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 11 y ago
Responses: 710
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I'm an Army Veteran, and when I was in ('88 to '91), if troop wasn't correct, he would be standing tall before "the Man". That's how it should continue to be, try the polite respectful way BUT as soon as there is attitude, or disrespectful body language, now its time to get in that A**, and remind them of just who they are talking too....period!
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PO2 Frances Smart
If I heard it once, I heard it a hundred times... "I'll show you what a Master Chief Petty Officer is for!" LOL!
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If you are going to be in uniform there is an expectation that if you are violating army regulations than you are inviting fellow Soldiers to correct you.
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I say it's pretty much always appropriate, and I say pretty much because tact is important, especially when you are in civilians, granted rolling eyes and getting an attitude should not happen, and the above situation could have escalated rather quickly, but the SSG in the above situation did not seem to be wrong in the way nor in what he did, that Specialist was definitely wrong for getting attitude.
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I think all you could have done is to get her ID and unit. Then snap a picture of her in her attire with your phone and show it to her command. Since she know's she's in violation and doesn't care there's really nothing you can do about it in a public, civilian place.
Civilians will take her side because they strongly believe everyone has a right to dress as they wish. However, upon entering the Army, this little girl relinquished her right to self-expression through her wardrobe and is subject to UCMJ, which the civilians around her just won't understand. So, you'd just end up making a scene and being made to look like a complete asshole. There's simply no reason to allow yourself to appear thata way to civilians because you're better than that.
Civilians will take her side because they strongly believe everyone has a right to dress as they wish. However, upon entering the Army, this little girl relinquished her right to self-expression through her wardrobe and is subject to UCMJ, which the civilians around her just won't understand. So, you'd just end up making a scene and being made to look like a complete asshole. There's simply no reason to allow yourself to appear thata way to civilians because you're better than that.
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I agree with everything SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas had to say. I also feel like it's a shame that 1SGT Joe Nicholson came at the NCO so aggressively and took SMSgt response so personally. RallyPoint is a forum where we all have the right to express our opinions and no one should ever feel that they have to stop commenting on a topic they care about because someone wants to argue with them.
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I would have done the same because I am only a spc. Myself. I would however do my and reported it to her first line leas er. As a spc I have been a team leader in combat and state side. I appreciated it when people brought it to me instead of handling themselves.
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I would have had to correct her. This is a negative outlook on the Army. We have standards for a reason, I tell my Soldiers all the time. No one put a gun to your head to join, so if you have an issue with the rules and regulations, then you can easily be removed from your position. Uncle Sam doesn't need that many bodies anymore.
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I agree with all of the responses. Introduce yourself ask for her unit and CO. 99% of the time just a asking those questions will persuade them to take corrective measures and will not have to take it any further.
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I feel that anytime is the correct time. First of all, if the young lady was as proud of the uniform as I was, and the soldiers I served with she would have not been wearing it incorrectly in public.
She put herself into an embarrassing situation, maybe the humiliation of being called out would prevent it from happening again. I have a similar problem here in civilian life, guys are told to button their shirts or tuck them in. Their is response is that they are not on the clock, my response is that we have a locker room, my response is "start bringing your street clothes to work and change in and out of them before you leave the building."
It's about having pride in what you do, and where you work.
I do believe as an NCO you should have absolutely called her out. Whether in private or public would have been her choice, depending on attitude.
SCOUTS OUT.
She put herself into an embarrassing situation, maybe the humiliation of being called out would prevent it from happening again. I have a similar problem here in civilian life, guys are told to button their shirts or tuck them in. Their is response is that they are not on the clock, my response is that we have a locker room, my response is "start bringing your street clothes to work and change in and out of them before you leave the building."
It's about having pride in what you do, and where you work.
I do believe as an NCO you should have absolutely called her out. Whether in private or public would have been her choice, depending on attitude.
SCOUTS OUT.
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I would've corrected her in a calm, collective civilized manner. I also would've told her that there's no point in getting upset because I know you know better and left it like that.
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