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

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?

When I am out in public and see young soldiers in uniform I automatically do a quick head to toe scan. It comes from my time as a drill sergeant. When I see something out of place I get this look on my face. My wife knows it instantly and usually asks if I really have to. She already knows the answer. I will always attempt to approach the individual in a calm quiet manner and get their attention. If they are on the move then they have a great chance of getting away because I am not going to yell across the area and I am not going to chase them down. I know I can't catch all the fish but I am responsible for the ones I get a hook into. If I can approach them, then I quietly let them know of the on the spot correction. I usually do not get any back talk or resistance to correcting the problem because I didn't embarrass them or cause them to lose face. Those that do show resistance get asked to step to the side away from their peers. They usually get more agreeable when they are not having to impress someone. I give them a much longer explanation of who I am, how they are wrong, why they are wrong, what needs to be done to fix it and what possible courses of action can be taken should they refuse to correct the issue or continue the unprofessional conduct. Rarely have I had to take a Soldiers name down and contact his unit for professional development. I usually get accurate information from them because I explain that all I need is the name off their ID and I can get the rest of the information from installation operations.
It is not always the easy path and my wife has started to request compensation for the lost of her time but I believe it is easily worth the costs to ensure Soldiers learn that they are Soldiers all of the time.

The answer is that it is appropriate to correct it every time you see it, whenever you see it, however you see it, for the simple fact that you see it. That being said, how the correction is made is what is going to have the lasting impact on that Soldier. The idea that it should be left alone is not something I agree with at all.

This is one of those "Situational Communication" situations. I think you did the right thing by identifying the issue but after she responded negatively, the appropriate thing for you to do is to introduce yourself (name and rank) Hopefully she changes her tune and squares her self away. If the attitude continues then you crush her on the spot and when the police show up you explain the entirety of the situation her chain of command will undoubtedly be notified.

SSG,

I feel for you, That is just one of the many reasons the Marine Corps have the Policy of a Marine out in town wearing a Camouflage Utility uniform and not on their way to or from the base (i.e. on leave or liberty) is unauthorized, And back in my day and now if you look out of regs in your Civilian wear you will get straightened out by fellow Marines. To me as a Marine, No offence the wearing of Utility's out in town looked sloppy and unprofessional. And if said Marine did not un-Fuck him or herself right then, they would be Reported to the Chain of Command. Seems Silly or weird to non Marines but it is all about image and Marines are Anal about the Image we give.

That is a tough spot. Her civilian male acquaintance would very likely have fed her attitude, because since she obviously doesn't care, why should he?
The best thing may be to get her name and unit and let them deal with it....but follow up to see that SOMETHING was done.
She is being paid 24/7, and accruing leave 24/7....she needs to be worthy 24/7.

I'm retired and I get on young troops still. I'll correct them in a nice way. I know I have no authority over them but it will make them aware they are being watched.

A few years ago I .(retired Marine..not an ex)...was passing through Atlanta Airport... On one of the big moving sidewalks going the 10 miles or whatever it was to the next concourse ... saw off in the distance a young Marine going the other way. He was in his green Alpha dress uniform... carrying a duffle bag. As we approached each other going in opposite directions and about 25 yards apart I saw that he was a bit disheveled. His coat was unbuttoned and his coat belt undone and hanging loose. His tie was loosend and top shirt button was undone. I thought.. he might be just off one of those long, boring flights, just back from overseas, maybe heading home for the first time in months.. anxious to see family and friends and not thinking about uniforms and regs.. I sympathaized for about a second..then in my best and loudest Marine voice I belted out " You better square yourself away, Marine!". He didn't hesitate to look around to see where it came from.... he knew it was directed at him.. he dropped everything and in less than 15 seconds he was buttoned up and all of a sudden just another Marine in uniform. People around me just smiled.. the people around him stared at him like 'WTF just happened.".. He'll be more careful in the future.

What I've not heard mentioned is that according to the most recent 670-1 the soldier was in major violation just by being in ACU's to see a movie. The wear of battle dress has been curtailed in public I would suggest keeping up with the changes in the Regs. and ensure the Soldiers have been made aware.

What get's my attention and kind of "Grinds my gears" is her total lack of respect, first and foremost, for herself as a soldier. If you're going to wear the uniform in public, you need to be proud of that uniform, and you need to be proud that you wear it. So wear it right! The general public's perception of you in uniform, reflects on the military as a whole. Yes I would have pulled her to the side for a private conversation, but I would have given her "Both barrels". A block of instruction she wouldn't soon forget!