Posted on Jul 8, 2016
Is it appropriate to confront a higher rank when they are blatantly disregarding regs?
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So last week I was at the chow hall with another girl from my squadron, and we see this SSgt wearing nearly black lipstick across the room. This is very obviously out of regs as makeup is to be conservative and lipstick can not contrast with your skin tone. She was obviously a higher rank than me or the airman I went to chow with, and neither of us said anything even though both of us desperately wanted to. She looked ridiculous. It was so bad that some male airmen at the table next to us noticed it and asked us about the reg. Anyway my question is, is it appropriate to confront a higher rank when they are blatantly disregarding regs?
PS There was a visiting 2 star across the chow hall at the time
PPS Sorry the pictures are so bad. We were far away.
PS There was a visiting 2 star across the chow hall at the time
PPS Sorry the pictures are so bad. We were far away.
Regulation
What Would You Do
Advice
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 310
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Respect the rank don't fear it! You absolutely were well with in your boundaries as a fellow airman of USAF to call anybody out for being out of regs as long as you handle it with respect you will be good
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It is fine to talk to a person of any rank who you feel is out of regulation. In fact, it is your obligation to. However, here's some key advice on how to do it: 1. First, make sure you're going off of facts. Look at AFI 36-2903 (pull it up on your phone if you're not carrying the AFI around with you), and make sure you know for sure the person is in violation. 2. If one or two of you together want to talk to the person, that's fine, but always pull them aside... Never embarrass them publically. 3. Be respectful, whether they out rank you or not. People take criticism a lot better when you talk to them in a respectful, non confrontational way.
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Yes, it is completely appropriate but the important thing is doing it the correct way. The wrong way would be to walk up and blatantly call them out on it in an embarrassing manner. The correct way would be to pull them aside and respectfully tell them or ask if they are aware that XYZ (whatever the infraction is) is not in line with the guidance. As a CMSgt, that is how I handle it from the highest officer rank to the lowest enlisted. I would also say that I want an Airman to watch out for me and let me know because in the end, it's an Airman taking care of an Airman. If you are respectful and they respond negatively, just smile make sure to note the name and rank and address it with your leadership if it is warranted. Just my advice.
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Not in my time. Rank hath its privileges - not to flaunt regs, but it's not your job to 'correct' those above you, especially not in your chain of command - that's the job of their peers or superiors, in other words myb. You did say a 2 star was present? That should mean there were plenty of other senior personnel around.
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SFC Louis Cosme
More like I didn’t often need to be corrected, but maybe you did. The issue wasn’t whether it was your job or ‘their’ job to look right. It was how or whether you should be correcting someone of a higher rank - something that depends on the situation, which it very well may if it’s something crucial or a combat situation, not so much uniform regs. Good to know we have so many Garrison Gladiators though. SGT Charles Bartell
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SGT Charles Bartell
Get over your self. The few times I was corrected I did not get butt heart about it.
If you knowing let your leadership or your people be jacked up then you are just anther shit bag in uniform regardless of rank or job. With you having such a problem with people doing what they should do regarding correction's of any one higher then they are.
It sounds like you needed a lot of correction.
As far a garrison never had much of that.
I was always in Airborne Infantry units Armored Units then about ten years in the Tenth Mountain at Ft Drum. Ya so I spent more like 75% of my Army time ether in the field of in combat zones. How about you.
If you knowing let your leadership or your people be jacked up then you are just anther shit bag in uniform regardless of rank or job. With you having such a problem with people doing what they should do regarding correction's of any one higher then they are.
It sounds like you needed a lot of correction.
As far a garrison never had much of that.
I was always in Airborne Infantry units Armored Units then about ten years in the Tenth Mountain at Ft Drum. Ya so I spent more like 75% of my Army time ether in the field of in combat zones. How about you.
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SFC Louis Cosme
How about me? Well to start, I never assumed it was my job as a cherry to correct the VN combat veteran senior Airborne Infantrymen I was privileged to learn my craft from, over some insignificant uniform issue, not that one was prone to see such in the units I served in. Apparently you have a misperception about who your people are. Personnel in or under your command is a completely different story.
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SGT Charles Bartell
It is all ways your job to tell some one if something is jacked up. Regardless or your rank time in service. As long as it is done with the level of tack that is needed.
That fact that you can not get past that shows' That you must not have been much of a N.C.O..
Not wanting any one to go ahead and let other's look bad so did not get but hurt.
Part of becoming a better leader is to take corrections from all ranks, Not just higher ranked people.
As I have said get over your self. You will probably more happy in life.
That fact that you can not get past that shows' That you must not have been much of a N.C.O..
Not wanting any one to go ahead and let other's look bad so did not get but hurt.
Part of becoming a better leader is to take corrections from all ranks, Not just higher ranked people.
As I have said get over your self. You will probably more happy in life.
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Was it lipstick? I mean I am asking because I had no idea about Shaving Profiles especially with African American soldiers. I saw beards and didn't get it.
But asking a E7 if one was handy might work. Pass the buck UP.
But asking a E7 if one was handy might work. Pass the buck UP.
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SGT Charles Bartell
Yes shaving profiles are real for a lot of black guys, However this is not limited to Black people.
They are not to have Beard's ,But to trim facile hair as close as possible.
Asking if a E7 if they have their Profile handy my get you in some trouble, Unless you are one of the medic's. In order to make sure the MED records are up to date.
There are a ton of guys that say they have the profile and do not.
They are not to have Beard's ,But to trim facile hair as close as possible.
Asking if a E7 if they have their Profile handy my get you in some trouble, Unless you are one of the medic's. In order to make sure the MED records are up to date.
There are a ton of guys that say they have the profile and do not.
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Definitely correct them. Always use tact when correcting someone of higher rank. Even if they are junior in rank, you don't want to embarrass them in front of everyone. Just tell them to square themselves away. When I did my In-brief with my new company, I told all my Soldiers that I expect them to square me away if I was ever jacked up. (Which is never) ;)
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Looks more like she was eating some ribs with BBQ sauce and they were so good it made her smile. Anywho, don't be afraid to approach someone of higher rank; in most cases they will probably thank you.
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In tech school and even here at my first base my NCOs, Senior NCOs and OIC of my flight always tell us that if somebody is out of regs you should tactfully or in private let them know the reg and that they are out of compliance. If for some reason they completely disregard or blatantly disregard you and they are of higher rank that you should let your supervisor know so that they can foreword it to the member in questions supervisor. No one is above AFI 36-2903.
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I can't believe we're taking the time to care. Infantrymen in full Drag is coming fast, and we're worried about a shade of lipstick. Who cares? If it were, maybe, GREEN, I'd understand.
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Yes, it is ok to "tactfully" bring it to the attention of the senior member. Ask if they could speak to you in private and politely inform them. Chances are they will say they you are correct and hopefully not do it again while in uniform. But on the chance they give you a hard time or threaten you with your First Shirt, supervisor etc, I doubt they would follow through, let your supervisor know and show them the photo. If the latter is the case, they probably knew they had been walking a fine line and got called out. I would still let your supervisor know what happened either way if you pointed out their error.
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