Is making memes about an NCO considered disrespectful (granted the meme consists of quotes from the NCO)?

2016-08-03T05:56:49-04:00

So i have soldiers that made YU GI OH CARDS of Indviduals in the company, as a corporal i thought they are hilarious and showed battle buddies because they are true in nature.... 1sg called me into the office and said its disrespect to a senior NCO and CO... if the cards are things they do or say on a weekly basis is it still considered disrespect. nothing offensive or degrading was said just fact

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 3 at 2016 6:56 AM

2016-08-03T06:56:12-04:00

It could be "perceived" as mocking the person. in this case, we sway out of Objective territory and into Subjective territory. Although there is no intent for disrespect, because it can be viewed as disrespectful by others, caution should be used.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Aug 3 at 2016 8:52 AM

2016-08-03T08:52:12-04:00

I can't judge the cards...but once the CoC decides they are disrespectful, and they tell you to knock it off, then that's it. No more fun. Sorry, but that's the military.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Aug 3 at 2016 9:02 AM

2016-08-03T09:02:56-04:00

I had a J3 in Afghanistan who used to extol his virtues all day every day to anyone who would listen. He showed up with a handlebar mustache and would waste everyone's time in daily meetings talking about himself. My job was to keep him on track, I also had to tell him to adhere to uniform standards. Before I left, I had taken to playing the theme to Commander McBragg. Was it disrespectful? yes. and wrong. But I couldn't help it, and he was a meathead.

https://youtu.be/hkVAlI2IIvI

Commander McBragg Theme Song

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 10:00 AM

2016-08-03T10:00:07-04:00

The Duck test is a humorous term for a form of abductive reasoning. This is its usual expression:
"If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck."

The test implies that a person can identify an unknown subject by observing that subject's habitual characteristics. It is sometimes used to counter abstruse, or even valid, arguments that something is not what it appears to be.

So... What does this mean for Joe...
If something feels wrong, then it probably is. What would you do if your subordinates did the same to you? You would perceive it as mockery and undermining your authority. Take your punishment, whatever it may be, and learn from the experience.

Additionally and most importantly as a CPL(P) you need to review your NCOER in the Army Values area. Pay particular attention to these areas:
LOYALTY: Bears true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, the unit, and other Soldiers. ***Emphasis on OTHER SOLDIERS***
RESPECT/EO/EEO: Treats people as they should be treated.
HONOR: Lives up to the Army Values.
INTEGRITY: Does what is right - legally and morally. ***Emphasis on MORALLY***
PERSONAL COURAGE: Faces fear, danger, or adversity (physical or moral). ***Emphasis on MORAL***

Depending on severity of your actions this type of action you could earn a possible career ending NCOER with "No" in each of those categories.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 10:30 AM

2016-08-03T10:30:22-04:00

If you or someone else perceive those memes as disrespectful, then they are. And since your 1SG took those cards as disrespectful.....time to stop the cards.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 11:19 AM

2016-08-03T11:19:12-04:00

Article 91, UCMJ—Insubordinate conduct toward warrant officer, noncommissioned officer, or petty officer

(3) Treating with contempt or being disrespectful in language or deportment toward a warrant, noncommissioned,
or petty officer.

(a) That the accused was a warrant officer or enlisted member;

(b) That the accused did or omitted certain acts, or used certain language;

(c) That such behavior or language was used toward and within sight or hearing of a certain warrant,
noncommissioned, or petty officer;

(d) That the accused then knew that the person toward whom the behavior or language was directed
was a warrant, noncommissioned, or petty officer;

(e) That the victim was then in the execution of office; and

(f) That under the circumstances the accused, by such behavior or language, treated with contempt
or was disrespectful to said warrant, noncommissioned, or petty officer.

(g) That the victim was the superior noncommissioned, or petty officer of the accused; and

(h) That the accused then knew that the person toward whom the behavior or language was directed was the accused’s superior noncommissioned, or petty officer.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 11:24 AM

2016-08-03T11:24:35-04:00

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member If you have to ask, without showing the memes, my guess is you already know they are at least questionable. As others have said, if the 1 sgt called you in it is time to stop and let it go.

Response by SSG Jeremy Sharp made Aug 3 at 2016 11:28 AM

2016-08-03T11:28:27-04:00

Unfortunately, it is not your perception that matters in determining the disrespectful tone of the cards. I would put them away and cease making them before someone up the chain decides to make their point crystal clear. Years ago, before the age of PC's, I made a cartoon that depicted Joe the camel in a beach chair sitting in the desert with an Abrams tank on the horizon I then did a split screen with smoke coming out of the main gun on the Abrams, a crater with smoke and remnants of the chair with Joe's mangled glasses and a caption that said, " I'd fly 10,000 miles just to smoke a camel". I was counseled by the Colonel concerning my "cultural insensitivity" since we had a Saudi prince in training at the time. He did comment on my creativity as a positive.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Aug 3 at 2016 12:39 PM

2016-08-03T12:39:56-04:00

Yes, it is disrespectful. There is nothing wrong with having an inside joke. But to an outside entity, someone else will see that as disrespectful. I've worked in plenty of shops that were lax, but outside the shop it's all business.

It doesn't matter if you used quotes they actually said. Everyone says something stupid at least once in their lives. What may appear as harmless or funny to you could appear degrading to someone else.

There's nothing wrong with having an inside joke... as long as it remains an inside joke.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 1:26 PM

2016-08-03T13:26:50-04:00

nah , its cool with me lol

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 2:26 PM

2016-08-03T14:26:30-04:00

They were probably pissed that the "Specialist Mafia" card could defeat them every time, even when rolling snake eyes.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 6:04 PM

2016-08-03T18:04:41-04:00

Sounds to me like the 1st SGT is a bit butt hurt. Really, it's a situation of intent & perception. Was the intent to insult & how is the unit, as a whole, perceiving it. A unit is a family. You have to get along with each other. I've been everything from a PFC, to an NCO, to an officer. I used to joke that every time I got promoted, I lost two IQ points because troops always think their smarter than their leadership. Look at the tone on how the cards are presented and how they're received. I've told people, you may not know every rule & regulation, but you'd damned well better know common sense. Common sense will save you 90 percent of the time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 10:04 PM

2016-08-03T22:04:49-04:00

Yes, I will say this. Someone from my company made a meme about an NCO, from the meme generator application on his phone. It was of the 1sg eating ice cream, and it said something along the lines about how the HT/WT standard did not apply to him. I'm sorry bud, but if you have Soldiers under you, you need to act like an NCO, CPL is the same as SGT in my eyes, just a smaller pay on your part.

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Aug 5 at 2016 3:52 PM

2016-08-05T15:52:25-04:00

Personally, I think that's pretty damn funny. But at the end of the day, if Top says you can't do something, that's that.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 12:14 AM

2016-08-14T00:14:57-04:00

Don't care about the post...however, battle buddy, battle, and hooah need to go. The worst phrases ever.

Response by PO3 Gil Cortez made Aug 14 at 2016 8:10 AM

2016-08-14T08:10:26-04:00

It could be perceived as undermining the command, I could understand that. When it has been decided, the right thing to do is back the command and follow orders.