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: 709
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Next time I would find out what unit she is with (before asking about the violation) and then call her commanding officer. Let him/her take care of the situation. Just my thoughts on the matter
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Speaking on verbal corrections, ill share an experience of my own.
I was at a gas station heading toward our weekly ROTC meetings, when i noticed a Captain walking from a pump toward the store as well. I noticed he wasn't wearing his PC and our cadre always taught us to police that kind of stuff up, so i figured i would mention it. The response i received however was a simple "Shut up." Not what i had expected, and cadets typically seem to be frowned upon by most, but i dont think i was necessarily wrong in mentioning it to him?
I was at a gas station heading toward our weekly ROTC meetings, when i noticed a Captain walking from a pump toward the store as well. I noticed he wasn't wearing his PC and our cadre always taught us to police that kind of stuff up, so i figured i would mention it. The response i received however was a simple "Shut up." Not what i had expected, and cadets typically seem to be frowned upon by most, but i dont think i was necessarily wrong in mentioning it to him?
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SSG Monique Endriss
No, you were not wrong and his attitude and behavior is unbecoming an officer. You should have contacted his CO. That kind of attitude spreads like a disease and I don't care what rank you are, wrong is wrong!
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The hair is definitely out of regs, as is the wearing of ANY headgear indoors while not under arms. I agree that an NCO should correct the soldier on her uniform. My question is about the reference to the fleece cap as a "PT cap". I've been retired for a short while, but last time I checked that headgear was authorized to be worn with the ACU uniform. Has that changed? I know some people don't like it and some commands have policies about it, but have actual Army Regulations changed so that wearing it is against regs?
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If an NCO has to ask "when is it appropriate to make a correction to a Soldier whether they out rank them or not", then they shouldn't be and NCO. I have embarrassed my own family to the point that they walk away from me when I spot someone who needs to to corrected. Regardless of the the offenders rank I will ask them if I can see their ID card as I am pulling mine out in order to identify myself. I then ask them if they are familar with the regulation they are in violation of if not I tell them and ask what unit they are in so that I can contact the Soldier's 1SG or CSM so that they can deal with their Soldier. I have sent several Soldiers out of a civilian movie theater as shown in this picture because they too were in uniform and it was against Ft Riley Policy to be in the theater while in ACUs.
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I would have made the correction pull her to the side and just let her know she is wrong and make the correction.
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SSG (Join to see)
On the spot corrections are always appropriate in public. If you let it go you have a stablished a new standard.
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I would've knocked her boyfriend out and then gouged her flippin eyes out for rolling them at me.
But in all seriousness you should have made the correction. Show her your ID card, introduce who you are and correct the situation. If she doesn't like it, then maybe she should've changed out of her uniform before she went to the mall. If she still gives you attitude, then either get her unit and notify her chain of command or if they refuse to do anything about it then report that unit to that state's Adjutant General (if it's a National Guard unit). Either she'll be reprimanded or that unit's commander will be reprimanded and I guarantee that if the commander get in trouble then her ass would be as well.
If you put on the uniform of a Soldier, then you will wear it with pride and within regulations.
But in all seriousness you should have made the correction. Show her your ID card, introduce who you are and correct the situation. If she doesn't like it, then maybe she should've changed out of her uniform before she went to the mall. If she still gives you attitude, then either get her unit and notify her chain of command or if they refuse to do anything about it then report that unit to that state's Adjutant General (if it's a National Guard unit). Either she'll be reprimanded or that unit's commander will be reprimanded and I guarantee that if the commander get in trouble then her ass would be as well.
If you put on the uniform of a Soldier, then you will wear it with pride and within regulations.
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When I was in the Navy and had to check a sailor for a uniform infraction, attitude you name it public or on base. If it was in public I would try and be discreet on base in uniform we got a understanding really quick and the bad thing was I was over CMAA so after NJP they would come to me for 45 days of re instilling of military bring. and of course Honor Courage and Commitment.
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I have dealt with something similar to this and yes of course it was a traditional guardsmen. Me being active duty and yes of course they had attitude. I simply just got their name and had a nice conversation with his 1Sgt, SNCO to SNCO. Pretty sure he was corrected as his 1Sgt was livid. You have the name, call her command.
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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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