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

I'm happy that you didn't cause a scene because of her disrespect, it's your obligation as an leader to make corrections, she got an attitude, that's fine. My opinion is that you did the right thing by keeping your military bearing & removing yourself from the situation before it escalated. Your job was done!

What is she doing in public in uniform? When i was in the service you were only allowed to go buy the necessities like milk or diapers, not go to the movies. She's a mess! I would have asked where she belonged and who her supervisor was..

I would have done the correction right on the spot and pulled rank on her quicker then a rooster can crow...

There hs been a lot said on this one. This is really an Army uniform regulation issue but I will give you my perspective.

The first thing the Army should do is much like the Marine Corps has done for decades. BDU's/Cammies are not to be worn off base, period. I see folks in the Army, in their utilities, out to dinner, in the mall, at the hospital and of course at the airport and just about anywhere else you can imagine. I've read some comments in this thread that say they are not supposed to do so but I can tell you I see it everywhere.

I would not have corrected her as I am not familiar enough with Army uniform regs to do so but had she been a Marine I would have done so, firmly and politely. Had she been a Marine she should not have been in utilities period, that one is easy. Had she been wearing service uniform incorrectly I would have made the correction. If she knew she was out of regulation (as the woman in the story did) and still wore it anyway I would have lost my mind.

They are called uniforms for a reason and there are regulations for a reason. Too many people have died wearing the uniform of this country to let folks wear it any way they like. An honest mistake can be corrected, willfully violating the regulation is unacceptable.

I think you did great. The only thing I would suggest is to identify yourself first. I would have also just been up front and just say what was wrong instead of asking if she knew she was violating a reg. She might not have realized what was wrong and gave a smart answer because of your approach.

I believe you should have corrected her, it doesn't matter if she was going to have an attitude. She signed the Government Contract and swore the oath. If you were a Marine you would have corrected her. I was an NCO in the USMC and I corrected other Marines all the time on Uniform Regulations and when we wore civilian clothing, we have an Image to uphold and Tradition.

It seems today more and more Military personnel think they can do what they want. Remember once you sign that contract you have signed away all your rights and are now Government property.

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm just a PV2 and I wouldn't even look all out of regulation like that. It so disrespectful that people wearing the same uniform that I have, would do just an embarrassing thing like that. Also I thought we were not suppose to wear uniforms in malls. If I saw that specialist I would ask for her full name and possibly contact my PSG and see if he could contact her unit for failing to abide to Army Regulations

I work at the Ft. Jackson Main exchange in SC, where I have seeing just about everything, one day a resent graduate of basic training was wearing an Infantryman rope, by the time I got to turn to find him he has disappear. Yes Sir, I was told by another retired NCO that he had to make a correction to several privates that did not salute a Coronel, for his demise the Coronel stop him and told him that he had no reason to stop those soldiers and correct them, to bad I do not know who the Coronel was, I could of have had him remembering what his job should of has being, NCO's are there to be sure this soldiers follow every regulation in the AR reg 670-1. I have being retired since 1998, and I will remember my way.

Get her name and unit and advise her chain of command.