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: 710
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In a foreign country, out of uniform, representing the United States. Get here name, get her unit, and get it to her 1SG. If I had a report like that of a soldier of mine there would be consequences. This was a blatant disrespect for the uniform and her affiliation with the US Army.
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On the spot correction should always been done, as has been said, pull them aside and make the corrections. If they have a problem with this, get their name and unit and take it up the chain of command to their superiors. I have seen this more and more in the last several years as the younger soldiers are out and about. The uniform is a matter of pride and you are a walking talking display of what it is to be part of the greatest military family on the planet.
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Seems a lot has changed when I was in the Army. We knew better than to do something like this . It was instilled in our brains to respect the uniform and follow the guidelines set before us. Plus when there is no type of reprimand except a quick "talking to" then why would we think the Private would know any better?
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That is the problem! PT are common dress for both Civilian's and military today with or without insignia it is hard to tell. I have people come into my store in PT's full correct uniform and ask them where the served and they say, " Oh, I'm not in the military!" Don't get any in full dress uniform!
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Yo can make an on the spot correction if you ar a n retired officer or senior nco. But you need to identify yourself as such. However, if you are assigned to the same base and are of higher rank, you still need to identify yourself and make the correction. This would indicate you are aware of the regulations and all exceptions granted by the post commander.
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You are a SSG. You should have made the correction. You should have pulled her aside and let her know she was wrong and contact her Command. She probably does this all the time wanting to get caught. I retired as a SFC and I would always make corrections.
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Personally I would have identified myself with my own ID and then tried to correct them on their behavior. If they didn't want to cooperate I probably would have asked for their command information and letting them know that if they didn't fix themselves they would be dealing with it the next time they showed up at work.
But then of course, you have the issue of getting them to cooperate in giving you the information you need to get ahold of their CoC.
But then of course, you have the issue of getting them to cooperate in giving you the information you need to get ahold of their CoC.
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I would have ask her the same if she was in the Army and if answered yes, I would (if I was active, not retired) I would state who I am and pull her aside. If she did not want to go privately, I would then go off on her and make her real embarrassed in front of people. (would get her full name and her unit prior to that). If retired, I would ask her to get back into AR since she is setting the wrong example to others and leave it as that.
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I've made on the spot corrections as a PFC and Specialist while stationed at Ft. Lewis. I was in a diner and a soldier comes in wearing his uniform with his BDU top off and I was like you and your friends need to put your tops back on! He said I was correct and fixed the problem. The other was a PFC running around in Walmart in uniform and house shoes or sport sandals or something...I was like WOAHHH....hold up Private! Soldier from the same BDG as my at the time father in law who was a CSM,
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Just ran across this and I am torn. When I was in high school I was wearing stuff bought at an A/N surplus store, no insignia or anything, and a hat left to me from my grandfather. I am not convinced any of the stuff went together by branch, season, uniform set, and I know the graphic tee was not. Yet an elderly woman was furious and yelled at me. I was on subs for 6 years and neither of the commands were very anal about uniforms unless the rare dignitary was coming around. That being said at what point is a uniform not be considered a uniform. Working uniforms can basically be bought anywhere even BDU's. From the image if not for the rate/ranks etc she would look like anyone. I guess I never put much "....." (not sure what word to use, Pride?) in the working uniform, dress uniforms on the other hand very much so.
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According to this story not only was she in violation of wearing the uniform correctly..... She was fully aware of it and proceeded to do so with out regard for what the uniform stands for. At that point I would have pulled rank and obtained her unit and first Sgts name. Have we become so scared of confrontation from our younger troops that we have become that weak? In the eyes of the public they expect us to uphold standards and this showed the public we don't have the backbone to so to our own people.
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Walk up, start a conversation, ask where she is stationed, get her name and unit. With all that information once you introduce yourself; name, rank, I can assure you would have received a better response. At that point you ask to speak with her on the side and make the necessary correction. Any non compliance should be quickly followed up with her command ATL include that pic.
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You did the right thing. Just the fact that you corrected the SPC means she may think twice. I recently followed a Marine wearing USMC PT gear out of the liquor store, stopped him politely and asked him "are we authorized to wear USMC PT gear in public." He replied "no, sir we are not." I gave him a nod and said "Semper Fidelis, Marine." I knew he immediately got it. No knife hand or Devil Dog required.
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as a retired service member, i am a firm believer in right is right and wrong is wrong. it is our duty to police each other up in a professional manner. it is not to criticize one another with the goal to embarrass one another but to instill the understanding that we represent more than ourselves. being back on the civilian side of the fence, you really do see that the general public doesn't look at any service member as an individual but as on organization. when we accomplish something, the accomplishment should be what shines to the public. i would of took her to the side and talked to her to correct the action. if she thinks it was that much of a hassle to be out of reg's on purpose, she could of simply went to the movies in civilian attire. there wouldn't have been any reason to skull drag her in public. at the very least after taking her aside and talking to her, if she continued to carry an attitude, it would be too easy to request her unit. if she refused, too easy to utilize a smart phone to capture. every situation is handled differently but professionalism is still professionalism.
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SSG (Join to see) I would say you just need to know what battles to pick. In this case the SPC was wrong and did not care. What can you do to make someone care? The fact that some people say you can always make them must realize we cannot physically beat them into submission. I try to make corrections when I see them and make them as less embarrassing as possible. I called a SFC over to tell him that his nametapes were on the wrong side (more common than you would think). I tried to get him by himself. Unfortunately his two juniors also came over. He said he was so embarrassed and apologized. I told him it was ok and that I just wanted to help him out. He is the type of servicemember that do the on the spot corrections for. To help them out and do it respectful. In your case they do not care and do not respect the uniform. Those are the ones I wish would just take off the uniform and walk away from the service. If they do not care how they appear and represent our services they show disrespect to those who died in the uniform.
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I would have noted her unit and contacted her commander. That kind of disrespect for the uniform and office is unacceptable.
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You should have identified yourself and asked her who her company commander is. It would have scared the hell out of her and she would have corrected herself and most likely would never have done it again.
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