Has anyone ever felt he or she was the target of teasing and ass-chewing for no reason?

SFC Christopher Taggart — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 00:14:50 -0400

Even if you took them off-line and spoke to them, they just laughed at you and didn’t take you seriously and the teasing continued. Forget taking them to the command, because they were “buddies” with the First Sergeant and Sergeant Major. How did you handle it and how did it affect you?

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 15 at 2017 1:32 AM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 01:32:50 -0400

When I was a 2ndLt, I had two peers that disliked me as much as I disliked them. I was the target for several malicious pranks. We were the three rifle platoon leaders in the same company. Keep in mind it was a different time, and my solution would probably not fly now. If their actions did not affect my Marines or have a public or personal ramification for me, I ignored it. If their actions affected my Marines, I addressed it with the company XO or CO. If their actions had a public or personal ramification for me, in front of our peers, I invited them to the racquet ball court, to settle our differences, after hours.

I was pretty evenly matched with one, and could easily take the other. For about 4 months, it was damned rare that one or more of us didn't have a black eye or fat lip. No doubt, the Company XO and CO; and Battalion XO and CO knew what was going on. As long as everyone was fit for duty the next day, nothing was said.

I will not claim that I came out better in every encounter, but the two of them got tired of fighting before I did. When I became the Company XO, they expected the worst and that I would make them pay for all their malicious pranks. I did not. One of them apologized to me before the tour was up. (he had become the butt of the jokes when I left the company to take over the STA platoon) I ran into the other about 11 years ago. We had another fight for old times sake.

Response by 1SG Alex Larson made Oct 16 at 2017 12:04 AM

1SG Alex Larson — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 00:04:16 -0400

Get thick skin, grow a backbone, and don't be a snowflake.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 16 at 2017 8:23 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 08:23:53 -0400

You have two very different situations asked about.
Teasing and ahhhh, inappropriate counseling...lol (Im an admin, not supposed to say ass chewing...oops)
And you have asked about two outcomes "How did you handle it and how did it affect you?" about your two situations.... Starting to feel like an English professors midterm with only "one" question....
So to answer.. No on teasing that was not cured at the local level, yes on inappropriate counseling, not solved till that newly promoted, low density MOS, non job holding SGM disappeared.. no idea where she went, but one day she just stopped hassling my platoon sergeants and company 1SGs (and every other NCO on battalion Ave during PT)
How did I handle it, I spoke with the SGM, that was a dead end, she was rightist and WRONG, and full of herself and self appointed position of hall monitor. I spoke with my BN CSM, I was not the first that had mentioned the BN Ave hall monitor... It was fixed after that.. Knowing that CSM, he went and told her to get off BN Ave during PT hours, NOW,,,,and she did, if not that, he spoke to the Div CSM about it..
How did it effect me? I was a better leader for it, I was victim to a senior NCO that was a distraction not a leader....an NCO that was not trying to justify her place in life by making up issues that did not exists and then "fixing" them. I learned not to do that, so look to see if what I was observing really was an issue??? If so, did it need to be handled NOW, or could it be handled later in a non adversarial manner. It was never that SGMs intent to make me a better NCO..... but even her bad example proved useful.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2017 12:12 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 12:12:38 -0400

My advice for teasing is to get thicker skin and try not to let them see it effect you. They'll probably grow tired of it eventually. Another great way to get rid of an enemy is to make them a friend. This can simply mean not taking chances at "getting even" and treating them fairly. That can have a big impact on people. Is it foolproof? No, but it's better than getting dragged into the gutter with them.

I was once the brunt of some teasing as a young Corporal in the Marines. In the most professional way possible I told the other Corporal that he was "a very disagreeable person" (not sure why I chose those words, they just sorta came out) turned around, walked off, and ignored him for a while. A couple of days later he apologized and told me that what I had said really bothered him. That might not work on everyone but being professional and honest rarely makes a situation worse.

Response by SMSgt Mark Gildersleeve made Oct 16 at 2017 12:20 PM

SMSgt Mark Gildersleeve — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 12:20:45 -0400

Suck it up butter cup....Life aint fair and neither is the military....

Response by SCPO William Akin made Oct 16 at 2017 3:22 PM

SCPO William Akin — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 15:22:32 -0400

Q. "Has anyone ever felt he or she was the target of teasing and ass-chewing for no reason?"

A. I'm 74 years old... Next question..

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Oct 16 at 2017 6:43 PM

Cpl Rc Layne — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:43:59 -0400

Bear it. Get better.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Oct 17 at 2017 1:46 AM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 01:46:33 -0400

If ass chewings were warranted (90% of the time they were) my creed was "get better, not bitter". If it was chickenshit I just let it go in one ear and out the other.

Response by PFC Kia Davis made Nov 6 at 2017 8:06 PM

PFC Kia Davis — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 20:06:33 -0500

I reported to IG and EO and nothing happened to the asswipe. I reported him to 1SG, Commander, and still nothing. He tried giving me a field grade for some bs that he caused. Luckily I had two NCO’s that vouched for me and a record of everything that went down. Keep a freakin record of everything bad that they do and ask for a battle or a squad leader to be present. Also use your global for proof. I had to do all of these things. It’s sad but there are a ton of toxic leaders.

Response by SSG Esperance Dawson made Mar 8 at 2019 11:55 AM

SSG Esperance Dawson — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 11:55:27 -0500

Try being in the Marine Corps with the last name Ahwal pronounced AWOL for a last mane.

Response by PO2 Richard Taylor made Mar 8 at 2019 12:35 PM

PO2 Richard Taylor — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 12:35:19 -0500

Response by SSG Ralph Watkins made Mar 8 at 2019 12:36 PM

SSG Ralph Watkins — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 12:36:39 -0500

For the most part, suck it up. If the ass chewing is downright bizarre or just harassment, talk to their superior or even their peer. I got chewed out at my US govt job the one day. It made no sense. I started getting really mad & then as it wouldn't stop, my thinking changed. I told my boss she need to see a doctor right away. I had to yell back at her to convince her. She did listen & it wasn't good. She had a serious medical issue going on.

Response by MAJ Geiter Dunn made Mar 29 at 2020 1:26 PM

MAJ Geiter Dunn — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 13:26:08 -0400

If it was deserved, you suck it up and drive on. If it was undeserved, you take it as a bad leadership by THEM, not bad soldiering by you. Then you suck it up and drive on. And BTW, if you can't suck it up and drive on, then ask to get out of the Army. It doesn't get any better as you go up in the ranks.