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
I once saw a captain with his bars on his uniform horizontal to the floor instead of vertical. I asked the Colonel with me to make the correction instead. You should also pick your battles carefully. Someone who would blatantly wear this might not care to be corrected and make a scene. And I totally agree with CSM Stuart C. O'Black that it should be done with tact.
Once, I was wearing a uniform shirt that had the drill sergeant badge sewed on the wrong side. I bought the shirt like that so I didn't check it. A specialist corrected me by asking if it was on the wrong side. I thanked him and promptly removed the patch in front of him. The place is now out of business.
Once, I was wearing a uniform shirt that had the drill sergeant badge sewed on the wrong side. I bought the shirt like that so I didn't check it. A specialist corrected me by asking if it was on the wrong side. I thanked him and promptly removed the patch in front of him. The place is now out of business.
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SSG Elyzabeth Cromer
If it was the velcro rank it was probably someone messing with him and he would have appreciated the heads up. I knew a 1LT back in the days of pin on rank on the soft caps, who loved to turn the other lieutenants rank sideways when their cover was sitting on a chair, or hang in their office. He stopped thinking it was so funny when everybody started doing it to him, and he got called out by a Major he very much disliked. (When I say everyone I mean Specialist to LTC.) He had just become so annoying with the "joke" that it was payback time. Some people just don't know when to quit.
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In my case, being a man. I wouldn't approach her personally, but I would find a high ranking female staff NCO or any officer nearby And ask them to approach or so she can make the correction. When it comes to personal hygiene or grooming Preference Of the opposite sex I stay out of it. Now if it was the issue with the uniform in and of itself and the placement of insignia I Would most definitely help them square themselves away.
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Ensure you know the regulation and can quote it to the offender. Politely tell them what the regulation says and explain how their makeup (or whatever) does not comply. If they start making excuses or get nasty simply tell them you wanted to ensure they were aware, and excise yourself.
Even though they may argue or get nasty they usually know they're wrong and they may change the infraction later for fear of being called out or knowing others like you know they're wrong.
Even though they may argue or get nasty they usually know they're wrong and they may change the infraction later for fear of being called out or knowing others like you know they're wrong.
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Yes of course. No rank is above the regs. Just do it respectfully, privately and discreetly.
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That is why MPs are directed to make these corrections on duty.. Because on duty, rank means nothing.. MPs are there to enforce the standards no matter what. You absolutely should say something, but if you don't feel comfortable, ask one of them to do it.
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It is always appropriate to correct a senior that is out of regs.
Just do it correctly.
a. Do it privately.
b. Do it respectfully.
Avoid ,"sir/Sergeant do you realize you're an ate up soup sandwich violating regulation "ABC"? If you want people to respect you, you need to square your f*@cked up self away".
Instead try, "Sir/Ma'am/SGT, I noticed that your "ABC" is out of regulations and perhaps you didn't realize it. I just wanted to bring it to your attention as I'm sure it was an oversite, but I want to make sure we are all squared away".
Worse case nothing happens.
Best and more likely case, is you'll be recognized for your courage and tact.
Just do it correctly.
a. Do it privately.
b. Do it respectfully.
Avoid ,"sir/Sergeant do you realize you're an ate up soup sandwich violating regulation "ABC"? If you want people to respect you, you need to square your f*@cked up self away".
Instead try, "Sir/Ma'am/SGT, I noticed that your "ABC" is out of regulations and perhaps you didn't realize it. I just wanted to bring it to your attention as I'm sure it was an oversite, but I want to make sure we are all squared away".
Worse case nothing happens.
Best and more likely case, is you'll be recognized for your courage and tact.
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OK, I'm an old-time Navy Master Chief, so keep that in mind when I say this. Army might be different.
What color lipstick a Sailor wore was waaaaay outside the things that I worried about. I worried about whether or not they were doing everything possible to make mission. Our mission was to kill the enemy and break their shit. Lipstick color is not a contributing factor to that mission, so it isn't on my radar.
What color lipstick a Sailor wore was waaaaay outside the things that I worried about. I worried about whether or not they were doing everything possible to make mission. Our mission was to kill the enemy and break their shit. Lipstick color is not a contributing factor to that mission, so it isn't on my radar.
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The Dining Facility Should have rules posted on the wall as you enter the DFAC or in the Head Count folder. The Head Count should have get it corrected on the spot or turn her away with a explanation. Once as a Junior NCO, I turn away some enlisted Soldiers, they talk to their Officer and he try to use his rank to have his Soldiers to eat lunch at a DFAC. I told him to talk to the General who was eating at the DFAC. He turn around and left. I would have spoken to the Head Count, point it out and tell that person they not doing the job ethically by not following the Regulations.
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SGT Charles Bartell
this is a Air Force dinning facility. They are like Restaurant's for the most part.
You can go in in your P.T's.
You can pretty much order any thing you want.
The food is better then division ( Command ) chow halls.
They leave the trays and dish's on the tables for civilian employee's to clean up.
Nothing like the Army Chow hall's
You can go in in your P.T's.
You can pretty much order any thing you want.
The food is better then division ( Command ) chow halls.
They leave the trays and dish's on the tables for civilian employee's to clean up.
Nothing like the Army Chow hall's
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Suspended Profile
If you see it, correct it, and do it respectfully.. the offender may not have realized the discrepancy.
When I was in the Air Force (last assignment - 3rd TFW, Clark AB), I was stationed at Eglin AFB, FL.
While in the 33rd TFW Chow Hall, there was a COL eating breakfast, it was early. We all noticed that one of his epaulets was unbuttoned. Everyone around was afraid to say something, because of rank (mostly lower enlisted ate there before the FOD walk). I looked at everyone - I was E2 at the time, and said, He is just like any person, how do you think he is going to feel when he gets the the office then sees that NO ONE told him... So I walked up to him, apologized for interupting his breakfast and said, "sir, your epaulet is loose", he thanked me, asked me where my branch office was, I told him 3246 FMS - I got a letter from him saying how he appreciated me telling him.
He had been running late, coming from a flight from Randolf AFB, heading to a Staff meeting. Had I not mentioned the discrepancy, he would have faced embarrassment in front of his boss and staff members.
The thing is, it is our duty to keep our battlebuds in check, we all need someone to look at our "gig line". We don't need ridicule, we need to give a hand out
When I was in the Air Force (last assignment - 3rd TFW, Clark AB), I was stationed at Eglin AFB, FL.
While in the 33rd TFW Chow Hall, there was a COL eating breakfast, it was early. We all noticed that one of his epaulets was unbuttoned. Everyone around was afraid to say something, because of rank (mostly lower enlisted ate there before the FOD walk). I looked at everyone - I was E2 at the time, and said, He is just like any person, how do you think he is going to feel when he gets the the office then sees that NO ONE told him... So I walked up to him, apologized for interupting his breakfast and said, "sir, your epaulet is loose", he thanked me, asked me where my branch office was, I told him 3246 FMS - I got a letter from him saying how he appreciated me telling him.
He had been running late, coming from a flight from Randolf AFB, heading to a Staff meeting. Had I not mentioned the discrepancy, he would have faced embarrassment in front of his boss and staff members.
The thing is, it is our duty to keep our battlebuds in check, we all need someone to look at our "gig line". We don't need ridicule, we need to give a hand out
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What if it was a test from the Two-Star to see who would correct this Ssgt and the 2 star would've coined whomever pointed it out?
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