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

I servsd in the Army 45 years ago but I don't think the regs on this kind of behavior have changed since then. It just shows the lack of respect 95% of all young people have today for any kind of authoruty or themselves. I f any of the NCO's or Officers I served under had come across this, they would most definately taken the person aside and made them correct the situation on the spot. (Former SPC IV Mechanized Infantry)

You should have asked her what unit she was in and reported her to her CSM

Hands down agree with SMSgt Thomas. This Soldier should have been pulled aside and corrected. If that didn't work after showing your ID, get the commands info. If that didn't work, take a pic and find her on AKO. I would 100% have attempted a calm discussion but have no problem embarrassing a disrespectful Soldier in public.

I don't think anyone could hold your choice against you. I would generally think a quiet and polite correction should be the default - while this person sounds like they knew they were doing something incorrect, someone could just daze or have a dumb moment (I do). Once the first correction attempt has been made, if they don't comply, then I would think being more aggressive is fine - given your audience. If your truly in public, civilians are around, then it may not be worth the PR hit to make a scene, and you could just get the soldier's info to contact their leadership, but if you're on base.... I think wrecking them would be perfectly acceptable. Again, this is only after being nice about it the first time.

If you are a "leader" then yes you step in. When I was a young Marine I saw a Gunnery Sargent, on leave, step up to and tell another young Marine that his military alignment was off and his back pocket un bottoned. He informed the young Marine that we are Marines 24 hours a day and if we are going to wear the uniform, wear it correctly or don't wear it at all. So yes something should have been said.

As a former SPC in the Army NG, and as a current SGT. in a law enforcement agency I know enforcing uniform regulations are important, not just for image, but for discipline in the ranks. I would have introduced my self, showing ID and told her to correct her uniform. Any defiance or disrespect would have been reported in writing to her chain of command.

SSG (Join to see) you did the most important thing - you acted and made an OTSC. You did what any good NCO should have done.

Putting it on here took a lot of Personal Courage because of all the responders second guessing every move made with perfect 20/20 hindsight and plenty of time to think about it.

What has been good about this post for you, and a lot of other young Service Members, is the host of ways expressed by a bunch of us old farts of what we have done or what has worked for us in how to handle situations such as this if they should come up again, or in other words, seeing some experience passed on.

I personally agree you were in a tough spot to do much else other than what you did, given her date and yours, and everything else. Hopefully, the offending individual will be tracked down, and her CoC will be found, and we will have some resolution knowing her 1SG and CSM have enlightened her (oh how I wish I was still in and was her Brigade CSM - my devious mind is working overtime on what that eye roll got her, not to mention the cap and hair).

One other thing SSG (Join to see) if the individual is found and the situation is addressed, can you edit/update the original question/heading to let us all know? My greatest angst is this individual never standing on the carpet in front of her 1SG answering for this and getting away with it. That injustice causes me to loose sleep at night.

Is there no policy in place prohibiting the wear of uniform off duty and off post? I understand It's not a regulation, but every installation I've been to, even an AFB, had a policy and a "strong urge" not to wear uniform unnecessarily. Unless this was a student and didn't have much of a choice in attire, I don't understand why she wouldn't just change before going to the movies. And more to the point, if you're going to wear it, do it with pride. I'm proud of your restraint, SSG. Warm fuzzies and all.

I agree a correction needs to be made. After all she/he is representing the military. I think SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas is correct. Take the troop aside and explain the infraction. If an attitude follows try and find our his/her command. Then take it to the next step.

On the spot corrections are appropriate in public regardless of the venue. It is our duty as soldiers and NCOs to correct them, off to the side, in a tactful manner. When you wear any authorized uniform in public, you are representing your branch and the military, and as such, need to adhere to regulation. It isn't making a scene, it's being a good soldier and leader.

Well I read all the posts on this thread, and I agree with 98% of them, I having been in combat arms for my first 8 years on a LRRP Team shit was tight ! you met all the standards period, and boy was I corrected a lot lol!! well after this 7 years as an MP and I had too deal with legs, females and a lot of administration staff, it was a world of change for me and not that easy!!! I had to learn tact and be politically correct, but I never let a violation go uncorrected,
Today I am a Training Officer (Ensign) with the Naval Sea Cadet Corp, like JROTC, same standards as the Navy same regs. and I'm a hard ass about Military bearing customs and courtesies! an we have a lot of our cadets join the service all branches, and they all come back too the unit and thank me for being tuff on them and making them meet standards it makes me proud that I can instill this in these young people!! I guess an old grunt like me can still make a difference!!!

Very easy. You take the Soldier to the side, explain that they are in violation. He or she cops a 'tude? You have the name on the nameplate, and the unit from the patch. Run with it. Just because you're off duty and off-post doesn't mean your responsibility as an NCO goes away.

Make the correction and if she does get a attitude find out unit her unit and show up. There is more then way way to win this fight, too many turn their heads as though it doesn't matter. All service members have a unit and I'm sure the leadership would love a visit!!!

Simple -
Tell the person what a sorry excuse they are for a person in uniform.
Take a pic of her face since they are probably not going to give you their name.
Find that person's SNCOIC or CO and report.

Not correcting the situation is a failure, meaning any service member sees something wrong they have an obligation on or off duty to politely pull them too the side and tell them!!
On another note the military has made it too easy on troops in general, I know oh 7 cases in my area where the troop severally messed up with no reprimands, or jail time etc., most were chaptered out unable too adapt too military standards, less than honorable discharge, honorable after 6 months what the hell, my foster sister was one she broke her ankle in basic, so they told her she would have too recycle again, she had the balls too jump up on the Bn. Commanders desk, grab him by the shirt collar and say she wasn't going through this shit again, when I was in that would have been the stockade!
Anyway, corrections never hurt anyone!!! god knows when I was a young private I was corrected a lot, and I thank GOD it happened it made me a better soldier!, and I also instilled into my 3 sons who serve now in the Marines, Army and Airforce.

Yes, it is appropriate to "spot correct" a soldier who is out in public & not in proper uniform. It was done to me before and I didn't take it personally. Since she didn't take the correction as intended, you should have gotten her name & unit and reported it to her Chain of Command. Let them counsel her on the matter.

You could have pulled her aside and asked for her ID card. Taken down her info and if you didn't even follow up to contact her CO...she would have thought twice next time.

As others have said introduce yourself first to give that person a frame of reference for what is coming next. I would then ask them to step away and have the conversation away from their family/associates to avoid embarrassment. Then correct the infraction.

Of course she knew she was not in compliance, very few people who are not incompliance do it though ignorance. Most know that they can get away with certain things based on their supervision. So those of us that are outraged by this soldier should be mad at her supervision. And those that say troops are different and not as good now in days should look to those troops supervisors, they are letting things happen everyday to erode standards.

I would have gotten her name and unit, then corrected (off to the side). As soon as I was in my car, I would be calling her unit commander and/or First Sgt for a meeting with them on this discipline issue.

As an NCO, it's your duty to call attention to the situation. That being said, I think you made the right call in not making a public spectacle of either of you. You have her name, and Korea's a pretty small place, I'm sure you can look her up on global and find out her chain of command pretty easily. Give them a heads-up, and I guarantee she'll at least get a talking to.