Posted on Dec 31, 2015
How should a situation in the MCX about wearing a cover in the building be handled properly?
1.3M
4.77K
1.93K
631
631
0
How should a situation in the MCX about wearing a cover in the building be handled properly?
NEITHER MYSELF OR MY WIFE ARE IN THE HABIT OF TELLING A LIE OR MAKING UP A STORY - IT HAPPENED! FOCUS ON THE QUESTION - NOT WETHER YOU BELIEVE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED OR NOT!
RP Members was this handled properly by the Junior Officer, SgtMaj, or the mother? What would you have done?
THIS WAS A REAL SITUATION THAT TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY 12/30/2015
CORRECTION: I've receive collaboration from another lady who also had firsthand knowledge of this incident in the MCX - "The "youth" was not an AD USMC, but part of a group of Young Marines. Her description of this group is that it is one for troubled youth to attempt to instill discipline and maybe bring them into the fold."
I apologize to all of those individuals that I stood firm on with, that it was young Marine Private (based on all the information I received), but the discussion, question, and feedback on how the situation was handled by the Junior Officer, Sgt Mgr, and Mother have been outstanding - that I don't apologize for - thanks
If anything, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and my wife called me at home immediately following the incident - she knew I would enjoy hearing about it. I just said, "that SgtMaj owns that young Marine!"
RP Members this one comes from the wife that works at Camp Pendleton, CA Marine Base in the MCX.
A young "Youth" Marine was in the check-out line with his mother and "CORRECTION" (put his cover on inside!) He was approached by a AD Marine (Junior Officer) and asked to remove the cover. Immediately the young "Youth" Marine took up the defensive and asked the junior officer "who the F*** are you?" The Junior Officer then got into the young "Youth" Marine's face and told him to have some respect and remove the cover - it escalated into a shouting match in the check-out line in the MCX. Coming from the back of the store there was a loud roar from a Sergeant Major in the Marines (built like a tank according to my wife). He bellowed, "both of you shut your mouth there are families in here!" The MCX went silent and several employees and Marines hit the deck (no kidding). The SgtMaj came to the front and grabbed the young "Youth" Marine the by collar escorting him and the Junior Officer out of the MCX with the Young "Youth" Marine's mother yelling, "don't touch my boy!"
NEITHER MYSELF OR MY WIFE ARE IN THE HABIT OF TELLING A LIE OR MAKING UP A STORY - IT HAPPENED! FOCUS ON THE QUESTION - NOT WETHER YOU BELIEVE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED OR NOT!
RP Members was this handled properly by the Junior Officer, SgtMaj, or the mother? What would you have done?
THIS WAS A REAL SITUATION THAT TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY 12/30/2015
CORRECTION: I've receive collaboration from another lady who also had firsthand knowledge of this incident in the MCX - "The "youth" was not an AD USMC, but part of a group of Young Marines. Her description of this group is that it is one for troubled youth to attempt to instill discipline and maybe bring them into the fold."
I apologize to all of those individuals that I stood firm on with, that it was young Marine Private (based on all the information I received), but the discussion, question, and feedback on how the situation was handled by the Junior Officer, Sgt Mgr, and Mother have been outstanding - that I don't apologize for - thanks
If anything, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and my wife called me at home immediately following the incident - she knew I would enjoy hearing about it. I just said, "that SgtMaj owns that young Marine!"
RP Members this one comes from the wife that works at Camp Pendleton, CA Marine Base in the MCX.
A young "Youth" Marine was in the check-out line with his mother and "CORRECTION" (put his cover on inside!) He was approached by a AD Marine (Junior Officer) and asked to remove the cover. Immediately the young "Youth" Marine took up the defensive and asked the junior officer "who the F*** are you?" The Junior Officer then got into the young "Youth" Marine's face and told him to have some respect and remove the cover - it escalated into a shouting match in the check-out line in the MCX. Coming from the back of the store there was a loud roar from a Sergeant Major in the Marines (built like a tank according to my wife). He bellowed, "both of you shut your mouth there are families in here!" The MCX went silent and several employees and Marines hit the deck (no kidding). The SgtMaj came to the front and grabbed the young "Youth" Marine the by collar escorting him and the Junior Officer out of the MCX with the Young "Youth" Marine's mother yelling, "don't touch my boy!"
Marines
Discipline
Regulation
Military bearing
What Would You Do
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 937
1
1
0
Was this really a Marine or was it some kid with his mother, wearing his fathers uniform and the officer mistook him for a Marine. I really find it hard to believe that a Marine especially a young one would be that belligerent with an officer. I also am disturbed that a Marine Corps officer would engage in a shouting match with anyone no matter who they were. That would be conduct unbecoming and officer for sure. Also no Marine especially that young would even think about putting his cover on inside, that is just something that is drilled into your head from the earliest days of boot camp. If he was going to have his hands full he surely could have simply stepped out the hatch set his bags down and put his cover on. This really sounds like a teenage kid that was wearing some of his fathers old utility's which is something military kids do, again the mothers reaction sounds just like that.
(1)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Cpl John Davis Yes, they were all three (3) REAL Marines involved and it did happen. It's hard for a lot of Marines, as well as Old Army guys like me, and Airman, and even Sailors to believe, but stuff happens and this did. Now, that we got that out of the way, back to the question how should't have been handled?
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Doesn't pass my sniff test either. I bet there are some details that were either misunderstood or not seen. Young enlisted Marine in uniform, in the Exchange, with his Mother in tow, asks a commissioned officer in uniform "who the f**k are you". Not likely that it happened exactly that way. If it did happen as stated then both Marines are jacked up like a football bat.
(1)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
GySgt Kenneth Pepper Exactly, that is why the SgtMaj took them outside an counseled both. My wife doesn't embellish on incidents like this - she's been around too long to know better and I confimred it with her co-worker and one of the ladies that worked for her and the Cashier. My wife has been working there for 3 years and this is only the tip of the iceberg. I don't even want to get into Marines hitting my wife incidents - Christ you'll all go crazy calling me and her a liar! I don't pose a question based on something made up Gunny. Just not my style, but you're entitled to you opinion and I respect that. I just hope you can respect my integrity. Okay, with that out of the way, back to the question. How should it have been handled when the young Marine put his cover on in the building?
(1)
(0)
GySgt Kenneth Pepper
Read my comments again. I never questioned integrity, just the possibility that there may have been details that were not seen or heard.
With that out of the way, the only person in this situation that handled themselves correctly was the SGTMAJ.
If the junior enlisted Marine responded to being corrected this way without some other sort of provocation he will eventually screw up and be held accountable. Not everybody has the temperament required for military life. If you get corrected for doing something stupid, even something that would seem to most as inconsequential, you have to man up and accept it. Take your freaking headgear off while indoors. It's not hard. Your Mom will not think less of you for complying with a lawful order.
The young officer needs to take what he saw from the SGTMAJ as a lesson in leadership and tact. Especially considering that dependents and civilians were all around. Now, had this happened in an area where only people wearing a uniform were around, the young officer would only need to point him out to the nearest NCO and let him/her handle it.
With that out of the way, the only person in this situation that handled themselves correctly was the SGTMAJ.
If the junior enlisted Marine responded to being corrected this way without some other sort of provocation he will eventually screw up and be held accountable. Not everybody has the temperament required for military life. If you get corrected for doing something stupid, even something that would seem to most as inconsequential, you have to man up and accept it. Take your freaking headgear off while indoors. It's not hard. Your Mom will not think less of you for complying with a lawful order.
The young officer needs to take what he saw from the SGTMAJ as a lesson in leadership and tact. Especially considering that dependents and civilians were all around. Now, had this happened in an area where only people wearing a uniform were around, the young officer would only need to point him out to the nearest NCO and let him/her handle it.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Maybe he was finished buying his groceries and needed both hands to carry his stuff out. Why pick everything up just to put everything down so you can put your cover on at the door 5 feet away.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
COL Lee Flemming Yes, the good the bad, and the ugly - have a great day Lee! It is what it is!
(0)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
COL Lee Flemming Yea, unfortunately when you tell the truth about something that upsets the Marines it became my best post. No kidding everything happened exactly the way I posted it. I had to go to the MCX to verify with several sources before I posted the darn question - Wow, you talk about some Marines that believe this could never happen - crazy. I've seen a lot of things happen over my 37 years in the service and this was small time. I've taken and escorted soldiers to confinement facilities in my day and there is much more to tell! Oh Well!
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Sergeant major or not...you do not put your hands on anyone..the corp is a repected profession and should be handled professionally...that goes for the two lower enlisted as well
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I sort of find this one hard to believe, not impossible but not likely, unless they were in civilian attire, then very plausible with not enough information to really say why it happened. If they were in uniform, then the Jr. Marine needs to have his ass handed to him on a platter. If in civilian attire, the Jr. Marine is still at fault because he knows he should not be wearing his cover indoors. But, did the Lt.(assumed) identify himself? I have seen some Lt's. that looked like 15 year olds and I wanted to ask them if their mom knew where they were. Either way, the Jr. Marine should have known better and really should watch his mouth, which he will pay for.
(1)
(0)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
GySgt Richard McCrary Unfortunately it went down as described above and I agree with all your assessments above and that is a good question and partly why I posted it my question. How on many fronts could this type of situation have been handled better. I don't know if the LT identified himself or just embarrassed the Marine in front of his Mother. There were a lot of missteps by all in this incident. If the LT would have calmly ID himself and asked the Marine to remove his headgear before leaving the store the whole incident could have been avoided. Crap happens - thats why they call it crap! Just trying to keep clean here on RP Gunny! Have to set an example as a Volunteer Admin for RP. Thansk for responding!
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
1
1
0
Well done SgtMaj. Put that young marine in check.. This is still the Marine Corps, you WILL follow the rules and regs as well as years of tradition..
-0331 Guns Up
Semper Fi
-0331 Guns Up
Semper Fi
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
I never got to serve, but I did grow up on military bases. In the kinder, gentler world of military life, post-Clinton administration PC witch hunts, I can see this happening. (Please don't take that as an insult. The military has fought the good fight to keep liberals in Congress from mucking up too many things.) Most civilians wouldn't even recognize the scenario. They'd see it as some mukity-much mid-level executive being an ass to a mail room clerk. They'd be wrong because that Sergeants Major is more like the right hand of God with a will of steel, and not an HR manager.
Anyway, it was handled poorly. Mom or no mom, you just don't pop off like that - even in the civilian world. He probably didn't even think about it, just went into "I'm a brave Marine and I can't show weakness in front of mommy" mode. The junior officer is probably in need of some mentoring. Any soldier seeing him like that will lose respect for him. Like the old saying, "Never issue an order you know will not be followed," this one falls under, "Never make an ass of yourself in front of your men." (Perhaps none of his men were there, but the grapevine on base is one of the truly FTL forms of communication.)
I foresee extra duties for both parties. The junior officer, if he can't be trained, there's always a nice FOBBIT position somewhere or even the PIO office.
Anyway, it was handled poorly. Mom or no mom, you just don't pop off like that - even in the civilian world. He probably didn't even think about it, just went into "I'm a brave Marine and I can't show weakness in front of mommy" mode. The junior officer is probably in need of some mentoring. Any soldier seeing him like that will lose respect for him. Like the old saying, "Never issue an order you know will not be followed," this one falls under, "Never make an ass of yourself in front of your men." (Perhaps none of his men were there, but the grapevine on base is one of the truly FTL forms of communication.)
I foresee extra duties for both parties. The junior officer, if he can't be trained, there's always a nice FOBBIT position somewhere or even the PIO office.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
The 1st rule of leadership is Praise in public and admonish in private, The E9 and JO only should've identified the Marine by has name tag, used their resources to find out his command, summoned the marine to their offices, and dealt with him there, in private. But before that, at the MCX the JO should've told the E9 (in a very calm voice) to stand down. But since the E9 was also in violation of rule 1, he also should've been counselled (alone) by the JO. But, as we all know, JO's are terrified of any enlisted rank superior to an E7.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google