Posted on Feb 17, 2017
MAJ Company Commander
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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?
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
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Edited >1 y ago
Well, I Know They Hate It When You Call Them "Sir",
Then Ya Toss'em The Obligatory Salute.
While Laughing At The Same Time....
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PO1 Don Uhrig
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There are tons of personnel in the armed forces who exhib a higher sense of judgement than other temperament types. If you've had the courage to speak up and the jerk (oh, typo... 'officer') doesn't like it - move on. Karma will catch up to that person. I'll probably catch some heat for this, but where was the harm? How much damage was done by wearing headphones that the OP is worked up over it? Everyone makes mistakes, some people just want others to be corrected for the speck of lint on their uniform - but please ignore my wrinkled dress blues.
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SSG Shawn Mcfadden
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Pass it up the Chain Of Command.
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SGT Jody Beach
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Shake your head, tell LT to have a good day, walk away....... The power of his pin is mightier than your rank.... However keep in mind "Karama is a Bitch" .... Knowing that you can smile in your head and be happy that justice will happen.
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PFC Thomas Pendley
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I remember a time in 87 when my dad was an E 7 in Daegu SK. He was list In thought when a 2nd lt stopped him and asked him if he stopped saluting officers.(He was only a few years older than me) My dad thought for a second and said to him " I don't know whether to salute you or burp you. The 2nd lt looked like he was about to cry lol. If you want to fix a 2nd lt, sic a NCO on him.
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1LT Gerald Watson
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I would ensure that he knows that there are bigger problems in the world than wearing the wrong color of socks. Being a Nam vet, I have utmost respect for warrant officers, many of whom flew medivac choppers that would do anything to save a fellow soldier. While in Nam, there was one soldier who when he saw me approaching would walk out of his way to avoid saluting. One day I asked why he did this. His response was that he did not like to salute officers. I told him that being from the south, he can just wave and ask how am I doing. Too many people worry about s**t that means nothing. While teaching at the community and university level, I told my students that I was not their mama and that I did not care who their daddy was and that their paid tuition only earned them to attend class and work their ass off. I failed no one- their lack of effort was the reason for their failure
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SPC Kyle Smith
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As a civilian - flick him in the nose.
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SPC Marvin Ramsey
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In late 1974 at Hohenfels, Germany we were having breakfast when our platoon leader came over to our table to say good morning. We noticed he had failed to put on his rank and corps of engineers insignia. Being the smart asses that we were we greeted him by saying good morning private! He came back a minute later wearing his cap (not appropriate indoors) with his 2LT bar prominently displayed. We immediately said good morning, Lieutenant! He was a very good platoon leader by the way.
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1SG Clifford Barnes
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Where are your NCO’s. I still there job to make sure these types of behavior don’t happen. I am a Retired 1SG and would put the 2LT in his place. You have to be professional remain cool calm and respectful don’t get into a shouting match or s team or yelling match. Speak to him the way you want to be treated. It will turn out properly. Make sure your Ncoic, PLT SGT, and 1SG in in the loop Hooah
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CPL Stephen Hemmert
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I was a two year soldier of Vietnam War who had volunteered for the draft. There were many times I saw someone flex their muscles or rank for minor infractions. Why? Because, they could. And, did it without considering the consequences. I was assigned to Fort Dix NJ after getting discharged from St Albans' Naval Hospital after being treated for combat wounds. I had a profile excusing me from physical calisthenics. My duty section Sr NCO expected me to return to my duty section to tackle the brigade's backlog of work. When I did not return I told my NCO that my company commander told me, knowing my restrictions, to pickup cigarette butts (Me, a non-smoker). Yep, I followed the CO orders. My NCO said he'd take care of it, and, called his boss, the brigade commander whose was a colonel. The Colonel was the CO's boss. He reamed the CO out. When I got called into the CO's office, it was apparent from his watery blood shot red eyes he had been taken to task by the Colonel. Yep, the CO was within rank. I did as ordered. The CO was rifted from the army shortly thereafter. The army was rifting officers, so it made someone's choice easier. Yep, assert your rank or the regulations.
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CMSgt Bob Stewart
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As an Air Force E-9 (CMSgt), I have had plenty of opportunities to help Os up to O-5 understand the proper wear of the uniform. Once at Ramstein a smart-alec captain pushed back and I asked him if he wanted the mechanic working on his airplane to decide which rules to follow when fixing the jet. I reminded the captain (now this was at the check out in the Ramstein shoppette) that the rules are there for a reason and if you can't follow the simple rules, how can I trust you to follow the hard rules? That ended the conversation. The ideal situation is to be polite and professional, but I have found some times where I've had to step on that O because they simply didn't know how to take constructive feedback. If it happened in public, that use usually their fault, thinking they were somehow above the rules. What are those core values? Integrity, Service, Excellence? Yeah, those are pretty simple to follow...well, not really, because so many in our Air Force continue to fail, daily.
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CMSgt Bob Stewart
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As an E-9 (CMSgt) I have actually had to speak to officers through the grade of O-6 on proper wear of the uniform. I've had to "help" 2LTs understand they are no different than and E-1-E-4, except for their status of an office and likely know far less. I have explained, sometimes in not so nice of terms, that they need to go the clinic and have the procotologist remove their heads from the dark place had been residing. But as a Chief, that 2LT was going to listen, my job at that point was to keep them from embarrassing themselves further.
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LCpl Stephen Arnold
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I was walking to the comm center for a message run one day as a young Lance Corporal of Marines. I walked by a 2d lt and saluted with the appropriate greeting "Good morning/afternoon, Sir" whichever it was. He looked right past me without so much as a middle finger in my direction. I shrugged it off until I heard "LANCE CORPORAL" in a very serious, gravely and deep voice. It was the Master Gunnery Sergeant who had an office in my building, an he was standing with the LT at parade rest. I returned and addressed him, "Yes Master Gunnery Sergeant?" He responded, "You know, LIEUTENANT, I know I've been out of basic training one or two years, but I somehow missed the part where a young Marine renders a salute, a show of respect, is blown off without a proper response, and that that is somehow a proper exchange of courtesies." The lieutenant apologized, to the Master Gunnery Sergeant, and stated "Sorry, I'm having a bad day". MSGYT said 'Don't apologize to me, apologize to the young Marine you disrespected", and the lieutenant did so, to his credit. I felt a start over was in order, so I saluted him and said "Good morning, Sir" and he replied "Good morning, Lance Corporal." He turned to the Master Gunnery Sergeant, awkwardly awaiting a salute, and Master Gunny looked at him and said " That is all, lieutenant." His hands never left his pockets.

Now I know that last response was inappropriate, so the doo gooders here don't need to blast me for it. I sure as hell wasn't going to correct a Master Gunnery Sergeant who cut his teeth in Vietnam especially since he was sticking up for me. I learned that much in the Corps if nothing else.
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SPC Byron Watts
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The old saying used to be with all do respect to your rank sir, you are out of line. You have to respect the rank but not the person.
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MSgt Charles Ibaugh
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As an NCO I was doing a bag drag inspection per my Col's direction. I had a junior officer who was missing his duffle bag and had all his gear in personal bags. When I asked him where it was I was told "I'm not buying a bag they didn't issue me"

After finishing the inspections I notified my Col of the results, discrepancies and of said officer's attitude and comments.

The Col brought him into his office and dressed him down for the attitude and was very irate over the way he responded to my inquiry. Since I was doing what the Col directed me to do, the Col considered it as disrespecting him.
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LCpl Michael Cappello
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Depending on the severity of the infraction and on JUST HOW RUDE the BUTTERBAR was, you walk it up the chain. As a Marine, it is OUR beloved Corps. We are ALL Marines and WE police ourselves. Not that it has not happened once or twice in 247 years but, I believe such things are more prone to happen in the Army.
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SSG Shawn Mcfadden
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That's when you would have to get the Company Commander involved.
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SP5 Gerald Santomassimo
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Unless he was in my unit, I would do nothing. I'm sure that eventually a ranking officer will notice and correct him.
If he was in my unit, I'd be cordial and tell my Sergeant Major. They have a way with "correcting" junior officers that is second to none.
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PFC Stanley Klatka
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Let him fall on his face. Then teach him.
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1SG Rick Seekman
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tell that young butter bar to meet you out back!
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