Posted on Jan 14, 2015
SSG Combat Medic
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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.
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SFC Explosive Ordnance Disposal Specialist
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It is absolutely appropriate to make on-the-spot corrections in public, depending on how it is handled. Screaming in a soldier's face and smoking them out in a random store, not so much. Pulling them aside and telling them to fix themselves before you contact their chain of command, totally ok.

In fact, not doing so is tacitly condoning behavior that can tarnish the image of the military if the soldier is looking like a bag of smashed ass out in public.

Two caveats. One, you should talk to the person first to find out what is going on. For example, a person wearing sneakers with ACUs might be an idiot mixing his ACUs with civvies, or he might be on a no-boot profile. If someone was wearing their "field attire" and was just picking up some coffee for those guys, that might be more acceptable than someone wearing the same attire to go grocery shopping and hang out at the mall. A clothing item that you don't recognize might actually be unit issue gear or even something brand new to the Army system that hasn't filtered down to everyone yet (I remember a lot of headaches with the silkies and fleeces when REF first started handing them out).

Two, make sure you know the regs. This may seem obvious, but I have been "corrected" by people who didn't know what they were talking about and I was actually in the right.
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MSgt Robert Carter
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Always!
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SFC Edward Sneed
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As an NCO, it is your responsibility to correct soldiers who are in violation of Military Regulations. Get her to the side, get her name, let her know what's going on, have her make the necessary corrections or inform her that she will be reported to her First Sergeant or Company Commander. You outrank her, so she has no attitude to acquire in this matter.
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SSgt Fuels Specialist
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I ran into this situation this week on base. I have a waiver for no head gear due to stitches in my scalp. I was confronted by just about everyone on base, at one point I just heals up my waiver and didn't respond.
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CWO3 Steve Stillwell
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If you have to think about how to answer this question, turn in your uniform. PC does not apply and should not influence action in the military. In public or in private, you engage, correct, retrain, or direct the misinformed on how to present themselves in public. Social media is great. Take multiple pics from all sides on your phone before your encounter. If attitude ensues, turn the pics over to the local command. I have little time to deal with eye roles and hair flips. I have a movie to enjoy.
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SSgt Fuels Specialist
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I ran into this situation this week on base. I have a waiver for no head gear due to stitches in my scalp. I was confronted by just about everyone on base, at one point I just heals up my waiver and didn't respond.
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COL Tom Lewis
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Identify yourself, make the correction, and stand with her until the corrective action is complete.
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SFC(P) Security Director
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I'm going to tell you, I would have lost my mind! I am a stickler AR 670-1 and I make no exceptions or excuses. I wouldn't have made a scene, however when she rolled her eyes I would've pulled out my CAC so she could see just who she was rolling her eyes at. Maybe she thought he was just another SPC trying to check her. I've had to do that with a PVT and a SPC once. I chewed the SPC out for not correcting the PVT and letting him walk around in public with no headgear, hands in is pocket. Just all out of reg, and to top it off, the SPC was going along with the behavior, walking and texting on his cell phone. I was like I need to say something about this now! I cannot let this behavior go and I'm an NCO! We have to reel them back in and tighten them up. Yes, we have a "kinder, gentler Army" but the basic principles and personal discipline requirements remain the same. Integrity means doing what's right even when no one is looking! Hooaah!
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SPC Thomas Ramsay
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There is one thing I have learned about lower enlisted soldiers in the Army of today... If they don't care, nothing you do short of an article or chapter will make them care. It doesn't matter how you explain it, how you handle yourself during your correction, what you say or where you say it. If they know they are jacked up and do not care, I guarantee you that their complacency is a far more powerful influence on their actions and reactions than anything you could do or say. I for one and happy that the dirtbags in the Army of today aren't scared to show they are dirtbags anymore. Because I'd rather a snake on my cutting board than a snake in the grass any day of the week.
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SGT Stuart Myers
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I came across a situation in a casino of all places. First question always is are you in the service? Do you have ID to prove it? Who is your 1st SGT? Then I make the correction in a calm, firm, manner. You either wear it right or not at all! Our enemy is looking for the weak lambs to take advantage of them.
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CPL David Riopelle Spencer
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I would have asked for he ID, made a mental note of her/their names and then made them do pushups till they couldn't do more. What has happened to the Army? Afraid of hurting feelings? Maybe its the Infantryman in me but enough is enough. Do it right or get out.
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MAJ Haris Balcinovic
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Should have absolutely made the correction. She's representing the uniform. First question I would have asked her is why is she in uniform? Was she still on duty? If she's Reserve of NG once they sign out during the weekend drill (aka Battle Assembly), they're done - meaning uniform comes off.
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Sgt Harlin Seritt
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Not sure about the Army but if you're in the Marine Corps it's kind of expected. If it's someone of the same rank or higher I wouldn't have said anything but if I'm a Sergeant and see E-4s and below not wearing the uniform properly or acting disorderly (within reason), you're compelled to say something with tact (of course). It would take a lot for me to have read the riot act to them even back then.
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SGT Km Nco
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This is a tough one.

I would suggest that after identifying the person as a soldier and validating it via having them present I.D. take down their information and report it to their chain of command, snap a few photos as evidence.

If you're near the base (which it sounds like this was) then have the S.M. call their chain of command on the spot to self report and depart to correct the situation.

And because some service members can be a little shady, if they appear to cooperate and leave, maybe find a nice bench somewhere to sit and people watch and see if they're still meandering about the mall afterwards.
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SPC Human Resources Specialist
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Were it me regardless of if she was gonna have an attitude or not I would have made her correct it and scene at the mall be damned because as an NCO you lead the way and as a SPC she is on her way up the ranks as well, so if a senior NCO can't address the issue and make a correction so she would know better, then when she gets into that position she would have done the exact same thing you did, absolutely nothing to put that soldier back on track.
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CW3 David Covey
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Back in the day..lol Ft Hood used to have Courtesy Patrols in the Killeen mall. Then in Korea we used to have what we called leadership walks, through the ville. Part of the duty included conducting on the spot corrections, and to prevent soldiers from acting ignorant. So yes corrective action was warranted..
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SPC(P) Craig Kupras
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I would have asked her why she was in uniform, followed by, "If you're going to wear it in public, then wear it correctly."
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SPC Chris Taylor
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Tough question, but shows a total lack of military bearing on her part.
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SGT Job Seeker
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That's when you pull out your ID card, ask her to step aside somewhere off to the side. Tell her who you are and ask to see her ID card. Get her full name, unit and command info. Tell her she has the choice to: A) fix herself now, B) remove all name, rank, and Army tapes, or C) you will be contacting her command. If she doesn't want to give up the info you can always see if it's on AKO and/or use a base locator service. As NCO's, if we don't make these corrections our young soldiers cannot grow and represent as they should.
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SPC Erik Atkinson
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I agree with the fact that you stepped away from a situation that could escalated out of control quickly. I also agree with the fact that an on the spot correction needed to be made, however in that case I would have, like others have commented, pulled her to the side once she answered yes and made myself known and handle it "within house". One reason for this suggestion would be the boyfriend could have misinterpreted what you were trying to do and could have attacked you as a means of protecting her. Most civilians are unaware of the standards that we, as members of the all volunteer, PROFESSIONAL Army have to abide by. I am glad and thankful every day for the those values that were instilled in me to care about my appearance in and out of uniform.
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