Posted on Jan 14, 2015
SSG Combat Medic
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This weekend me and my GF decided to get out and go to the movies not near any military base once so ever (maybe a Reserve or NG training facility could be near by). So I'm glancing around notice a uniform on a young lady and her hair down with a PT cap on inside of the mall. I didn't loose my mind at first because it could be anyone just wearing the uniform these days. As I get closer to her I notice she has on SPC rank. I told my GF that I have to say something to her and of course she didn't understand. When I approached the SPC and her civilian male acquaintance, I asked her was she in the Army and she quickly replied "yes". So I asked her did she know she was in complete violation of Army Regs she says "yes". The female rolled her eyes at me and I could tell she was going to have
a attitude with me so I quickly removed myself from the situation. So at what point do we as leaders make a on the spot correction in public or remove ourselves from the situation? I felt at the time as a NCO I should have done more to make her fix herself, but on the other hand I didn't want to make a scene at the mall and in public. SPC Ware I definitely will remember you forever.
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CPO Information Systems Technician
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I think that it should be done within reason and in a certain fashion. I was always told that you should come up, introduce yourself, with rank (showing ID if needed). State the problem and ask for them to fix themselves. If they do not try to gather information on their unit so you can report them to their chain and at least have the issue corrected by them.
Sometimes its also a judgment call though. I saw a young sailor walking outside without his cover on in uniform while I was in mine. I did observe though that was walking very quickly to get inside then went to get lunch (at a super market), so I just walked by him, gave him a look, he dropped his eyes and got the point across that he needed to be attentive to bring along his cover when he obviously forgot it. No words needed.
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SPC Stewart Smith
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If you're going to make a correction then ask her to step aside for a moment so you can speak to her privately. Public chastising will only serve to build walls between her and senior leadership. Also civilians see this and wonder why it's acceptable for you to treat grown men and women like children.
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LCpl Senior Staff Writer
LCpl (Join to see)
>1 y
Act like a child, be treated like a child.
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SPC Mark Lane
SPC Mark Lane
>1 y
You should have pulled her aside SSG
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SPC Mark Lane
SPC Mark Lane
>1 y
You should have pulled her aside from everyone else SSG
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1SG Theater Operations Division Ncoic | Us Army Regional Cyber Center   Conus
1SG (Join to see)
>1 y
Nope, he should've went in and corrected her, period. We have created this culture of comfort here in the Army to where we feel that we shouldn't hurt people's feelings in public. How about we start looking at things like we use to? If you did not mess up in public, then I wouldn't have to treat you like a child in public. We all know the regulations, yet we blatantly disregard them because we feel like it. Then, when someone gets up in your grill about it, you want to cry disrespect. The "new" Army allows this type of BS and then wonder why Soldiers are undisciplined. They have no fear of repercussions for their actions. When I was a young Soldier I kept myself within regs because 1) I am proud of the uniform that I wear, 2) I want others who see me to be proud of their country and their Soldiers that are sworn to protect them, and 3) I lived in constant fear that if I were to be out of regulation in public that some NCO/Officer type would rip my ass right there on the spot, and they would be well in their right because I'm the one that is out of regs not them. Our country look at us nowadays and laugh at us because we have become so undisciplined and we look like smashed feces out in public.

We need to bring back that old style of discipline that kept Soldiers on their toes and looking sharp. Or....we can continue to not enforce the standards and let Soldiers like the one in the photo become the leaders of your sons and daughters.
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SGT Michael Glenn
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IMO you should not have backed down, but simply asked her for her unit and names of command members, she had a choice to make at that moment, to either be respectful to the branch she swore an oath to or to be like many are and be disrespectful, you didnt force her to knowingly violate policies so she has only herself to be pissed off at.
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LCpl Senior Staff Writer
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>1 y
I doubt she'd have given legit info. Sounds like someone's an attitude problem.
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SFC Richard M.
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Post the picture on your installation facebook page. Hopefully someone from her unit will recognize her and will be able to do something about it.
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PO1 Chris Crawley
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Been there, corrected that. This is why the Navy and Marines could not wear our dungarees/cammies in public for most of my 20 years.
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PFC Infantryman
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>1 y
What's that suppose to mean lance corporal?
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PO1 Chris Crawley
PO1 Chris Crawley
>1 y
Sorry, LCPL, but Marines are allowed off base in cammies to hit a restaurant for lunch, or Walmart on the way home.
Didn't used to be that way.
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SSG Lewis Fronk
SSG Lewis Fronk
>1 y
Navy is allowed only quick stops!! Army officer wore his ACU's to Walmart last year a reservist going too drill was at check out some towelhead attacked him and the CPT. had to fight him off video made all the news around here, with todays threats it's risky to wear anywhere!
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LCpl Steve Smith
LCpl Steve Smith
>1 y
Not back in my day and by the looks of the 2007 uniform policy you still can't
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SGM Samuel L. Jones
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First I would have identify myself and ask her to step aside to make the on the spot correction. Also I would asked for her unit information and chain of command. This is not the first time this took place and maybe more than this going on in her unit. Just remember to stay calm and educate her of her wrong doing.
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SSG Combat Medic
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Roger SGM. I didn't want to escalate the situation. I was in Dallas, TX no where near a Army base that I was aware of. After the initial attitude I saw the conversation was going. As a very level headed NCO I just removed myself from the situation.
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SSG Trevor S.
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I am proud of you for realizing the situation may have caused a public scene more detrimental to the Army's image than the infraction of AR 670-1. A possible follow on action would have been to give the Soldier the opportunity to talk to you outside of public view, eliminating possibility of embarrassment. If the Soldier refused, you could take the information possible and contact the MP's to see if a courtesy patrol is in your area to help.
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SSG Combat Medic
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Thank you! I was in Dallas, TX so I knew I didn't have back-up anywhere.
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SGT(P) Crystal Marie Gray-Wallace
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Gettum SGT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am usually professional but I would have lit her up!
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PFC Tuan Trang
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If me i'll write down her name and unit, if she being nice and understand her mistake i'll let it go if she have an attitude, i'll go head and write her info and talk to her unit chain of command.
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SSG Ronald Rollins
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She was wrong and she knew it. You did the right thing. I would have approached her and asked to talk privately. I would have let her know she was wrong. I would have gotten her Unit, NCO, 1SG, and commander. I would contact her CoC especially if she got an attitude. No yelling or silly stuff at the movie theater. Good way to get arrested. I have seen it happen.
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CPT Quentin von Éfáns-Taráfdar
CPT Quentin von Éfáns-Taráfdar
10 y
This is generally the best way to handle such a situation.
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