What is your intitial reaction to Soldiers being disrespectful to an NCO or Officer?

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 15:57:28 -0400

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 4:01 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 16:01:59 -0400

Initial reaction...

Response by SSG John Erny made Apr 20 at 2015 4:18 PM

SSG John Erny — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 16:18:09 -0400

Push Ups, Sit Ups, and wind sprints!

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 20 at 2015 4:25 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 16:25:43 -0400

1.Find nearest NCO,
2. 'Please handle this.'
3. Follow up later with NCO.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 4:56 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 16:56:02 -0400

It usually involved the individual at the position at attention while reminding them of their place within the military rank structure.

The worst thing was having to correct an Airman for calling an NCO by their first name and said NCO not correcting it on his own.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 5:02 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:02:43 -0400

1) FRONT!

2) BACK!

3) GO!
(Until I'm tired)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 5:03 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:03:11 -0400

I would just hope it would be on a Thursday.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 5:06 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 17:06:03 -0400

Knifehand.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 20 at 2015 6:21 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:21:53 -0400

I will probably cuss at them then talk to them, and then I will cuss some more.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 6:24 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:24:16 -0400

My initial reaction, SFC Stephen King, is that disrespect towards a person senior in rank to you (me, anyone) is simply unsat. It needs to be addressed and remedied, ASAP.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 6:32 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:32:55 -0400

Usually with the E-4 mafia dealing with it behind closed doors in some of the units that I was in. See: Wall to Wall counseling XD

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 6:52 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 18:52:27 -0400

Happened just the other day before morning formation. A soldier told me to "get out of his f#cking face" when i asked if he had picked up his room from the previous Friday. My knife hand immediately came out and I pretty much got nose to nose with him and let him know that I was a non commissioned officer and I would get in his face if I wanted to. I let it end there for the time being. After PT the soldier came to me and very respectfully asked to speak to me privately. He shared some rather disturbing family news. We had a conversation about military bearing and showing proper respect and maintaining these in light of stressful situations.

Response by SGT John Wesley made Apr 20 at 2015 7:11 PM

SGT John Wesley — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:11:09 -0400

Zero tolerance for disrespect towards any NCO/Officer from a lower enlisted.

It was not tolerated when I was in. It usually got you an Art-15.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 7:14 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 19:14:31 -0400

"I don't know who you think you're talking to, but you chose poorly. At attention, now." - Generally something along those lines

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 9:25 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 21:25:11 -0400

It sets me off. Every time we fail to make a correction we set a new standard. I've only had to deal with this a few times in my career. If their first line leader is immediately available I'll address it with them. If not that troop typically spends some time at the position of attention while they receive some reeducation.

I think the biggest problem is when leaders know what right is but don't have the intestinal fortitude to correct them. I had a SGT complain to me once about how one of her SPCs was calling her by her first name. She didn't have the guts to stand up to him. When he got mouthy with me a quick call to his NCOIC (a SFC) put an end to that. I don't think anybody enjoys correcting and/or punishing Soldiers, but it is something we have to do to maintain discipline.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 10:39 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 22:39:30 -0400

I immediately look to the next in the chain of their command to give them the opportunity to address the issue.

Despite my tendency to want to address the issue, the opportunity to mentor belongs to the next lowest level of supervision.

If blatant, and it was an intentional jab at authority, it's gonna be public. (Even if that means all the others see is me take them behind closed doors) If it is a training opportunity, I treat it as such, and address the opportunity in a more discreet venue.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 11:22 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:22:40 -0400

I correct them on the spot! No need for disrespectful soldiers in our ranks!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2015 11:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:33:54 -0400

If its a lower enlisted soldier I attempt to educate them, other wise I have to pass it up to the nearest NCO.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 20 at 2015 11:45 PM

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:45:13 -0400

Respectful on the spot correction.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Apr 20 at 2015 11:54 PM

1LT William Clardy — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 23:54:23 -0400

"Soldier, come here."
"Take me to your first sergeant. Now."

Response by SrA Sam Brenizer made Apr 21 at 2015 1:23 AM

SrA Sam Brenizer — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 01:23:21 -0400

Should not happen, at all.

Response by CPL Jay Freeman made Apr 21 at 2015 1:50 AM

CPL Jay Freeman — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 01:50:47 -0400

My Sgt was disrespected and I was an e4 at the time and grabbed the pvt and put him on the ground my Sgt grabbed the back of my uniform pulled me off and we walked away I was pissed my Sgt said thank you but this isn't that army anymore

Response by CPL Jay Freeman made Apr 21 at 2015 1:53 AM

CPL Jay Freeman — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 01:53:42 -0400

You don't have to respect the person but you do the rank but it helps when you respect both

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 5:20 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 05:20:23 -0400

Response by SFC David Zamora made Apr 21 at 2015 11:40 AM

SFC David Zamora — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 11:40:26 -0400

I'd stop, grab a chair and watch the mayhem unfold. Maybe grab some popcorn and enjoy the show.... unless the NCO/Officer didn't do anything about it and let it go.... Then I'd probably just make a comment to that leader and let them know that they're part of the problem with the declining state of discipline in today's (I can only speak from what I saw in the Army) and then I'd continue about my business because honestly, if they let it happen, they probably deserved it...

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Apr 22 at 2015 1:32 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 13:32:11 -0400

I simply don't understand some of the "not my job" comments I have seen about this. It is the responsibility of every officer and NCO to immediately correct any act of indiscipline they witness.

The only correct answer is to take immediate action to deal with it. Make an immediate on-the-spot correction and, if appropriate, follow-up with more formal disciplinary action. Anything else is, in my opinion, dereliction of duty.

Response by SGT S Sharpless made Apr 22 at 2015 4:29 PM

SGT S Sharpless — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 16:29:33 -0400

If I witness my first reaction would be to wait to see what the NCO or Officer would respond to it. However, if it's me I would warn them and if they continued I would counsel them. One thing I won't do is argue with a subordinate.

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Apr 22 at 2015 6:59 PM

MSgt Manuel Diaz — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 18:59:14 -0400

My initial reaction is the soldier must have personal problems or never learned proper respect, once questioned I go from there. On occasion the nco or officer may be out of order.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 4 at 2015 1:24 AM

SPC Charles Brown — Mon, 04 May 2015 01:24:37 -0400

To quote Forrest Gump: "Stupid is as stupid does."
What I think should happen when things like this happen smoke the &hit out of the offending individual until your arms, not his are tired. Just my opinion.

C.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2016 4:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2016 16:03:44 -0500

Initial Response is to crush the behavior. There is no place for it. During the follow up actions, if you were to find out that there was something blatantly done by the "Disrespect Receiver" to cause it, that should be addressed as well and probably just as enthusiastically. Like I said , there is no place for a Soldier to be disrespectful to their leadership. However, if the leadership is causing it, there is a command climate issue that MUST be addressed for the good of the unit as a whole.

Response by SPC David Willis made Jan 22 at 2018 4:54 PM

SPC David Willis — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 16:54:11 -0500

Figure out what's going on. I don't care what anyone says there is always a potentially good reason for someone's reaction. For example if a CSM walks by me beating the hell out of an LT that on its face is disrespectful. But if he slept with my wife or messed with my kids I doubt I'd see any UCMJ action.

Response by SPC William Flowers made Feb 3 at 2018 12:20 PM

SPC William Flowers — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 12:20:38 -0500

That is a no-go to

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2018 7:53 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 07:53:00 -0400

1. Confirm that I heard what I thought I just heard.
2. Observe the recipient of the disrespect and how they react and respond.
3. Deal directly with both until it is sorted out and corrected.

There is no surefire way to handle this, as everyone is different. While it is easy to just jump their shit, it is far better to get a little more information before turning on the heat.
Usually, even the slightest bit of direct First Sergeant involvement deescalates nonsense before it gets very far.