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

Call her out. This soldier is in a very public location, wearing the same uniform that I wear. You damn well better believe I'll call her out on the spot.

Disrespect for the uniform is disrespect for everyone that serves or has served. Personally I would have tried to find her unit and send it up the chain of command. Im guessing she was just trying to get in for free.

I think it's important that we continue to instill a sense of pride and accomplishment to the junior members in the military. It is an honor to be able to wear that (or any) uniform in public, and it should be treated as such. I would have made a point to correct her in private, just as SMSgt Thomas suggests. I also, however, would have made a point to notify her chain of command so that they are aware of her lack of adherence to regulations as well as her insubordinate behavior.

I agree with you SSG Robinsons with your assessment. As a older Marine Veteran I see the younger generation lack of respect on all avenues but a lot of this comes from there parents and she never respected the uniform in first place before she became a soldier and reflection of the uniform. To me it does not matter what you wear you have to understand what you stand for Army, Marines, etc.. it does not matter which service but the character of the body that inside it.

SSG Robinson,
I might disagree with how you handled the situation, but you knowing that you could have handled the situation different is why I love wearing the uniform. With that being said I have been in your situation before. The best situation I can recall came when I was an NCO. I made an on the spot correction while I was out of uniform and identified myself as an NCO and the Soldier rolled his eyes and laughed. I handed him my ID card and said I want you to make sure you understand who your talking to(all said in a calm voice and for anyone who knows me it was very difficult to do). Soldier was with some friends and not sure if they were Army or not and was trying to save face. I said if your so big and bad what is your name and let me see your ID card if you don't give it to me I am calling post staff duty and I will physically hold you in place and have you placed in confinement for dis obeying an order. (Soldier had no idea I was pulling all of that out of my A**)Soldier showed me the ID card and he was an E4. I went home typed him in AKO contacted the unit 1SG explained the situation and she asked me if I wouldn't mind coming by the unit. With all of that being said the Soldier was reprimanded for his actions. I tell you all of this to tell you to stay engaged! You may have to remove yourself from the situation but there are still other ways to make corrections even if they are not done on the spot. When that Soldier saw me monday afternoon next to his 1SG the look of panic was priceless. Get the name and follow up with the unit, use AKO use social media. I am not saying be an internet stalker, but find out who they belong too is not hard.

Look, I don't want to be disrespectful to anyone on this entirely too long of a thread on how a nasty soldier does whatever she wants..... well here it goes. If a career service member has to take to the internet to seek advice on how to properly uphold military traditions then maybe that individual need not wear the uniform any longer. We as leaders can blame the X-Box generation all day long for the disrespect and do what I want attitude but we have been entrusted to take control of the situation and mold leaders of the future, regardless of the environment. It is obvious to me that this young SPC has had weak leadership and has been allowed to think that she can get away with it. So, maybe this thread should more about the lack of intestinal fortitude to handle a subordinate rather than the female soldier.

Old NCO of mine had a favorite saying. "If you fail to make an on the spot correction, you just created a new standard"

Can't correct stupid ! And when she rolled her eyes you knew you were in an uphill battle because she has never had a real NCO jump in her 4th point of contact!

I think that's the problem with leaders today. First, you are a soldier 24/7, but never more so then when wearing your uniform in public. Especially state side. Any soldier should understand that, any it is your responsibility as a leader to ensure that happens. The simple discipline to wear a uniform properly when in public, as a representation of your unit and the military, is not a hard thing to accomplish, especially in this case. Second, correcting a soldier does not have to be an embarrassing ordeal for anyone. A simple you need to fix yourself will usually work. If it doesnt, the you ask for their 1SG. There are plenty of ways to get the job done, but doing nothing because you are afraid of a little confrontation is probably worse than her being out of uniform at the movies.

Start by saying I'm Sgt _____\ I need a word with you for a second please show her you ID and say when you are in uniform you represent the entire US armed forces, the nations finest you must always represent your self in a military manor even if you think no one is watching. There are veterans all around you all the time that wore that uniform before you and they would never disrespect there uniform. 2) regulation aren't suggestions they are standards that must be adhired to. 3) when off duty she shouldn't have been wearing her uniform to a movie theater in the first place. 4) I would have asked for her unit and found out her 1sg emailed the photo of the soldier and described the attitude given also.
NCO Backbone!!! Enforce the standard!!!

As a fellow troop, NCO or not, you exercised your general military autority. Whether or not that soldier did her part to respect that she was wrong is out of your control. Many SMs tend to believe that if you are not in their COC, that they don't have to listen to another, or that if they are off base or after hours, rules only minimally apply. You can only do your part. To be a great leader, you must first learn to follow. I can assure you that SPC Ware will be a SPC or below for many years to come. Good job removing yourself from a lose/lose situation.

****Although, pulling her to the side may have put her defenses at ease.

Make sure that you are right first. Being a dirtbag to a dirtbag is not appropriate behavior. Set the example for others to follow. Lead the way for corrective behavior in a positive manner. Help them on their journey.

We are soldiers 24/7/365! On the spot corrections are appropriate anytime, everywhere in public. This is about respect to your fellow service members and the country we represent. The key to success is about ensuring that the corrections are done with respect to the individual being corrected, and using the utmost discretion and common sense.

This is why you shouldn't be allowed to wear fatigues in public in the first place. Also, it's absurd that she had the nerve to "roll her eyes". I just would have gotten her information and reported it to whoever is in charge of her. Chances are they wouldn't do anything anyway because if they held her accountable in the first place, she probably wouldn't have been all around garbage in the first place. Anyway, make the correction on the spot, get her information (ask for her ID), in not corrected, report to her command. I believe you have to hold people accountable, up and down, or else the institution will continue to get worse and worse.

You should have identified yourself and asked her to follow you about 10 feet away. If she said no, you could then be a little more forceful in direcing her to 1) fix herself, 2) get her 1SG's name an number, and 3) inform her that her "attitude" is getting in the way of her becoming an NCO one day. Of course, you can do all of the above while retaining your military bearing and professionalism.

I would have asked her to the side, for a moment, and given her the chance to do an on the spot correction. As an NCO, you giving her corrective discipline, would have been a lawful order, providing that you had properly identified yourself. I also would have ascertained her unit, and CO's name, and passed the info on, to the proper chain of command. There is just no excuse! I've been out for 31 years, and still find myself correcting soldiers, in public places. My other pet peeve........the wrongful display of the US flag. (But that's another topic! :)

Your an NCO, on or off duty so correcting her would have been the right thing to do. You as an NCO are held accountable at all times, remember the NCO creed and let it guide you.
I would have had no problem pulling SPC Ware aside and making that correction, she was in public in uniform and she is representing US, and that is a big message!

All great responses below!! The key word here is Tact!! Whenever in an civilian type of environment use discretion and tact. Soldiers are soldiers 24/7/365 remember they also represent who you are and being an NCO let no soldier disrespect the uniform. She had 3 strikes I would've jumped her shit, For one she should not be shopping in uniform, 2 wearing out of regulation and 3 rolling her eyes!! She obviously has a piss poor leadership which she directly reflects. Just remember these young soldiers need guidance. Hell I had plenty of guidance as a troop!!! made me a better soldier!!

You should have asked the individual to come and stand aside after showing your ID card. We have regulations and an appearance to maintain while out in public and in uniform. The post this individual is assigned to should have a memo to the lowest unit, stating, If and when an individual in any of the branches is allowed to wear the uniform off post, most will state directly to their off-post residence, only stopping if in need of fuel. In regards to this so-called NCO, SSG Robert Quayle, who needs to have his CSM seriously question how this individual made SSG in the first place. He is a reflection of what a great NCO Corps has been reduced to with the current administration, I am old school SSG Quayle, I also have four combat tours to Iraq, two to Afghanistan. I see your hands in your pocket and you make the remarks you stated, be prepared for a medical board. I stand for what the NCO Corps was and I was never relieved of that oath.

I think, no I know the correct answer is to 1st introduce myself and do an on the spot correction without intimidating her or causing a scene. By the picture it seems she is waiting to enter the movie so time plays a role here. Lets not forget the army values here and before anyone states or restates concern for pissing her off or her civilian friend interfering, Personal Courage is on the list. If she appears this way in public then the question is what other area of the army values does she piss on? What does the way she carry herself say about her leadership?