How do you feel about correcting someone of higher rank?

2014-11-07T19:03:23-05:00

With doing funeral details I work with people ranked as low as PFC or as high as COL. One day I was at a funeral and I noticed the Major I was with had 4 bronze stars attached to his NDSM. I asked him where he got his ribbon rack from and he said he recently used a new store. I had to inform him that according to his National Defense Service Medal ribbon, he has been in the service since WWII. And I said the reason is you get the ribbon for one war which would have been WWII and a star for each war following that. So according to his uniform he was in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and GWOT. He thanked me because it made him look like an idiot. And I said I just wanted to help.

How do you feel about correcting people of higher rank?

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Nov 8 at 2014 4:00 AM

2014-11-08T04:00:21-05:00

I didn't have a problem with it and for the most part they didn't either because I was always respectful in doing so. I had one Lt. that got upset when I corrected him.

Response by SSG Jeremy Siebenaller made Nov 8 at 2014 7:28 AM

2014-11-08T07:28:32-05:00

Man that is a slippery slope and a hard one as well! You can do it! I've done it. However you must walk on some serious eggshells! I've have Privates question me some times in my uniform while in garrison and over seas. Some I didn't lose my cool with....some came at me like they were Sergeant Major of the Army and got the swift knife hand and "in cadence" of justice. THEN I would tell them thank you and be more respectful next time. If you go to an NCO or Officer with a legit correction and you are tackful....Then he/she is just simply being an ass if they get offended! If they are doing their job correctly then you should notice when they are ate up. I would never correct someone higher up on a decision that they make. However shaving/uniform ect....have at it!

Response by Sgt Jennifer Mohler made Nov 8 at 2014 7:44 AM

2014-11-08T07:44:49-05:00

Go for it. Everyone makes mistakes. Whether it is a subordinate or a superior just be nice about it. The most humiliating thing is for someone to be cruel to you over a uniform mistake. It is very unlikely that someone is walking around out of regulations on purpose and making them feel bad is not an effective choice. I found that once I learned to be nice about it, everyone listened a lot more and were nice and sometimes candid back with me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 1:41 PM

2014-11-08T13:41:48-05:00

It all depends on who they are. Sometimes you come across that one higher ranking person who think they are above it all and when you try and correct them, they will immediately blow you off because they walk on water and fart cinnamon. Most of the time, I will at least inform them of the deficiency and when they inform me that they urinate rainbows, I walk away knowing that I was fighting a losing battle from the beginning, but at least I did the right thing.

Those are the toxic leaders I hate the most: the ones who aren't ignorant, but knowingly are wrong and don't care because they are better than all of that.

CAVEAT: one thing to make sure of is, when correcting somebody, ensure you are in the right as well. The ole' "every time you point a finger, three are coming back at you."

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 8 at 2014 2:53 PM

2014-11-08T14:53:12-05:00

Regardless of the awards periods, the fact that you had the personal courage to make the on-the-spot correction is an insight into your character as an upstanding Soldier and a leader. I am glad you made the correction, and shared it with the rest of us, continue to enforce standards and discipline!

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 8 at 2014 3:22 PM

2014-11-08T15:22:19-05:00

Be damn sure you're right, be respectful and let 'er rip.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Nov 11 at 2014 9:03 AM

2014-11-11T09:03:39-05:00

It is all about respect and subtlety.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Nov 11 at 2014 9:35 AM

2014-11-11T09:35:11-05:00

Do it appropriately and with respect regardless of their rank, and it shouldn't be an issue. Troops should have a spine, that's why our military is the best.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2014 11:36 AM

2014-11-11T11:36:58-05:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member , I do it all the time. I use tact when an audience is present. But I like to make a little fun at it when I can. I recall a general officer leaving his weapon on the airplane along with his two clips. There were a few GO there to include one four star, so I would never embarrass him by calling him out. I waited, politely borrowed a minute. I hadn't seen this 2star since he was a full bird. He remembered me. Told him I had a little present for him. Handed him his stuff. He hadn't realized he didn't have his sidearm. Said he owed me some push-ups later. I told him I wanted 5o and we laughed about it. Later that day, I saw a SPC getting smoked in the motor pool bay in afghan. I asked his Ssg what the infraction was. Sm came in from a mission and left his m16 in the truck. He was the gunner. I told the SSG it could happen to anyone. Try and take it a lil easy. But I wasn't gonna get involved. MG W came in the bay and asked what happened. Squad LOR told him. The old man got down and did push-ups right then too. SSG didn't know what to think. It was a great moment.

Response by SSG Leonard J W. made Nov 11 at 2014 1:40 PM

2014-11-11T13:40:58-05:00

I totally agree with most of the posts here. Be tactful, clear, correct, and concise, and most people will accept the correction. I have made on the spot corrections up and down the chain since I was a corporal. No one has ever told me that I was wrong for doing so, as long as I was respectful. Steer clear of anyone who won't accept correction. Those who won't don't care...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2015 8:09 AM

2015-01-08T08:09:03-05:00

I have no problem with correcting someone of higher rank, just as I have no problem being corrected by someone of junior grade to me. The "problem", if there is one, is in HOW the senior grade is corrected.

It should always be done professionally and not like the senior grade is being "called out" in front of everybody around them. This is the same for correcting someone of junior grade to yourself. Do it professionally.

But, first and foremost, make sure you are correct. Police yourself before you police others. If you come to me telling me I have strings hanging off of my uniform, but you look like you are wearing a cat-shredded curtain, just walk away. Correct me if you are correct, but if you are not... just walk away.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2015 1:51 AM

2015-01-16T01:51:41-05:00

I've pulled quite a number of senior enlisted and officers aside to advise them discreetly of on the spot corrections.

There's NOTHING wrong with them just as long as they're *drumroll* Professional, polite, and not demeaning or disrespectful.

What's THE WORST outcome from it? Someone gets disgruntled and boiled up, boo-hoo, cry me a river when you're in the right and they KNOW it.

Keep it up and don't become a jerk about it and you'll be fine!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 4:15 AM

2015-02-07T04:15:03-05:00

You did the right thing. Personally I believe anyone who uses the words "check down, not up" is prone to abusing their authority and feel a sense of entitlement as though they are above the laws and regulations. I myself from time to time would test my Soldiers by intentionally having something out of place on my uniform to see if any of them would step up and correct me. I use that as a teaching tool to instill in them that right and wrong does not wear rank.

Response by SSG Sean Garcia made Feb 7 at 2015 4:24 AM

2015-02-07T04:24:31-05:00

I'm a medically retired Soldier and was picking up meds the other day. I noticed a LTC with one pant leg un-bloused and the other one bloused. I waiting until he was in the far end of the pharmacy and pointed this out. I swear I must've just asked to sleep with his wife. He wasn't at all pleased to be corrected by a young buck in civies with long hair.

I smiled and walked away, I could only imagine what is BN thinks of him.
I just hope he understands that at some point every Soldier has a day that they are "jacked-up" without realizing it and that even he isn't perfect.

Response by SPC Joseph Fisher made Feb 10 at 2015 12:13 PM

2015-02-10T12:13:28-05:00

Just respect who you are talking to. We are all on the same team.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 7 at 2015 4:20 AM

2015-04-07T04:20:37-04:00

SPC Cody Voye, You did an excellent job. This may have ended badly for someone else.

Response by SGT Corey Thomas made Apr 17 at 2015 12:32 AM

2015-04-17T00:32:38-04:00

With respect and tact you have the obligation to correct anyone regardless of rank

Response by SFC Terry Logsdon made Dec 17 at 2015 6:23 AM

2015-12-17T06:23:57-05:00

son it the rank that you have to respect not the person he or she must earn that they put their pants on one leg at a time just like you do. as for the wear of the uniform and correcting mention ar 670-1 that way they can look it up for themselves

Response by Robyn Morrow made Jun 9 at 2019 2:45 PM

2019-06-09T14:45:02-04:00

Well if it is incorrect by all means correct it. Just do it respectfully. We are all human and we do make mistakes. I’m sure it would have been worse if a col or higher said something instead of you.

Response by CW3 Terry Gile made Jul 3 at 2019 1:55 PM

2019-07-03T13:55:34-04:00

Eisenhower established the NDSM in 1953 to recognize all who served during the period of the Korean War. Subsequently the medal was authorized for those who served during the Vietnam "Conflict", Gulf War, and War on Terrorism -- maximum of four awards (three stars) possible.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Nov 23 at 2019 7:53 PM

2019-11-23T19:53:00-05:00

I didn’t mind, not to be a spotlighter, or a suck up, just to that individual did not make themselves correcting someone look foolish with their cargo pockets open or their laces hanging out.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Nov 23 at 2019 7:58 PM

2019-11-23T19:58:17-05:00

I also commended a young PFC for pointing out that I had my headgear on indoors. My response was can you give me a hand being I was carrying a big box. He then handed me my soft cap as per my request.
I saw him years later as a newly promoted Sergeant, who also had a rep of being a good sport about his soldiers correcting him.