Is telling an NCO (Corporal) to check his attitude considered disrespectful?

2022-07-15T13:50:47-04:00

soldier E-4 specialist is having a dilemma with newly promoted corporal the whole issue is this corporal is trying to counsel m this solider for telling him to check his attitude because. After received a message say the he better find his lose item or else. The soldier did lay out and some gears was lost (pair gloves) which it was found it. The issue I see the whole conversation was thru text messages which it make it a grey area how you will approach this situation in what AR prevent a soldier from telling a NCO to checks his attitude.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jul 15 at 2022 2:15 PM

2022-07-15T14:15:00-04:00

Is this Corporal in a leadership position over the other Solider? Was there a tone to the text or was it up to interpretation? Text is tricky because it lacks tone and is easily misunderstood. Context matter. I would loop in another NCO for perspective and possibly a third party who can calm things down. Sounds like it is most likely a misunderstanding which is common in emails and text. But, if the subordinate was being disrespectful to he Corporal because they view it as an E4 to E4 thing that is something else that should be addressed.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2022 2:53 PM

2022-07-15T14:53:43-04:00

The Corporal is a Noncommissioned Officer. The Specialist is NOT a Noncommissioned Officer. Regardless of how the conversation when, the SPC telling the CPL to check their attitude can and will be considered Disrespect to an NCO. It does not matter the medium for the conversation, what does matter was the words said and how they were perceived. If the Corporal were so inclined, they could recommend UCMJ for violation of Article 91 of the UCMJ.

This can also be used as a training/learning lesson for the newly made CPL and the SPC by way of mediation of the Squad Leader. Moving forward, the SPC needs to check their attitude and be mindful of what they say. And the CPL, well, they need to be assertive but careful with their words as well.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2022 4:46 PM

2022-07-15T16:46:36-04:00

I just see this is as a great developmental learning scenario for leadership, documentation, picking your battels and working with others.

Bottom line............ statements like "check your attitude" are directed downward, not upward.

Ignoring the SPC-CPL interaction.......... similar things will happen at higher ranks with similar grade soldiers put in positions of designated leadership from Squad Leader, to Platoon SGT, to Company Commander (LT's in this example), and so forth. All can have equal grade subordinates, but who is the the billet for the leadership position that matters.

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To the subordinate soldier getting pissed about the situation: Play the game. The pendulum swings both ways if you purse your career development. A CPL is a SPC that just happen to take the NCO PME before the other SPC. If the SPC promotes to CPL but the original CPL is still the squad leader the situation hasn't changed.

The motivator to the SPC is to knock out your PME because while you get bumped to CPL you also will have opened the door to SGT, then it becomes slightly more serious.

To the newly minted CPL in the scenario: Enjoy these learning situations while you're an E4. Learn to write those counseling statements and learn to document your actions and expectations in a manner that result in the desired outcome from the subordinate soldiers. Remember, or you'll soon be reminded the limitations of your rank and authority.

Create a caustic leadership environment and your subordinates will be more than happy to give you all the rope you want to hang yourself. They will do nothing more than explicitly instructed if the leader manages by counseling statements.

Also, be cognizant that CPL is a rank that can be quickly promoted past in the Army from anything below it. If one is going to be a prick about things with rank as a CPL they better keep the peddle to the metal in their career advancement.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 15 at 2022 10:14 PM

2022-07-15T22:14:03-04:00

Think about it for a second would you tell an E5-E9 to "Check their attitude?" That would cost you- so what is different to a CPL? Oh yeah they are both E-4's, but the CPL is a hard stripe NCO, just like any other NCO- Contrary to barracks lawyers it's the same pay scale, but has never been equal, period

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Apr 12 at 2023 9:22 AM

2023-04-12T09:22:47-04:00

If you have to ask, it is more than likely disrespect.

Juniors cannot tell seniors to "check their attitude." But there is room for a lot of misinterpretation in text. Tone does not convey. So if junior didn't actually use those words, and instead said something like "Corporal I feel you are being rude and would appreciate a more positive interaction," that is telling the CPL to check their attitude in a professional and respectful manner.

But AS PRESENTED, it is disrespect to an NCO, which violates AR 600-20 and UCMJ. Now, IMHO, this incident, in and of itself doesn't warrant UCMJ action. It's a 4856 and a counseling session - with BOTH parties.