Posted on Oct 4, 2015
I went to the Chow Hall this morning, left pretty pissed off. Would you do the same thing I did?
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My spouse and I went to the gym this morning and had a great workout. After my shower, I went to the DFAC for Sunday morning brunch. spending time with the Soldiers as well as chow was great.
We noticed a couple (probably in early-mid forties) sitting at the next table with three young children (ages estimated at 6, 8, 9)....the children were running all over the place - not being watched or corrected by the either parent....looked like they had been there for quite some time as well because there was food, wrappers, plates all over the place.
I noticed the children playing around the area fallen hero table so I approached the father, I thought I was very restrained - here's what happened:
Me: Sir, do you know what this table is here for?
His reply: "roger, I know the meaning".
Me: Are these your children?
Reply: Yes.
(the children were still running around.....now the youngest was pulling at the fallen hero table cloth)
Me: Are these your children?
Reply: Yes.
Me: Sir, do you truly understand the importance of this display, and understand what it exactly means to all of us within this community?
Reply: Yes
Me: Sir, please get your children under control!
At that point, he grabbed his son and put the child over his shoulder and walked with him back to the table and then turned him lose & let him go back to "roaming" all around the DFAC....next to the stoves and all the other appliances (in the back) which are not so kid friendly!
How would you have handled the situation? Directly? Indirectly (thru the DFAC manager? Ignored the situation completely, (it aint my business).
We noticed a couple (probably in early-mid forties) sitting at the next table with three young children (ages estimated at 6, 8, 9)....the children were running all over the place - not being watched or corrected by the either parent....looked like they had been there for quite some time as well because there was food, wrappers, plates all over the place.
I noticed the children playing around the area fallen hero table so I approached the father, I thought I was very restrained - here's what happened:
Me: Sir, do you know what this table is here for?
His reply: "roger, I know the meaning".
Me: Are these your children?
Reply: Yes.
(the children were still running around.....now the youngest was pulling at the fallen hero table cloth)
Me: Are these your children?
Reply: Yes.
Me: Sir, do you truly understand the importance of this display, and understand what it exactly means to all of us within this community?
Reply: Yes
Me: Sir, please get your children under control!
At that point, he grabbed his son and put the child over his shoulder and walked with him back to the table and then turned him lose & let him go back to "roaming" all around the DFAC....next to the stoves and all the other appliances (in the back) which are not so kid friendly!
How would you have handled the situation? Directly? Indirectly (thru the DFAC manager? Ignored the situation completely, (it aint my business).
Fallen Soldiers
Respect
Disrespect
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 100
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I say ALL HANDS ON DECK!! CSM, I would have done what you did and involved the DFAC staff and due to the lack of getting the message followed though with both on the parents chain of command. for whom ever is a SM.
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I would have made the Facility Manager/Officer/NCO on duty aware of "the unrest" and given them the opportunity to correct the problem, then backed them up if necessary.
I'd have probably asked one or both of the parents for their ID and put them in touch with Family Services for some counseling or education with regard to child discipline, even though that may have gone over like a lead balloon.
If the situation did not abate and the couple continued to fail to "control" their urchins, I'd have probably suggested to the Facility Manager, that Base Law Enforcement be contacted, if the disruption continued...
I'd have probably asked one or both of the parents for their ID and put them in touch with Family Services for some counseling or education with regard to child discipline, even though that may have gone over like a lead balloon.
If the situation did not abate and the couple continued to fail to "control" their urchins, I'd have probably suggested to the Facility Manager, that Base Law Enforcement be contacted, if the disruption continued...
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig I would have done the same, probably not as tactfully as I am sure you were. There is no excuse for this.
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I would have collected the kids myself and brought them to him, told him the importance of the table and if the kids were to go to that table agin I would get take him aside to help square him away.
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I would have asked for an ID...and escorted them out. They would be more than welcome to come back if they could restrain their animals
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I would have let the DFAC manager/Officer/NCO know. I'd let me CoC know too so they could bring it down the Installation channels. That's is pretty absurd though.
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I would have gang up on him. ask a few more around to circle him and the kids. lol that might get me into trouble.
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I checked off "other". Reason being, either the service has really changed or it's a Marine thing - as the only ones in the chow hall when I was in - Enlisted personnel. Is this different at the staff level?
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CSM Michael J. Uhlig
Not much staff around these parts brother.....the DFAC is open to active duty/reserve as well as our civilian counterparts.
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I would have done the same thing but I would have introduced myself and then after he ignored the first talking to I would have done two things.
Notified the manager
Gotten his name and unit and called his first shirt
( all thus is assuming I outrank him lol)
Notified the manager
Gotten his name and unit and called his first shirt
( all thus is assuming I outrank him lol)
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The Polish have a great saying I try to apply: nut meh seerkus, nut meh monkyees [Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy]. Too many parents are tone deaf when it comes to their children's behaviors in public, but it neither affects me nor my pay grade, so I thank God I'm not them and move on. I try not to allow others to determine my emotional state, especially immature children and their parents.
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CPO Andy Carrillo, MS
I understand, but how do you teach honor and respect to those who have neither (children or adults)? In the end you ended up being the worse for it (angry and upset) rather than uplifted. Maybe a velvet rope barrier would have made a difference, but that is someone else's 'monkey'. Don't (emotionally) pay for pigs to take opera lessons...
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