What's your "best" way of handling a uniform violation?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 22:25:02 -0400

Ok, so you come across a soldier, any soldier, who has a uniform violation....patch crooked, bootlace hanging out, not shaven.....how do you handle it?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 11:11 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 23:11:56 -0400

I will admit to being the guy who often has his hands in his pockets. Now that my mea culpa is out of the way, I just politely tell the Soldier what I observed so they have a chance to make the adjustment.
Considering most uniform violations are not on purpose, that should be all that is required.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 11:14 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 23:14:30 -0400

Approach them calmly, smile, introduce myself and politely explain the violation. Thank them for their time, and walk away.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 12:09 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:09:37 -0400

Most of the time it's a simple "Your laces are out." Simple and easy, they fix and you move on.

My soldiers are more likely to get "Fix yourself!" and I let them go through their own uniform to find what I am seeing. (usually wallet pocket unbuttoned).

Higher ranking typically gets a more discrete, "excuse me, SGM, 1SG, Sir/Ma'am....".

I did see a well-meaning young SGT tell a 2 star about laces out. I think I would have overlooked that one, or maybe tell one of his staff, if I could do so discretely.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 12:21 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:21:41 -0400

I will admit I've had a few of those and was always glad someone would tell me so I could fix it mostly because it was someone my rank or alittle higher but would help me out before someone higher saw it

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 17 at 2015 12:26 AM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:26:19 -0400

An immediate on the spot correction; quick and respectful... but firm. We owe this to each other. If something was ate up with me, I would want to know. None of us want to be ate up. Never walk by a correction, or you have allowed a new standard.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 12:29 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:29:57 -0400

If an officer I ask for a second of their time and pull them aside and politely let them know. I tell them I hate when I have something in my teeth and no one tells me. Enlisted I politely let them know and ensure the junior enlisted correct it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 12:45 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 00:45:58 -0400

If I see one has not shaved I tell them to take a step closer to their razor next time...then hand them one of the fresh single blade bics I keep in my desk...

I have also told a MAJ his boots were not authorized...he then told me where he thought my head was lodged...so I just reminded him as politely as I could that soldiers would see his blatant disregard for regulations and follow suit... The next day he had on the correct boots

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 4:33 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 04:33:31 -0400

E-1 thru E-4: Come here high speed. Your _____ is jacked up, square it away.

E-5 thru E-7: If it is innocent and not blatant same as above. If they have their hat cocked back it's usually something like this, What in the holy #$^@*(#(*&&@ is your malfunction?

E-8: Your a soup sandwich fix yourself before your Soldiers see you looking like a football bat.

O-1 thru O-3: If it's innocent and not blatant see E-1 thru E-4 with a sir/ma'am instead of high speed. If they have their hat cocked back on their head see part two of E-5 thru E-7 with a sir/ma'am thrown in there.

O-4 thru O-6: If it's not blatant see E-1 thru E-4 with a sir instead of high speed. If they have their hat cocked back on their head it's something like, Sir are you serious? Fix your hat.

Tact is always important especially if you are a junior Soldier/leader. I get away with a lot of shit because everyone thinks I am just senile and crazy. I have no sympathy for jacked up NCOs that blatantly ignore regulations.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2015 1:09 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 13:09:03 -0400

Use professionalism when pointing out the correction or violation. Make sure you know the right answer if the issue is a measurement or uniform especially with this OCP/UCP change. Nothing is worse then being corrected when you don't have the facts and go off what you were told. Read the regs ands Polices.

Response by SN Victoria Glover made Jul 19 at 2015 1:17 PM

SN Victoria Glover — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 13:17:26 -0400

Politely pull aside and bring the issue to their attention and show them if needed. If they still do not fix the issue then take it to the higher level of correction. We are or I know when I had any issue with uniform correction, I was pulled to the side immediately and told of it. Everyone in the military are adults and should be treated as such.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jul 19 at 2015 2:22 PM

SFC Stephen King — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 14:22:57 -0400

Identify the problem. Be tactful when you describe it, express your concern, ask the person for their perspective "Put yourself in my shoes what would you do if I had a uniform issue?" Lastly be cognitive of your surroundings.

Now, that being said AR 670-1 is a trigger for me so Boot to A $! is also effective

Response by SGT Terry Ryan made Jul 19 at 2015 2:45 PM

SGT Terry Ryan — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 14:45:14 -0400

I would point the infraction out to the troop and they would usually fix it on the spot. Most of the time these were minor and the said troop simply over looked it.
For a more serious violation I would point it out to the troop then ask for their squad leaders name so as to inform them of what I had seen.
as a squad leader I would have appreciated the heads up, and I would have been embarrassed that someone else had to straighten out my soldier.