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I overhear an Alabama National Guard Soldier talking with an Active Component Soldier about how in her unit they call eachother by their first names, up to the Company Commander... Then I hear the NCO of the AC tell this Soldier that the reserves and NG have "Thier own Rules" I had to step in and ask what he meant and he advised me that he made a correction on a NG Soldier and was repriminded for making the correction. I was livid to say the least, we ar ONE Army.. No special considerations... It is NG units like this one that make a bad name for ALL NG and USAR units. We as NG and USAR alway complain about the AC treating us as substandard. With Units like this, acting the fool, it gives all of us a bad reputation. If you are a NG or Reserve unit, and this is your Standard, please fix yourselves. If you want to be treated as equals, you need to act like a Soldier, and your Unit needs to have discipline!
Discipline
Reserves
Honor
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
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When I was doing my IMA (Reserves) duty at Fort Sam a few years back, my supervisor, an active duty Major, called those under her by their first names. When she called me by my first name, I politely told her that my first name was "Sergeant First Class". I also told her that my impression of her calling me by my given name, made it appear that we were establishing a relationship that we did not have-that of a personal friendship. I really liked the major, but we were not friends. All I could think about was what would happen when she told someone to do something that they did not want to do it, and how that professional relationship would be damaged as soon as the Major used the term 'insubordination' when the relationship is not extablished upfront. So, no, the first name deal is not limited to the Reserves/National Guard, and in my opinion, it is not professional.
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Risking reprimand or not I would always make on the spot corrections. Rank or component does not matter when it comes to following regulations. Please bear in mind that there is always a tactful and respectful way to correct personnel that out rank you.
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SFC (Join to see)
The problem is, you'll get one of two responses. #1. Thank you CPL, I stand corrected...which is the correct and polite response. BUT I'm seeing more and more of the people that would give this response "Who the hell you think you are CPL? I'm a (Fill in the rank)! What Company you in? Who's your Commander and 1SG?" Usually if they're a soup sandwich in the first place bad enough to be corrected by a lower enlisted, they're going to be #2. Literally.
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CPL Charles Gale
I've had both responses during my time and all I can say is that each and every time I felt it was my responsibility to provide them with the knowledge of their mistake and let them choose to correct it or continue to walk around like a dirtbag.
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This apparent lack of good standards and discipline should likely be faulted to this soldier's chain of command. With experience in all three, I see what good order and discipline can do, and I see when it goes to the wayside. The ARNG tends to draw unit members all from a local community where most grew up with one another from birth. While its easy to say that's the reason to use first names, I challenge all ARNG, USAR and AC troops to correct this when appropriate. While easy in peace time to rationalize around this issue, wait until you ask "Bobby", your 1st squad leader, that you knew from 3rd grade to take that building and he tells you "tom", the platoon sergeant/leader, to go screw. Personal relationships are what makes the guard and reserve unique, but it can lead to a breakdown of the chain of command in combat. Guard against it everyday, correct it every time you witness such behavior and pray you never have to send anyone in harm's way. rltw
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