Respect the rank or respect the Soldier, which is first?

Sounds like the chicken or the egg question.

I respect everyone first. The golden rule, treat others like you would like to be treated.

So I guess I would lean towards respect the Soldier first, because that is what I see first. Then the Rank.

Respect in general is first. Respect is an Army value and has no rank requirement. Rank should be respected but I rather be respected for who am and being a good person than my rank any day.

Respect for someone's rank versus respect for that individual is the difference between a Soldier just doing their job and a Soldier doing a great job because they respect the indivdual they work for.

I guess that would depend on the person. I have worked for idiots, as have we all, and on those occasions, I showed respect to the rank, and never the person

With rank comes the leadership, respect the solider first, it's your job to care for the safety and wellbeing

I'll make the comment here that I made to a CMSgt once... The UCMJ states a service member MUST respect the rank(s) and position(s) appointed over them. It makes no reference whatsoever to the unmitigated asshat wearing said rank and/or position

This particular E-9 (I won't dignify referring to him as 'Chief') was universally disliked. We frequently did not see eye-to-eye. That being said, as he was the E-9 I an E-7, in public we spoke as one voice. He relayed policy from the Commander and I made it happen. The man could piss me off by just walking in the door but I still respected his position and rank.

I think it goes hand in hand until you know the person and then have to adjust fire. You should be approaching everyone with respect regardless of rank. Ive mentioned before that there is a bad tendency to assume someone is capable to a certain capacity or only capable of only so much because of their rank. People have such diverse backgrounds today and you do not know their experience. It goes without saying that you respect the rank automatically but you should be approaching everyone with the utmost respect just because they are your sister or brother in arms. Never take for granted the camaraderie you have the potential to have around you.

I have been with far to many incompetent officers to respect them, but I am required and do respect the rank. Maybe you should consider changing your post from "the rank or the soldier", to the rank or the person wearing it, as I know some I could not even consider soldiers.......sorry.

This is a tough question. I say that, because you should respect the rank, but I've dealt with both senior NCOs and Officers that couldn't tell you whether they were full of $hit or if they just had their head up their A$$. But then I've dealt with and would work my knuckles to the bone for and do it again the next day. So finally my answer would be start with rank and then transfer to soldier if the rank is doin their job.

In the Military the answer is clear but when you ETS the world is all about you as a person, that is why stellar leaders make sure the rank is simply something they earned.

Have you ever seen 2 Soldiers or officers with the same rank and the same time in service but one is CLEARLY the leader, that comes from straight morals and the will to create a coherent team...now you got my point.

Respect matters up the ranks as it does down the ranks.

Steady on,

I have always been of the thought that respect must be earned. With that said, it holds true to both aspects of rank vs person.

The rank was earned and must be respected. The CoC is there for a reason.
Personal respect must be earned as well and most leaders will come to learn that they will always get the best results if they are respected on a personal level as well, regardless of rank.

Respect doesn't mean being friends. Respect is earned from being consistent and fair across the board and handling things in a professional manner. Displaying to those around you, both above and below you, what is/is not expected and what will/will not be tolerated goes a long way in gaining the respect of those you are in contact with.