profanity in public and in uniform

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 18:47:11 -0500

Ok today at the Ft Lee clothing sales i overheard a PV2 drop the F-bomb while talking to a female civilian employee, she scolded the young soldier i turned around and just said "Excuse me" and stared at him he snapped to parade rest and apologised then he and his buddies walked off. I apologised to the woman and continued my shopping, i saw the young man a few mins later and talked to him and told him that that language was unacceptable in public and that he should know better. I was not in uniform and he had no idea of my rank he did give me courtesy and seemed to hear what i said. My question to all is how would you have handled this

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Jan 31 at 2015 6:51 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 18:51:40 -0500

A NO GO! Absolutely not...although I know a few old timers that never cared if the family members where at formation on a Friday briefing! lol

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2015 6:52 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 18:52:26 -0500

I can't say nothing. I cuss a lot a well. But in good manner. But I was at lunch the other day with some soldiers and had to tell a PFC to stop saying the F bomb in every sentence. I told him that all those F bombs are filler words and that he should thinks before he speaks.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jan 31 at 2015 6:55 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 18:55:41 -0500

You should have stepped in with the civilian, stated that it was your place to correct any deficiency in professionalism, then taken the Soldier to a more private area to talk to him / her about professionalism.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 31 at 2015 6:59 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 18:59:29 -0500

This ties into the On the Spot Corrections & Profanity and Leadership we've had recently.

Being out of uniform, it presents additional difficulties. However, with a lower ranking soldier you have the advantage of "Civilian Camouflage" and appearing older than them.

Simply walking up and saying "Careful with the language, eyes are always watching" and then 'deadeyeing' him should put the Fear of Almighty in him.

Based on what you said, you got an appropriate response. 1) He reacted to a Senior Solder, 2) he apologized, 3) he departed without further incident, 4) "He rethought his life" (Cursory Star Wars reference).

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jan 31 at 2015 6:59 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 18:59:43 -0500

It is unprofessional at any stage or point in a career in uniform, but accepted by way to many as the military norm. It actually shows a lack of education when one curses too much. I hit my finger with a hammer, expect a &%$@(^%, but in normal conversation is not professional Soldier to Soldier and definitely not to civilians who we need to capture and remain honorable to. Would anyone reading want their daughter or son to bring someone into their home to meet them swearing up a storm? For those of you who do use the foul mouth more often, think about it from a parental perspective to gain why I say such a thing. Respect for your parents is huge, anyone not respecting your parents is not worth your time.

I think you handled it well SFC Private RallyPoint Member, I would have definitely apologized to the receiver and surely addressed to sender, but may have went a tad bit further in the education of that Soldier.

My .02

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2015 7:30 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 19:30:46 -0500

I swear, but TIME AND PLACE. I never swear outside of work, ever. I would have handled it the same way.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2015 7:31 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 19:31:19 -0500

Sounds like you handled it very well, SSG Miller. It seems that the uniform and a potty mouth unfortunately go together. The key is to keep your situational awareness to know when the language is not welcome. It would appear that you took advantage of the opportunity to turn this into a teachable moment.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2015 4:41 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 04:41:01 -0500

Well done, I would have handled it about the same.

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made Apr 23 at 2016 3:08 AM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 03:08:07 -0400

Hmm, reading the replies makes you guess your not Infantry. In my day, EVERYBODY dropped the bomb a ton. Had 1 SFC who had perfected it so well that the whole sentence was yada bomb yada bomb yada bomb. Noun, verb, adjective, all rolled into the sentence. If you didn't drop the bomb, people thought you was a prude/goody 2 shoes & had nothing to do w/ you.

But what ever. Guess I'm "uneducated" as I use it all the time.

Guess you need to be De-sensitized to it yet.

Suck it up buttercup!

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 27 at 2016 8:36 AM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 08:36:36 -0400

Just like you did SSG, just like you.