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

Post Vietnam vet...If you are off base under orders conducting Navy business working uniforms were allowed. If you were in transit under orders/liberty civilian or dress uniform was the rule. While in uniform proper presentation of the uniform at all times. I can only imagine the dressing down one would receive for disrespecting the uniform and my unit. Certainly would have been brought before the Mast.

To the Troop that presented this discussion...
First of all RANK has no bearing on the regulation...I have told a CSM to "please adjust his beret, and then assisted with such...because truthfully he looked "out of reg's blatantly" and truly looked badly, he later coined me for my actions.
Only the true "following the regulation" takes presendence.
Now my back background: USCG (active) NH Air Guard (Tsgt) NH ARMY Guard (SSG, ret).
Also involved in numerous HONOR GUARD positions and many deployments.
I just have to say this...if you are out and about on the civilian sector in uniform ( which unless you are on-call, you have plenty of time to change out to civi's) You should present yourself in that uniform "PROPERLY, with dignity and respect, and appropriately...It should be an Honor to wear it that way!
As for "corrections on the spot" so to speak, advise that Troop of the issue (ensuring your view is correct) and asked them politely to rectify in private, no embarrassment needed to either Troop, Yourself, or Public view of OUR ARMED FORCES.
On a side note some people don't know the true way to present themselves in public in our respective uniforms, a GREAT NCO will do this in a manner of fitting with our traditions.
This Troop could be fully involved in an imposter situation as well...
Just use your head and service and go from there, but do it professionally...
Submitted respectfully,
SSG (ret) K. "Doc" Dawson, Hooah!

While stationed at Bangor Submarine Base, WA, I would run across jr sailors and marines that would be out of uniform. I would usually say one or two things to them, but I had one experience where a kid told me I had no "F" ing clue what I was talking about. So I pulled out my ID and pointed out that I did. He continued to give me lip and asked for his ID. He refused and when he tried to walk away I asked what command he was with? He again refused. About a week later I saw him on base in uniform and walking with a SSGT. I walked up to the SSGT and introduced myself and asked if this was one of his Marines. He told me yes and then I explained to him what had happened off base and disrespectful he was to me. I explained to him that wasn't out to get the kid but wanted him to be aware. He thanked me and they walked away. I later saw the SSGT at the gym and he thanked me for letting him know. He told me that they had been having a lot issues with him.

I live in the big city, and am always seeing people walking around in bits and pieces of uniform thrown on any old way, with name and rank. It gives me the willies, like a raggedy flag flying in the rain, but we're not near any military facility, so I assume they're crazies with knives ("Veteran with PTSD attacks shoppers at mall. Film at 11"). If there were a military base nearby, I'd ask the person if they were active duty. If they said yes, I'd say "You know you're taking a huge fashion risk right there, don't you?" And then I'd wander off.

As a Non-Commissioned Officer, we are supposed to uphold the Army Standard and regulations, whether on or off duty. There is no excuse for a Soldier to look that jacked up in uniform, even if it is a BA weekend. I advise all my subordinates to wear civilian attire when they are off duty, and if you are attending an event that requires the wear of a uniform, ensure that you are well within regulations.

Not worth it. Obviously a POS. If you really care probably easy enough to find out who she is and report to her chain...

Whether it is in public or private, I personally would rather be corrected at the first possible moment something is recognized as being "out of reg" for myself.
I don't look in the mirror once I get my hair up in the morning, so I could be the pockets askew/rank twisted/spinach on teeth misfit if not for a sharp-eyed fellow soldier to correct me.
Politely.
No one wants to be "that guy" who makes the military look sloppy!

My concern is why do we have service members that are comfortable enough to show themselves in public that out of uniform and then are upset that someone would call them out for that.

I would've made the correction immediately but would've done it by pulling her off to the side and out of public view/earshot.

Bluntly she looks like a soup sandwhich or a walking duffle bag. But she's obviously out on a date or spending time with a friend or spouse. There's no need to embarrass here or ruin her night. There's a tactful way to get the point across....

Think about how you would want to be corrected. I would want to be taken aside individually, but if I was taken aside while standing in line (losing my place) I would have gotten pissed. That said, her getting attitude makes things different. If you asked to take her aside and she became angry, then I would have let out the bull.