If you saw one of your Joes doing this, how would you react?

One, this could be anything. The backdrop appears that it could at a school. Two, the OP mentions they saw this on a FB feed. The edit clarifies it a bit but does not specify. Three, the lack of patches and insignia on the uniform speaks to the fact that this troop might have JUST been in JROTC and likely signed papers to join up. Notice the stance he has with feet together but hands behind his back. No DI worth his salt would let a troop escape D&C class doing that without dropping them on the spot for at least 50. This reads like the troop had not been to basic yet and was simply in school as JROTC. That they got done with the days work and were asked for a photo Op. Note that some are dressed up and some not.

Umm. The ribbons on the girls say Homecoming Court. How did you get Prom from that?

Standing at half attention and half parade rest looks pretty dumb no matter what. I imagine he could be ROTC because he has no patches but the flower pinned to the chest is still a big no-no. Either a jacked up ROTC or jacked up wanna-be...

When I was a young soldier, my NCOIC always informed me of my behavior, typically followed by advice. As an NCO, I found myself using his methods.

Pull him to the side and let him know he did wrong and and let him know why he did wrong discuss punishment if it happens again

Loser

Seems as though he is definitely wet behind the ears and just needs to be told regs.

1st. Many of us Jarheads don't understand why in the heck you other services insist on wearing your cammies, bdu's,fatigues, whatever, out in town. Us Jarheads are accustomed to getting chewed out if we are in the gas station getting gas too long. The fact that it's somehow ingrained that they can wear their utility uniform is why that young man wore them to a formal event.

If you set the expectations of when and where it's appropriate to wear your utility uniform and you play like the Jarheads do and call the juniors out on it when they screw up these problems become fewer and far between....... and my kids stop asking me why those people are wearing their cammies at a restaurant..... my kids even say that's unsat!

I disagree with a lot of you, at worst it was intentional disobedience and at best it was active negligence. While SFC Damon is right, that they don't teach these things in basic training everyone knows

1) wearing fatigues off base is inappropriate

2) there is a code of uniform conduct for every occasion, anyone who cared about the rules and respecting the uniform would have taken the time to find out what the regulation was, because EVERYONE knows that "I didn't know it was against the rules" doesn't fly


I'm not saying throw him to the wolves, but neither would I let this go entirely if it were my position to be responsible for his discipline

Well, a couple of things. First, as you are E-4 and stating you went to basic with the subject, just how is he 'one of your Joes'? Unless things have changed, a SPC is not in a leadership role. CPL would be. And mentoring; do you mean you would mentor or go to COC and request/recommend counseling? If this is not the actual person and/or picture, just how approximate is it? Further, what were the circumstances - was he home on leave, temporary duty, etc? On the surface, as two of the ladies are wearing their cheer unis, I would assume homecoming rather than prom, which may not be a 'formal' event, in which case, the ACUs are ok. As to how you would mentor - depends on your background with him and his background. If he is a 'problem' troop and has several issues already, a formal counseling session could be called for. If he is not and just did a dumbass thing, "Yo dude, at formal events you need to be in Class As" and before anyone gets in trouble, take down the photo.