Is it appropriate to confront a higher rank when they are blatantly disregarding regs?

Yes you can. However, when confronting a person of higher rank. you must use tact and be PROFESSIONAL. Be prepared to quote the regulation as well.

I worked for a Senior Commander who wanted to relieve a subordinate commander. Admittedly there were issues with this young officer and the challenges well documented. In doing my research for procedures and docs, I found neither of us had the authority to initiate the relief, but that it had to be the first General in the chain of command. He was furious when I told him he didn’t have the authority. Thankfully I told him in the phone and not face to face. I got called several names and was threatened with relief myself. Two days later we had a conference call with his SJA who had looked it up and admitted I was in fact correct. The SJA recommended a potential solution and the boss did eventually thank me for saving him from a whole lot of potential legal problems if had he fired the subordinate.

Be direct. Be tactful. Be professional. Be armed, in this case with the correct reg. Body armor optional.

Of course! No one is above rules/regs. Be respectful, but don't be bashful or timid: you know the rules and so do they. Before you approach the person in question, make sure you're squared away to prevent unneeded flak. Most times you will walk away with both parties just fine. Don't let them bully you, just kindly inform them and depart.

Yes but do it tactfully. Corrections can be made above or below. Being respectful & professional about it is the key.

Sure just be careful. Probably best to ask to speak with them privately and address the issue. Just make sure you know what you’re talking about so you don’t look foolish.

I was a SPC assigned to the 34th Gen Hospital in Augsburg, Germany. A 1LT Nurse always wore her hair loosely in a hair band and it always fell down to the middle of her shoulder blades, below her collar. I finally saw her by herself one day in my area and I stopped her and quietly told her she was out of dress code. She squaked at me and raised her voice, telling me her appearance was not my business. I was the Personnel NCOIC at that time. I then had to tell her that she had 30 minutes to be within regulation or I would report her to her supervisor. I purposely went to her wing an hour later and her hair was in regulation. They aren’t always going to be receptive. That’s okay.

By the way, the comment I shared a short while ago related to the days when I was a young enlisted troop. I was corrected only once after I was commissioned (that I can recall!),that by a couple of young troops who called out loudly "Hey, Lootenant! Your cap is on backwards!"

Yes, it is every soldiers responsibility to point out deficiency's. I always tell my soldiers to be respectful and if they get rude walk away and let you supervisor know.

Yes! Absolutely!! Wrong is wrong, just be tactful.

General military authority allows you to correct anyone who is out of regs in a tactful manner.