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

I'm not convinced she's wrong. (Except for her word on the matter)

She's not on duty, therefore she's allowed faddish hairstyles.

She's wearing part (not all) of her pt uniform... Specifically the fleece cap is called out as authorized for civilian wear.

The only remote violation interpretation I can find is that her hair should not alter the wear of headgear, but again, it's being worn in civilian style.

Anyone care to actually discuss this?

I'd love to see any junior Marine roll their eyes at an NCO and live to tell about it. Public or not

Public orientation should be of reservation. Sometimes in our daily lives we get busy, letting our guard down, or forgetting who we really are in the public's eye. Each generation of SM's will have their own challenges.

I remember in the 70s, my neighborhood's public orientation toward SMs, vis-a-vis, was quite different than in other parts of the US. I grew up and was raised in the East Bay, Northern California. People did their own thing and wore what ever suits them, even SMs. Why? Long hair was in and one could spot a GI a mile away...Additionally, that demographic area was and will always be predominate working class, violent, and culturally diverse.

Fast forward to this situation...the person of interest may have a good reason why she is wearing and sporting this attire. If you are really interested, make your introduction face to face and use tact and respect, and if she is responsive...listen to her story...or watch her body language...she could be carrying a concealed weapon. Hands...watch the hands.

Remember, in public, you are in her space and she is protected by civil law if you get it wrong, you can be arrested for stalking, sexual harassment and possible charges of groping her can be added to the legal exchange. Law suits and litigations are very real and career changers. My advice, if you are not in a position of public authority, be cautious of your behavior. Not everyone in public will side with your actions in word and/or deed.

I once saw an Army Sargent pumping gas in his BDUs without a hat a year or two after 9/11 and I asked were is cover was. He started to move in on me like I just had picked a fight. It just goes to show you that there are former military around all over the place.

You definitely make the correction because she in violation of AR 670-1 and she is going to the movies in a duty uniform. The appropriate thing is to pull her aside let here know she is violation and if she get an attitude at least get her name and unit or here picture. The go through the chain of command to ensure she gets punished under UCMJ. This is the lack of military discipline that NCO's are being blamed for.

Should probably find out her name and rank and unit and correct her and inform her chain of command. Especially if she refused to correct the situation

I think on the spot corrections would be great. I recently returned from war-x where I helped trained NG and reserves. While I was training them my SSGT and I tried to correct a Soldier that had their PC on inside a building and the soldier completely blew both of us off. We spent 3 weeks training them and by the 3rd day, we were ready to come back home.

Right then and there I wouldn't make a scene but I would walk up behind her and talk like we have a normal convo

We assume she is in the military because she is wearing part of a uniform and said she was. She may have been, and is now trying to scam some discounted movie tickets. She may be a problem at her unit if she is in the military. Demand an ID and unit, in a calm manner. If she is in the military its a problem her unit can deal with long term. She may not be able to fix this problem on the spot. If she is not in the military, she won't be scamming tickets today. If your going to intervene, be prepared to follow through. Otherwise just enjoy your night off that was your plan when you wanted to get away from the base.

If she were truly a SPC...she shouldn't need to be corrected! She should have known...therefor a quiet, but firm counseling session on the spot. If she disobeyed a direct order from you...an NCO...I would have reminded her about a couple of UCMJ items called Article 91 & 92!

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