Should PFCs stand at "Parade Rest" for a SPC?

According to the reg, you do not have to go to parade rest. If you are in a formal formation, you will come and go from the position of parade rest! The specialist could be in an acting NCO slot and the highest rank in the formation. Just use your commen sense with this.

When I first came in the Army, we we trained to go to parade rest to any rank above tour own!

The practice of doing so is, in my opinion, a sign of respect, and if those junior to me do so, I appreciate that respect. I find myself, often, standing at parade rest simply to show the person speaking to me that s/he has my undivided attention. I would never require it, but I recommend, like I do myself, that those juniors who don't get into the habit of doing so, start because it fosters the discipline of naturally and automatically doing it for NCOs. Too many times, I've had to step up and correct a PV2 or PFC for not automatically going to parade rest for our NCOs. This discipline should've been drilled in Basic, and enforced in AIT. It makes our Army look like the professional force it is supposed to be.

First let's put on the record that no one is below you because you outrank them. They are junior to you. As for juniors standing at parade rest for a SPC its not just black and white. If a specialist has been entrusted to a leadership position such as team leader or squad leader then I say yes. This is where position overs ones rank. Specialist is easy to obtain, getting put in a leadership position isn't quite as easy. You have to express you authority in that position and that requires respect and discipline from your subordinates. This doesn't justify getting a big head about it at all. I also agree that if there is a lack of discipline in your ranks an NCO can make the call that all soldiers will stand at the position of parade rest while addressing anyone their senior. Example, pv1 speaking to pv2. This is to express the importance of customs and courtesies and to drive the point home. The army has gotten to lax over the years and it's just finally starting to get back to old school tradition. It's something we've needed back for a long time

Been there, done that. My answer: No, no, no and hell no.

When I was a Specialist we had a Platoon Sergeant (may have originated with the 1SG, I'm not sure) who wanted the Privates to stand at parade rest for us "Sham Shields"--most team leaders were Specialists, so that's my theory as to why he wanted to do this--and the idea was almost universally hated. Privates thought it was dumb, Specialists felt it was outright wrong (WE'RE NOT NCOs!), but we played the game when higher links in the chain-of-command were around; but ONLY when they were around.

Funny thing, as I think about this, I believe I was even more against this back then as a Specialist as I am now as an NCO.

LTs saluting each other? The only time I heard of that was at Maxwell AFB. I was there for a Lt PME course they just started in '99, a fellow 2Lt (Ryan) from my ROTC Detachment was there too. Well, Ryan was walking down the street when he passed a 1Lt OTS Flight/CC marching his OTs down the road. Ryan said something to the effect of "Hey, what's up?" The 1Lt halted the flight, ripped into Ryan (who, BTW, was a prior service E-5) about customs and courtesies. Ryan response was "You're a Lt, so am I. I don't salute LTs at my base, and I'm sure as hell not going to here!" At which point, Ryan walked away. End of story? NOOOOOO! 1Lt Stickuphisbutt complained, and by the end of the duty day, word came down that all 2Lts would salute all 1Lts...something all the 1Lts insisted not happen. Long story short, the order came down, was ignored, and we didn't hear anymore of it in our last couple weeks there.

The language is clear and unambiguous, Specialists are not NCOs thus there is no requirement for them to do so.

Hell to the No! It only takes two years to become a SPC, its also entry level as well...

I once had a SPC team leader that I stood at parade rest for even when it wasn't needed because he was respectful in every way, smart and humane, he did not have to give an order twice or even have to think about it. I got sh1t done because of respect. He's now a SGT.

And there was THAT SPC, chubby, been in a little over 5 years... not going into any further details but hell, me and my battles were always trying to dodge this guy, taking our time with the PMCS, wont even look back. when he did got us to do something... you'd bet that was a long dragging day. I believe he's now separated when I PCS.

-When it comes to SPC and Privates, it's all on respect. You give respect, you get respect.

SFC (Join to see) so, I'm in my arms room and an SPC comes looking for a SGT, I'm behind the cage so he can't see my rank. As he is talking, I'm getting closer to him and he stand at Parade Rest, I told him, dude! you outrank me! And he answered me, oh! I thought you were a NCO, you are just old. #TrueStory He saw the future in me...

I have had privates stand at parade rest, but only if the specialist was the privates' team leader. He was there to supervise them, not be their friend. There has to be a separation. Having to stand at parade rest helped the Soldiers understand that Specialist Snuffy was not one of them and they had to treat him differently.

I once had a Cpt, (Ex-Enlisted) demand salutes while in field.... It's ridiculous and so is being at parade rest for a SP4, A Cpl, yes.

If you re read FM 7-21.13 the answer is right there. A SPC is not a junior NCO. A CPL is a jr NCO. If you encounter this again state the FM and if you receive any lip take that high speed SPC to a real NCO. I am sure they would love to educate that PV4, oops I mean SPC.

haha! Right!

I would never in my life ever make anyone stand at parade rest for me. It's a waste of time and not professional.

The only time I have heard of troops going to parade rest for a full bird private is in Ranger Bat. Their club their rules. I do not know this to be fact but i have heard that it is true.

For the rest of us not part of the special kids club, I would say no. That being said the E-4 mafia is very good at brow beating E-1 through E-3's in to doing the right thing. If the Platoon Sgt fires off a heat round the E-4 may be in the impact area. This could ruffle the feathers on the shame shield bird and that will never do. So if you have a strong E-4 that can fix "issues" look the other way, peer pressure is a powerful tool.

Lets get back to basics.
FM 7-21.13,4-16 states: when speaking to or being addressed a noncommissioned officer of superior rank, stand at parade rest until ordered otherwise.

It is not difficult, this is an FM and a commander can instill discipline in his/her organization by establishing a standard to have Soldiers stand at parade rest for those senior in rank. Granted you will not see this much in today's Army. Specialist that are in leadership positions and laterally promoted to CPL shall be respected by those junior according to the FM.

According to the FM a PFC is not required to stand at parade rest for a specialist, but there is not a regulation that states any different.

I guess it depends on what grade a NCO starts at in your service. I guess each service may have their own rules on this. I don't think I've ever seen a 3rd Class put anyone at parade rest, although I believe they have every right to under the UCMJ. We're NCOs at E-4 (3rd Class Petty Officer) We usually see more 2nd Classes do that, this is the equivalent to Sergent; so maybe if Sergents usually stand subordinates at parade rest, maybe we're on the same page on this. We don't even see much of that at all anymore, though. It's like we have to be careful to not make people feel singled out and we have to make sure that no one can make a EO issue out of things. It all comes down to us becoming a more PC, more kinder and gentler military. When I came in, you would still hear people getting hemmed up getting yelled from the top from the top of the Petty Officer's lungs, veins bulging out of the forehead and all. They would put the fear of God in them.

The way I look at it is like this:

The FM is MANDATING enlisted personnel to stand at PR when addressing an NCO.

And AR 600-20 tells us that a rank structure is vital for the proper order and discipline of the force.

The FM also tells us that a soldier will be respectful, by being courteous and polite. The same FM tells us that a PVT should be the first to enter a vehicle and then a PFC (for instance), and vice versa when exiting the vehicle? Why?, because the magic words "ranking soldier" were used.

So, with those out of the way, I would venture that a PVT or PFC CAN stand at PR when addressing a SPC. Hell, a PVT CAN stand at PR when addressing a PV2.

It is customs and courtesies, FM tells us we HAVE to do it for NCOs. Junior enlisted do not HAVE to do it amongst each other.

Doesn't mean they shouldn't though.

After all, last I checked a PV2 still outranks a PVT.

I would encourage soldiers to do it, but I wouldn't punish them if they don't either.

No

Well after reading most of the posts on this i would say the members of its army has made its own regulation and i belive that is wrong and unprofessional.

Back in the old, old days, a PFC was hot $hit, he carried a lot of weight. I guess it was changing during Vietnam where a PFC was no different than a Spec 4 except in pay.
Spec 4s don't need to get power hungry until they make Sgt.