Posted on Feb 17, 2017
Similar to the E-2 question, how would you react to a young 2LT who is being unprofessional with a strong sense of entitlement?
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Here's the background. You are an experienced Soldier. You walk in to the commissary to see a young 2LT shopping with a headset on. You professionally and politely get the 2LT’s attention and address the deficiency. They blatantly are rude, dismiss your comment, and tell you that those rules do not apply to him as an officer. Whether you are an Officer or Enlisted, how do you react?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 445
Respectively inform the 2LT about what's stated in AR 670-1 since I have probably addressed subordinates about a similar situation. I would "ask" for his name and unit (which he would probably refuse to give me) as I attempt to find another higher ranking officer or senior NCO in the commissary to quickly resolve the matter in a more unpopulated area.
If need be, I'll pull out that cellphone which has become almost as powerful as the Skillcraft and both photograph and record the 2LT actions. I'm quite sure at that point the 2LT will come to his professional senses and "stand down".
What I would not do is let it go unnoticed or unchallenged because of rank. Doing so would be the same as saying it's okay to be unprofessional.
If need be, I'll pull out that cellphone which has become almost as powerful as the Skillcraft and both photograph and record the 2LT actions. I'm quite sure at that point the 2LT will come to his professional senses and "stand down".
What I would not do is let it go unnoticed or unchallenged because of rank. Doing so would be the same as saying it's okay to be unprofessional.
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With proper respect and courtesy then followed by affirmative action from his command as unprofessional action of unbecoming an officer.
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Take this up to your Senior NCO. They should take care of a young LT.
This is very common with a few new 2LTs - they are young and just out of college - they need guidance just like anyone else. Good Senior NCOs will mentor their young officers while respecting their decisions - even when their decisions are wrong. I'm retired SMSgt - many times as a TSgt, MSgt, and SMSgt - I had took a young officer behind closed doors and respectfully spoke with them.
This is very common with a few new 2LTs - they are young and just out of college - they need guidance just like anyone else. Good Senior NCOs will mentor their young officers while respecting their decisions - even when their decisions are wrong. I'm retired SMSgt - many times as a TSgt, MSgt, and SMSgt - I had took a young officer behind closed doors and respectfully spoke with them.
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Squaring away a 2nd/Lt. is above an enlisted persons paygrade. It up to the CO. or another officer. You might mention it to an NCO. who you are friends with. . The so called officer would not be rude with his Co. or a higher ranking officer. If they are its not the same Army or Marine Corp. I knew. Semper Fi.
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Sgt Robert Kemp
Cpl Bates - it requires discretion and privacy. If I feel the officer worth my time and effort, I will tell them what I I feel needs to be said. Semper Fi Born into the USMC 1936 via a MSGT father.
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Maybe ask him his name and unit then contact his unit and politely inform them one of their officers was not aware of that rule.. If he refuses then take his picture and post it on the base, division, battalion, unit, etc. Facebook page along with the Reg stating the proper rule. If you are lower rank do nothing at least you tried to help him. Most likely someone with a higher rank will see him too and say something.
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Besides wanting to cold cock this poor excuse for an officer, I would do the same thing. Loudly follow this sad sack where ever he/she goes. Exhalting his/her discrepdency all the while until we come upon a SgtMajor, captain or General officer.
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Any of his subordinates have a right to address this Lieutenant in a respectful manner about his unprofessional behavior because he himself has superiors, but, don't ever embarrass him in public. I think this would more humbling to him.
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Whenever given a uniform correction even if the advice was wrong I have always thanked the person regardless of rank for looking out for me. Before retiring my favorite piece is cold weather gear was my brown sweater. Many time I was approached and told it was not authorized. I would thank the person for their correction and if I had the time for a teaching moment I would politely ask them what made the sweater, worn under the uniform jacket, unauthorized. Most of the time it was just what they had been told, the famous them and they, I would then explain that while I appreciated their looking out for a fellow Soldier that the Sweater was in fact still authorized and where to find the regulation and updates,/alleracts about uniform wear.
If the young LT does not want to listen I have plenty of numbers on my Cell Phone that I can send a picture to who will get his/her attention
If the young LT does not want to listen I have plenty of numbers on my Cell Phone that I can send a picture to who will get his/her attention
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I was a 63H cross trained 63W(tank mechanic cross trained for wheeled vehicles) wich meant I was a detachment from a support battalion to a line unit. One tried to pull me and two others off of our job while we were elbow deep in truck repairs for some BS detail. I watched four E5’s and my E6 section chief, their E8 shop NCO, both the CW3 from the line unit and the CW3 from my support BN jump his shit! I guess he whined to the battalion commander afterwards. Within a week he was reassigned to another unit.
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I was a damn good soldier but I never felt the need to be a uniform corrector while I was i was in the army. In the eleven years I served that is one of the dumbest things I seen happen while being at the commissary or px is when some body wants to be the uniform police. It's fine if it's something major I would expect it but when I seen somSGM chewing on some newbie be it a lot. Or private out in public the only fool is them just my opinion but I can now say it I'm not in no more
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As a SPC I would just smile, say “Roger that sir”, wall out of the commissary and call my CO who loves railing 2LTs who have a since of entitlement. My rank does not allow me to be rude nor does his rank allow him to exude rudeness to me. “If the correction doesn’t work then your job as a junior enlisted soldier has been achieved, you spotted a deficiency, tried to make a correction and were rudely ignored, let someone with more rank handle it.” MY BDE 1SG
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Buy your stuff and move on with your life, be more concerned with your LT who's probably jacked up your leave form and lost all your training certificates.
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I would then remind him that military customs and courtesies apply to everyone who wears the uniform and then carry on.
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When I was a trooper, we avoided talking to officers at all costs except in the line of duty. What kind of army are you morons running?
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being a very short timer at camp horno, I WAS CHECKING OUT and driving myself around Pendleton
to do this chore. 2nd Lt. told me to stop driving my car..I immediatly went to the co. office and
REQUESTED MASS--NEEDLESS TO SAY--I started driving again.............
to do this chore. 2nd Lt. told me to stop driving my car..I immediatly went to the co. office and
REQUESTED MASS--NEEDLESS TO SAY--I started driving again.............
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When dealing with 2nd lts as described in this thread I found the best way to deal with it was to “allow” them to go about their merry way knowing that sooner or later they be back asking for help. Sfc ret
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Keep your military bearing, take note of the 2nd Lts name and unit patch. Report it to his chain of command. Or go to your chain of command.
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