On the spot corrections in public; when is it appropriate?

Wow, this forum and the pot shots being taken by those who post are truly not value added at all. Makes one not want to share an opinion (right, wrong, or otherwise).

Am I the only person who's wondering why this soldier is even going to the movies in uniform in the first place?

I've been stationed at plenty of posts where they conduct IET (Benning, Jackson, Eustis) and I've never even seen AIT troops in uniform when they have an off-post pass. The only exception would be BT privates on graduation day, but they have to wear Class As.

I think the only time I went to a movie theater in uniform was during a Graf rotation, and I didn't have to leave the cantonment area for that.

I try to keep in mind that I would not want anyone to disrespect me in front of my family and act accordingly. Sometimes it woks out well other times it doesn't.. But either way I sleep better knowing I said something.

You did the right thing by approaching her and it is good that you didn't make a scene around civilians. Maybe you could have asked her if it bothered her that she was representing the Army in a negative way.

The saddest thing is that she knows she's out of regs in a public place, where people might look at her and think she represents the military, and doesn't care. Some people think the military is just a 9-5 job where they are sometimes inconvenienced to do things like field problems or deployments. I remember having to wrestle with the question of whether the Army is a profession or not. With continual learning, a core ethical standard, and the fact that we police our own ranks, you could say it is. When you get a service member who blatantly disregards regulations or tenets they are supposed to live by, than they are making an argument for the contrary. I hope she fixes herself, but I really don't have that much faith that she will. Sometimes people need to remember they joined the Military, and said they would abide by it's rules. The military didn't come and join me.

If you are truly still on active duty status and or possess a valid military ID the has you name and rank on it, you should have corrected her and pointed out her mistakes and gotten the information of her NCOIC to inform him/her about their soldier's blatant disrespect of the Army reg.

If you did not make the correction you did not deserve your rank. The regulations are their for a reason. In the Corps if I saw someone like that I always asked them for their ID. Then I would ask what unit they were in and report them to their 1st Sgt.

First thing that pops in my mind is why would you go to the movies in uniform? Not that i dont have pride in my uniform but, but as soon as i didn't need it on i took it off.

I would like to make a response to this. I served in the AF as an SP from 90-94. There was never a doubt in a respect level from the Lowest to the highest Rank with in the CoC. However I now have a son in the Army still in school at Ft.Lee (94H). He is a bright young Soldier. I am proud of him. He told me stories out of Basic, that literally scared the shit out of me. The Army higher NCO have Zero respect for Capts. and Below. He sited many instances in front of recruits in which a DS would belittle a Company Commander after he or she left a formation or inspection. This never happened in the AF when I served. I wonder if this is a fundamental break down across the board starting at the Basic Training level. Or is the Army Standards so low that they are dragging the bottom of the barely of humanity to fill their ranks. I am not being disrespectful. But I feel an interesting point and question to this debate.

The fact that she understood that she was out of regs and didn't care reflects poorly on her own chain of command, not really on you. In my opinion, if you are an NCO you have earned the right to correct soldiers who knowingly and flagrantly violate AR 670-1. However, I think you made the proper call to not scuff her up in public, as that could have potentially reflected poorly on you and drawn negative attention to the uniform. Possibly, pulling her aside to discuss the regs and why she didn't care may have been your best best, but I don't know the entire situation, such as the amount of time your had to make the correction. All in all, you did the right thing.

Always. Never hesitate to correct when due. ts a new Army theses days. Roling her eyes is a form of disrespect towards any one of a higher rank. First introduce yourself ( Show them your military ID card)pull the person to the side explain and ask her what unit shes in. If she refuses to then get her information and Im sure that you can find out what unit shes in by obtaining that information. The lack of respect and discipline is overwhelming theses days.

Yea as an ex Army Sgt. I would have pulled her aside, and explained to her first off......just because you may not be "working" you represent our Military....where ever you are 24-7 365. So I suggest you fix yourself, and go read the AR 670-1. I also would have found out who her NCO was and told him/her about it. and as far as rolling her eyes at me....that would have pissed me off. if she was my soldier she would be made an example....she would know the regulations really well! :)

You did what you were suppose to.. be that reminder. Then move along. No need for a scene, it was obvious that they lacked the basic discipline to do what is right.

Maybe a gentle reminder that she should go use the restroom to square away what she did have one..but then they might have pulled out the stress card or reported you for harassment.

Do you part and lead by example.

I ran into a situation sort of like this once. I was at the mall and there where several reservist walking around. One had on a fluffy white polo jacket. As I approached I noticed she was standing next to a SSG, so assuming he was possibly her team or squad leader I introduced myself and asked if I could have a word with him. He indulged me and I asked him about the soldier...to which he replied by basically telling me to F*** off and I had no business correcting other peoples soldiers. I at that point really had no idea what to do being that he outranked me and was allowing his soldier to completely ignore the standards.

Times like this made me glad I had left the army. I am not an NCO, but still, that's just wrong (and a total violation of the Army Regulation - AR 670-1 - as well as the UCMJ for disrespecting an NCO). She could have worn civilian clothes and roll her eyes when he approached her and we would not know the better (unless they both are stationed within the same company, battalion, duty station where they see each other day in and day out).

I have a tendency of losing it when I see someone disgrace the uniform as such; and even more when they cop an attitude with me knowing they are in the wrong as I was trying to be nice about it.

Good thing I never done stuff like that as I take great pride when I was in the service; and I still do to this day.

It seems the soldier is going to a movie. My guess is wearing the uniform to possibly get a discount. Still wrong and I say you should have made the correction.

As an NCO, you must use wisdom, but I believe you do have an obligation to guide and correct those under you. In this situation, I believe you acted appropriately in calling her attention to it, yet not making a scene. Too bad you couldn't follow up with her CO.

When I was a young officer (O3), I was out of reg in an airport. An O6 politely but firmly reprimanded me. Though his reproof stung, I never forgot it, and his reprimand stuck.

I cant stand seeing things like this in public it even annoys me to see it on a TV show or movie, but anyhow I think the best way to handle the situation considering you are not on duty or in uniform I would show the individual your military identification ask them if their in the military as you did and ask what unit they are from and then notify them of what they are doing wrong off to the side. If they give attitude and don't comply you use the information about her unit and notify her chain of command. PFC REDMAN

You try to do the right thing and step off out of ear shot.. and if they don't want to do that then you correct them right there. But always maintain a professional attitude about it Don't loose your mind on them.

I was a young PO3 in the USN. I was relaxing in a public area and removed my cover. It was a Long hot day, I had competed my daily tour and was just taking a moment for ME.

I CPO (Not in Our Squadron), approached me as I relaxed. He asked if I was stationed at Coronado, and who my Command CO/XO, and CPO were. He quickly went on to state how well I looked in my Uniform. Then asked if I had intended to purposely disrespect the Men/Women that went before me in UNIFORM, and if I didn't appreciate WHY I wore the UNIFORM, he would be glad to inform My Command, so they may instruct me in Proper protocol.

My 1st thought was to ignore his "POLITE DEMEANOR" ( we all know how a CPO can be should he be RILED), I chose instead to RESPECT the CPO for his consideration and TIME to stop and present me the OPPORTUNITY to REFLECT on my DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES as a Military NCO on my personal time in UNIFORM in PUBLIC. I represented ALL the MEN/WOMEN at that moment.

The Following Morning @ O6:45 Monday at COMMAND MUSTER... My name was called out by "THE COMMAND CPO". He informed me in-front of the COMMAND about my encounter with the CPO I had on Friday afternoon.

The COMMAND CPO then proceeded to inform me of WHO the CPO was ( who stopped to talk to me)... and how WELL RESPECTED the CPO was in the U.S. NAVY. ( Needless to say I was thankful for my decision to be RESPECTFUL/MINDFUL and Courteous to the CPO) ...

And in-case you were wondering....YES.. I still had KP for the WEEK. But I had the opportunity to GROW as a MAN in UNIFORM !