished my career. I made the Major’s list soon after, but the ass hat Colonel paid me back with a center of mass report card after top blocking me 2 years earlier when I was the PMS for a year as a Captain after the LTC PMS was relieved. That center of mass report ensured I didn’t go to resident Command ad Staff College. That also ensured even if I got to LTC I would never see Colonel. I filed an appeal and an IG complaint but Brigade Command Colonels are hard to take down. There are other incidents where I had to “correct” Colonels but that’s for another post.

I have never been that childish!

YES

yes

yes they have

yes they have

yes they have

By altercation do you mean Physical Violence?

I am a leadrship challenge, and I have expressed my opinion quite vulgarly on this site.

I would have NEVER thought to speak to an officer or NCO in that way while on active duty, even as a leadership challenge.

That said, I have had a few choice words before.

One time I had a 2nd class petty officer come up to my bird pull the LOX bottle, install a new lox bottle, then proceed to break the BNC connector on the LOX bottle. Now I am not an AME so i have no idea if it was important, but i do know this: As a plane captain I am responsible for my bird when it is on the deck, that includes the life of the aircrew, and I was NOT going to let that fuckhead use GUM to put it back together, which is EXACTLY what he tried to do.

I went into the line shack, called the maintenance officer and downed the bird, My aircrew was reassigned and i went out and proceeded to prep that aircraft and launch the aircrew.

Then I went into maintenance control, and spit fire at the maintenance masterchief, who to his credit knew i was not being disrespectful to him, I was just frustrated because of the bonehead play that AME2 tried to fucking pull on me.

A few months alter we had a "new" pilot. As a Replacement Air Group our job was to train pilot candidates on the A-7E. Every now and then you would get actual qualified pilots cross training on the aircraft. As the A-7 was being decommissioned we were getting many field grade pilots who were wanting to have the qual on their file as a OER bullet point.

We had a few choice words when he tried to ORDER me to launch his aircraft with a bad AOE light. I told him simply, "I am in charge of this aircraft not you, and you, sir, are done for the evening." Then I walked into the line sack and refused to fly the aircrew.

I have learned over time that if you have to resort to the stick, you have failed as a leader.

But if you are forcing your leadership to resort to the stick you have failed as a follower too.

Leadership is a give and take, if i decide I am not going to do the job, the only resort the military has is to put somewhere where i can't do the job. This is either getting of AD or going to jail. And in this situation both the military and I lose. So in order for a person to get to that point, a good leader always asks an important question. WHY? Most fo the time it is just immaturity and that can be disciplined out of a person; But sometimes it is more Divorce, Cheating spouse, Sick family member (especially a very close grandparent). etc.

I was in X division awaiting my admin board when we had a young sailor passing through the unit on his way to his permanent duty assignment aboard ship. He confided in me that he really needed to take leave as his grandfather (the man who raised him) was sick, and the Navy wouldn't give him Emergency Leave, because his grandfather was not his actual parent. I tired to get the Chaplin involved, make the argument for "in loco parentis" status, and even the red cross but it was a no go, the night he was do to ship out, there was an emergency red cross message for him to contact the red cross. His grandfather had died, and the chaplain had gotten leave scheduled. No one could find him. Another seamen and i were looking when we came across him, drunk, throwing himself in front of cars on the road, trying to kill himself.

A good leader always asks why.

A good follower always tells why.

If you have something going on, you need to talk to someone.

I am embarrassed to admit that I DID get into a shouting match with my E-7 MSgt, when I was an E-5 SSgt. It was about membership in the NCO Club, of all things! Got so loud for a minute, the Captain and the Chief came out of thier respective offices to see what it was all about! I didn't, and still don't, see the need for "Unofficial" demands for club membership to get superlative performance reports, Command Endorsements, and Awards and Decorations. In my day, the Air Force spoke out of BOTH sides of their mouths, what with "Support Clubs so units have a place for Commanders Call, Official Functions, etc", and ZERO TOLERANCE for Alcohol problems, and, eventually, smoking indoors (who can drink a beer, and NOT have a cigarette? I CAN'T!), and now smoking, period! I am forever grateful for my time in service, but, I could NOT serve in Today's Military...

Yes, I had a Battalion CSM give me a hard time because I was promoted to 1st Sergeant, came in from another company and took over. He wanted his buddy to get the job. After raising our voices for a few minutes I told him to get fucked, end of story.