Posted on Jun 7, 2020
SSG Squad Leader
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If it is then please provide specific reason
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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It's not inappropriate. Rare. But not inappropriate. And, I would like to add that if a SGT is getting dropped....they done f*cked up A-A-Ron
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SFC Healthcare Specialist (Combat Medic)
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I always ensure I correct my NCOs away from their soldiers, you never want to do anything that will erode that leaders power base. I guess if would be similar to 1SG ripping you a new one in front of your platoon.
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SFC First Sergeant
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No it’s not so long as he is doing it away from the junior soldiers NCO’S should deal with NCO’S in private so that you don’t take away there power base in front of there soldiers there is a time and a place
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SSG Squad Leader
SSG (Join to see)
5 y
I understand. Just seems very odd to make an nco do that since that’s common of course for SPC-and below
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LTC Hardware Test Engineer
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5 y
SSG (Join to see) - kinda like a 1LT making a 2LT stand at attention?
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Is it inappropriate for a SSG to put a SGT in the front leaning rest?
SGT English/Language Arts Teacher
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Yes. Praise in public, correct in private. Every senior enlisted I had as an infantry squad leader always corrected in private. That is professionalism. We also corrected individual squad members in private. Now, an entire squad or platoon is a different matter!

COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SPC Woody Bullard CPL Dave Hoover CW5 Jack Cardwell Lt Col Charlie Brown Col Carl Whicker SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SPC Margaret Higgins Maj Marty Hogan SGT Jim Arnold Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT John " Mac " McConnell LTC Wayne Brandon PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SPC Douglas Bolton PVT Mark Zehner
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SPC Douglas Bolton
SPC Douglas Bolton
5 y
Totally agree.
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SFC James Welch
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Not in my view. There are other avenues of discipline to use that are more appropriate for a Junior NCO!
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SFC James Welch
SFC James Welch
5 y
I meant to say he should not. I’m trying to write and drink coffee at the same time. When you are 80 you need to ease up on the multitasking
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SGT English/Language Arts Teacher
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5 y
SFC James Welch - Ease up on that coffee, Jim!!!
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SFC James Welch
SFC James Welch
5 y
SGT (Join to see) Remember the stuff we drank in the field?
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SSG Jimmy Cernich
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I don't think it's appropriate.If the NCO needs corrective action do it verbally away from subordinates.If the NCO has an habitual problem correct them verbally and on paper.NCO's are the back bone of our military.
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SFC(P) John McLaughlin
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Anytime I dropped a soldier for push-ups, I dropped with that soldier and matched them push-up for push-up. Yes I have done that to SGTs as well. What I never did was do this in front of others. Always took them aside, such as between tanks in the motor pool. Never did it out of anger, but used it as a tool for learning.
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SSG Squad Leader
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5 y
Roger but like , what circumstance exactly or just anytime they f up?
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SFC(P) John McLaughlin
SFC(P) John McLaughlin
5 y
Not every situation where they f-up. Depends on the circumstances. SSG (Join to see)
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SFC(P) John McLaughlin
SFC(P) John McLaughlin
5 y
An example is attitude. Everybody just has that day where they get an attitude. That attitude can get in the way of accomplishing the duties for the day. Frustration sets in. . I pull that soldier aside and order him to drop. As I stated before, I drop with them. Push-ups are conducted on my cadence. Slow and steady. The purpose is to bring that soldier back to his normal self. I’d tell him/ her to go walk off for about 15 minutes of reflection. They come back and if they are willing to talk, we’ll talk. Introducing Interpersonal Communication. My job as an Sr. Enlisted is the health and welfare. It’s my SSGs and SGTs duties to ensure the jobs are done. It’s hard to define the exact circumstances, because not every circumstance gets the same attention. SSG (Join to see)
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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It’s a matter of the tools in your tool box. When I was a tabbed SPEC4 and a SGT my answer for everything and everyone was burpees and pushups. But then I realized that if I’m smoking my junior leaders that my junior enlisted wouldn’t respect them. So then I started talking to my junior leaders, teaching them when I could, challenging them when that failed, or just shaming them into conformity when all else failed. I used whatever tool it took to teach them. If it takes pushups because that SGT still thinks like a SPC then that’s what it takes.

I remember once being corrected by a 1SG as a new SSG. I was in Iraq and the radio person in the TOC had smarted off to me over the radio as I was returning from a patrol and from 8 days out in sector. So, my mood was already pretty foul. I caught him returning from the chow hall and in the evening and starting smoking him on the sidewalk. A 1SG walking by saw me and said, “Come here, SSG”. Then he said, if you’re going to smoke him take him to the side of the building where people aren’t watching.


The point is that a) I was still thinking like a SGT and not a SSG and b) these things need to be conducted in private away from others. I myself only learned through sweat and blood for years. But, it should be conducted away from the junior enlisted so as not to undermine the authority of the NCO Corps. Even if we aren’t always in agreement, we must always show that our juniors have our support and they speak with our voice, just as we speak with the commanders voice.
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LTC Hardware Test Engineer
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If the situation has escalated to the point where you need to put a SGT in front leaning rest, you have failed as a SSG.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
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Never in front of Junior enlisted. Corrective action and Discipline of NCOs should occur, but away from Soldiers.
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SFC Marcus Lewis
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Of course it is But NCO Business we correct behind closed doors, not in front of Joe.
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MSG Director Of Facilities And Maintenance
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It is perfectly acceptable if said SGT needs minor, non-judicial corrective action. The authority of the NCO is contained in AR 600-20, and also referred to in FM 7-22.7

Anecdotally, I had a squad member, Junior Enlisted, who was reminded to bring their ID to an appointment. As this was a standing order to do so, it was universally understood what the expectation was. When that Soldier did not have their ID Card, I have both the Soldier and the Team Leader, push-ups to do while I verbally counseled them for the failure to have the ID, and the failure of the Team Leader to conduct the required Precombat Checks.
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SPC Stewart Smith
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We had an E-6 put an E-5 in FLR when I was in el paso.
The next morning the 1SG spoke to the entire company how disrespectful an act like that is and that if we are ever in a position like that in the future to take the junior nco aside and discuss things privately.
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MSG Dan Castaneda
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The front leaning rest is for privates. A leader must know how to correct others leaders without making it seem as if they are being punished. Yet a SSG, is still young and still learning how to become an effective leader.
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SSG Platoon Sergeant
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I find positive correction too be the best way to deal with junior NCOs. Not only do you garner the respect of your peers, communication dialogue go a long way with mentoring those who are newly appointed to the non-commissioned officer corpse.
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SSG Observer   Controller/Trainer (Oc/T)
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Based strictly off of how you wrote the question, I'd say no. I've been dropped by my SSG before. Was I in the wrong? Technically yes. Did I take it to heart? Nope. In the end I took it as he felt his NCOs dropped the ball and it took some corrective action to ensure it didn't happen again, and he wasn't the type to put things on paper if it didn't warrant it.

As long as it's not in front of Joes I'd say it's not inappropriate. Of course, context matters. But I end it with this, SGTs fuck up from time to time. And a little smoke sesh to remind a SGT that they fucked up is a hell of a lot better than putting shit on paper.
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SSG(P) Dock Manager
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Yes. Anyone can be depending on attitude and professionalism. If they at a SGT and they act like a PV2 then coach and counseling them while smoking them. They act like a junior enlisted fresh off the block then they get treated like one. Reserve side I've seen 5's act disrespectful and know they are smoked but its in private. Like when my PSG dropped my PL, few knew about it but it still happened.
Otherwise I would hope the 5 receives guidance and opportunities for improvement but once done a few times, new tactic of dropping them. Remind them they still have to perform and listen.
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SFC Steven Borders
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SSG (Join to see) for me they have have to do something very F'ed up for me to put a SGT in the front leaning rest. I have always been told praise in public, punish in private. Still a firm believer in that. That's my two cents.
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CPT Cavett Ishihara
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An order like this is not punishment. It is training. Get out to the "right to work" as a civilian, you can be fired for _____ (you fill in the blank). You have to learn to lead. You lead by teaching.
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SSG Squad Leader
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5 y
I appreciate your input. Thought this more for the NCOs
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CPT Cavett Ishihara
CPT Cavett Ishihara
5 y
SSG (Join to see) - 100% respect your thought. I pinned after deployment and being and E-6 for 2 years. Because they knew I earned by direct commission and Airborne wings at 35, my NCO's moved mountains for me. I cleared tape for them. The higher you go, the more the command needs a unified officer/nco leadership team.
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SFC Brian Gillum
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If you are doing a mass corrective measure for the platoon/squad/team. Sure.

If you are just singling our the SGT; yes and no.

Yes you can, but no you can’t do it when or where others can see.

Praise in public; reprimand in private.
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