Posted on Jan 14, 2015
On the spot corrections in public; when is it appropriate?
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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.
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.
Regulation
Mentorship
Leadership
Professionalism
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 709
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You luck the young gentleman didn't punch you. You could of did that different and they would of got it correctly done. I can get to there level and understand them and when they out and not correct they see me and they get themselves correct. If soldiers dont respect you they get you messed up
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Tell me what you guys think of this.
First off, I am a medically retired SSG with 10 years of service. I broke my L1 vertebrae during an airborne jump and had to have a L5-S1 fusion after it healed. I was medically retired 2 years later.
I was in a local K-Mart and saw a soldier with head gear on indoors. If I recall correctly, if it hasn't changed, there are only a couple instances where you can wear head gear indoors, one being if you are carrying a loaded firearm as an MP. I asked the soldier if he was carrying a firearm, to which he replied "no." So, I politely told him that he should not be wearing his headgear indoors. His first question was, "who are you?" I responded with my name and rank, followed by retired. He took off the headgear and said nothing more.
Was I out of line correcting this soldier even though I am retired? I feel, as a retired NCO, I should make an obvious correction, even if I am no longer active duty. I didn't make a scene and it was all very calm. So, wrong or correct on my part?
First off, I am a medically retired SSG with 10 years of service. I broke my L1 vertebrae during an airborne jump and had to have a L5-S1 fusion after it healed. I was medically retired 2 years later.
I was in a local K-Mart and saw a soldier with head gear on indoors. If I recall correctly, if it hasn't changed, there are only a couple instances where you can wear head gear indoors, one being if you are carrying a loaded firearm as an MP. I asked the soldier if he was carrying a firearm, to which he replied "no." So, I politely told him that he should not be wearing his headgear indoors. His first question was, "who are you?" I responded with my name and rank, followed by retired. He took off the headgear and said nothing more.
Was I out of line correcting this soldier even though I am retired? I feel, as a retired NCO, I should make an obvious correction, even if I am no longer active duty. I didn't make a scene and it was all very calm. So, wrong or correct on my part?
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PO3 Devin Gallagher
I think you did the right thing. I guarantee to this day that if I see someone jacked up I am going to say something and I have been out for 2 years now. I still care about my Navy and when I see someone disrespecting it by not properly wearing their uniform correctly or worse stolen valor idiots I will definitely say something.
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This is something that should be reported. There is one major difference between police officers and correctional officers, Pride. A police officer would never walk into a store in half uniform or with his shirt untucked, yet a corrections officer might. The thing that builds respect for officers is the officers have respect for themselves and as an extension the badge. As military we are supposed to mindful of how the public views us. SPC. Ware has no respect for herself, the uniform, the military, nor even the country itself. If she did she would not have been showing disrespect to a person in civilian attire while disrespecting the uniform in public as well.
This is one thing that bothers me to the core, I want what I did to mean something and the more we allow people to disrespect the uniform the more we will harbor disrespect towards the entire institution of freedom. Maybe my rant seems crazy to some who have yet to witness the disrespect and even hate of some of the public, but trust me; it's not pretty.
This is one thing that bothers me to the core, I want what I did to mean something and the more we allow people to disrespect the uniform the more we will harbor disrespect towards the entire institution of freedom. Maybe my rant seems crazy to some who have yet to witness the disrespect and even hate of some of the public, but trust me; it's not pretty.
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I would have done on spot thats what we need as leaders to get back into doing its called tact. Attitude or not I have corrected seniir NCO's and a couole officers just the way uniform looked or how they were acting in uniform in public but I used tact. Some resented me cause I am SPC (P) but if you are afraid then when will you not be afraid to make on the spot correction. If I am jacked and I dont realize it yes correct me or if I just am tore up from the floor up correct me. By all means but use tact
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Unfortunately living here in south side Virginia the NG here thinks AR670-1 dosent apply to them. Granted I have separated but I still hold pride in my branch. When I identity myself as a former soldier and make the correction I get laughed at and walked away from. I have given the soldiers names to their 1SG and CO but apparently nothing is being done so I figure I'll give them a little longer to square away their unit then if not I'll go to their BN CSM or I may give up my disability and go back in.
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Standards affect everything in life. Every. Thing. Without standards of loyalty, spouses dishonor themselves and their families by cheating. Without standards of alertness or care, we let ourselves or others create conditions for illness or possibly even death.
Excellence is a habit -- get into it yourself, then help others.
I remember as a trainee many soldiers in our unit were doing the wrong thing so an NCO took it upon himself to remind us through PT. "When I say 'DOWN', you say 'Discipline!', when I say 'Up!' you say 'Get some!'" 40 soldiers, saying in unison, "Get some DISCIPLINE!" over and over again still makes me look back and smile.
Excellence is a habit -- get into it yourself, then help others.
I remember as a trainee many soldiers in our unit were doing the wrong thing so an NCO took it upon himself to remind us through PT. "When I say 'DOWN', you say 'Discipline!', when I say 'Up!' you say 'Get some!'" 40 soldiers, saying in unison, "Get some DISCIPLINE!" over and over again still makes me look back and smile.
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As a Spc. I would be that guy who would call my NCO. Tell him her what I saw and ask if he would have a word with this Spc. As a good soldier and friend I would tell her on the spot professionally in a low voice and ask for her to fix herself up and show some pride in that uniform. Your not going to represent my unit looking like a troll.
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Everywhere you go you will always see people who are in mixed uniforms out of regs and bypass AR670-1 so stolen valor is a big thing now. As well. I believe the corrections should have been made but on a professional level . if you were an NCO and she was a lower enlisted she should be in accordance with what an NCO says to her.
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Look her up on AKO and contact her unit with the details of her infraction and attitude.
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