Is there such thing as going to parade rest while in the seated position?

2019-06-26T07:46:16-04:00

A SGT gave a PFC a counseling for not going to parade rest while seated. I would understand if he expected her to stand and then go to parade rest but from how he worded the counseling, he legitimately wanted her to stay seated with her hands at parade rest. This was a while back and I'm not even in anymore, I just want to see what you all think about this and if you feel like this was a waste of time/paperwork or justified.

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Jun 26 at 2019 8:07 AM

2019-06-26T08:07:11-04:00

I am guessing you were not in the room, but if I had told a seated Soldier to go to parade rest, my expectation is that Soldier would have understood it was her responsibility to stand and then assume parade rest. My guess ( I wasn't in the room either) is she was being disrespectful at the time and he wanted her to go to parade rest to stop the disrespect. Whether the counselling was a waste of time is really a factor of the future. After she was counselled, did the behavior the caused him to put her at parade rest change. If so, then the counselling served it's purpose.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jun 26 at 2019 8:11 AM

2019-06-26T08:11:26-04:00

WTF! I have never heard of such a drill command! There may be more to this other than what I know other than FM22-5, the reg in my day. However, if the PFC was doing something un-military in manner, the counseling was justified. A good example would be moving around, looking behind, sleeping, slumping or doing something that indicated disrespect of the situation. Maybe there is now a command to sit at parade rest or at least a directive to sit still and look forward until told to pay attention.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jun 26 at 2019 8:12 AM

2019-06-26T08:12:03-04:00

There is no such thing as "parade rest in a seated position". In fact, I can think of no universal direction or instruction on how to sit, just general expectations. Sitting upright with hands lying flat on your thighs is a formal position, but certainly not included in any manual that I'm aware of. Frankly, My opinion is sitting with your arms crossed behind your back would be, and look, quite awkward.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Jun 26 at 2019 10:16 AM

2019-06-26T10:16:51-04:00

My immediate thought was she was doing something that annoyed him like fidgeting in her seat, talking to the soldier on either side of her etc. Since there is no command for a seated Parade Rest her NCO is out of order here and needs some remedial training in drill and ceremony. If indeed she was not paying attention which it doesn't sound like it since she aspires to other schools for Ranger and or Special Forces and nails the APFT. Maybe that NCO is trying to get her attention for something else. Maybe he's just mad at her for something she allegedly did. Maybe he likes her and wants her attention. Maybe she's showed him up a time or two and he doesn't like that? I know a lot of maybe's but he's wrong giving her Parade Rest while seated, no such thing! She should initiate paper work back at him and have him explain himself!

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jun 26 at 2019 12:29 PM

2019-06-26T12:29:26-04:00

No, the position of parade rest is a rest position from the halt with the starting position being attention. So you can't be seated at the position of parade rest.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jun 26 at 2019 8:52 PM

2019-06-26T20:52:30-04:00

That's as F'd up as a soup sandwich. WTF is that NCO thinking? Whatever corrective action s/he was hoping to achieve just got flushed down the crapper with that display of stupid.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jun 27 at 2019 10:50 AM

2019-06-27T10:50:13-04:00

No such thing, no such valid order. Parade rest is a command given while the troop is standing and in the position of attention. No other valid way it cane be given. If this is the case, the NCO is severely ate up and needs serious remedial training in D&C.

Response by PFC Eric Parrish made Jun 27 at 2019 1:17 PM

2019-06-27T13:17:25-04:00

Complete and utter nonsense.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 28 at 2019 12:14 PM

2019-06-28T12:14:29-04:00

Does the SGT look like Hitler?

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Jun 28 at 2019 12:48 PM

2019-06-28T12:48:19-04:00

I have heard of sitting attention. But parade rest while sitting is a whole new one for me. Sounds like the SGT needs to review some command protocol.