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

That's fairly far out line, not like 1 boot came un-bloused... Doesn't mean she needs anything past sidelined and corrected, but this is pretty much asking for it....

One of the first rules of leadership is never to give an order unless you are capable of and willing to enforce it.

There are many ways this could have been handled and each of us, as leaders, might handle it slightly differently. Being in the limelight of a public place might require a bit more tact than most of us feel was deserved. In the end, however, if you let something pass that should be addressed, then you should feel guilty of just setting a lower standard.

Personally, I would have pulled her aside and talked to her nicely. If she was disrespectful, I would have proven, regardless of the difficulties, that I never, ever, lose a battle of wills.

Make the correction anyways. show her my mil id & get her name & unit, then call her readiness nco up & tell them the situation & request corrective action be taken.

In my opinion the order you ask matters the most I wouldve approach in a happy manner as if I was unaware and said:

Me:Hey are you in the army?
Them:yes
Me:O ok what unit are you in?
Them: whatever unit
Me:O ok are they near (name a place you know is wrong so they correct it)
Them: no its at (insert here)
Me: im sorry i forgot to get your name im (give only first name so they dont expect a rank) and you are?
Them: im (whoever the hell)
Me:so do i call you specialist (what ever name)?
AT THIS POINT I NOTIFY THEM THEY ARE OUT OF REGULATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE GVEN THE INFORMATION YOU NEED SUSPECTING THAT THEY WOLD BE CONFRONTED

I think you did well by not making a scene. I wouldve explain the professionalism that we are required to maintain at all times. Their is a reason we proudly wear the uniform and its not for attention. Just leaving her with that thought may have changed her mindset (maybe). We dont need people who dont care about our heritage or care to understand the "whole" picture. Good job though for saying something, most people wouldn't.

I would have identified myself as an NCO, pulled her to the side and told her to fix herself. If she's going to wear her uniform in public then it should be worn right. If she gave me an attitude then I would have asked where she was stationed, taken down her name and description and reported her to my chain of command back on base. Not sure how the process would get back to her chain of command but I wouldn't have let it go like that.

I am a former Marine as well as Army Reservist, I was Corporal in both branches and when i went from active duty Marine to the Army i noticed a slew of differences that i could not get over....Marines are taught at boot camp to take pride in everything we do, some take this as being arrogant or cocky but its who we are, we take pride in everything though including our uniforms and our heritage. The professionalism we are taught shows through no matter where we are or what we are wearing. The military uniforms are not for wear around to goof of with, they are military issued work clothes designed for specific purposes whether that be combat or professional dress attire. My opinion is the only branch currently still keeping that intact are the Marines....we are not allowed to wear uniforms outside of work unless it is specific dress uniforms as our combat uniforms are not designed to be worn for that. The dress uniforms are designed to give the best appearance on the outside and show professionalism. I personally feel that people such as SPC Ware should be looked at the same as acts of stolen valor because of the damage they do to the military's professional appearance. I still have some of my Cammies from both branches....and even now i will not put them on for anything unless i have a good shave and haircut and i have the proper tags of of them out of respect to the uniform and the branch. The military as a whole needs to get past the "softer" side.....we are not civilians and should not be relaxed like them. It sickens me to see anyone out not following their guidelines because to be honest even if you approach them and they refuse to give you their real command or just tell you to screw off there is really nothing you can do to make that happen. Uniforms should not be worn in public for this reason the acts of the few damage the reputation of the many and i personally get outraged when some "boot" takes away from my beloved branch....maybe thats why i felt i didnt quite fit for the Army but i feel that is the best mindset to have "Pride in everything we do".

And the reason why they keep doing it??????? Cause they know no one will do anything about it and they keep getting away with it, thats why. You should have put her in her spot right at that moment period. she excepted the rules when she signed up then she dam well can follow them.

I AM NOW RETIRED FROM THE ARMY. BUT IN MY TIME I WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY LOST MY MIND. I WOULD HAVE CORRECTED THAT SOLDIER ON THE SPOT AND I WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED UP ON HER WITH HER CHAIN OF COMMAND.

Little stuff like boots and belts I often overlook or laugh about, but there's some stuff like wearing tops or pants to Walmart or a popular night club (had a guy in full ACUs come to my door one night) that I lose my mind and get borderline Dexter about. You want to flaunt that you're in the military, there's about 50 sites tha will sell you a t-shirt that is not out of regs

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.

Always!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Identify yourself, make the correction, and stand with her until the corrective action is complete.

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!

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.

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.