Posted on Jun 25, 2021
When an E-4 calls me "hey" or "hey man" knowing that I am an officer, should I bother to correct him?
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This SPC calls me "hey man" outside work. I don't work with him directly; just happened to come across couple of times at work, and he did call me "sir". Not sure whether I should even bother to correct this SPC.
Posted in these groups: 
Customs and Courtesies
Customs and Courtesies
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 941
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One of the wisest things I was taught as an NCO.
If you ignore a failure to meet the standard, you have just set the new standard.
If you ignore a failure to meet the standard, you have just set the new standard.
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SGT Glenn E Moody
CPT Larry Hudson - yes sir that is kinda what i was getting at with my post. the ROTC 2nd LT got the rank for his Schooling not from OCS. I never finished high School or got my GED. that is why he was picking on me. thought he was better than me. he couldn't even make or read a range card. he just kept picking on me and not just me. just like the School bullys did. I always stood up to the bullys even if they are bigger than me picking on the smaller kids. should I have punched him in his mouth problly not but like the school bully thier is only so much one can take. before one loses it and strikes back. I was the M-60 gunner from E-1 to E-3 PFC. shortly after this I got my SPC-4 rank. my PLT LT CALLED me front center took off the SPC-4 RANK & PINNED ME HARD STRIPS CPL RANK. said welcome to the JR NCO'S along with my PLT SGT. both of my training PLT Officer & SGT ware ARMY RANGERS I was trained by the best.
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CW3 Charles Morris
CPT Larry Hudson - That was the dumbest post yet, "Milley/Austin won the new woke military agenda."
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Sgt Michael Cortes
MGySgt Anthony Yallum - Served 7 years and got out as a Sgt in '93. We were always on, 24/7. I was waiting for a Marine to answer this. It's the same reason I don't understand why so many Marines are on LinkedIn in civilian attire. It's a professional media site and our profession in the Marine Corps.
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Suspended Profile
Not sure what to do?! Is this even a real question? Did you miss class the day they taught leadership at OCS?
SCPO Glen Dutcher
This isn't a leadership issue. This is basic stuff. Correct the Specialist without causing a scene or being a dick. Most often a quiet reminder is all it really takes
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CW4 Todd McElmurry
SSG William Hommel - ohhh buddy... same as you.... I don't have the credit to VOTE YOURS down either... and btw..... "Feelings"? your own comment.... really?
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I don't like being put in this spot. It forces me to be the bad guy, but you are doing him a favor lighting him up verses a COL (or even his company CO, or 1SG).
The most aggressive thing I've done so far was (when a 1LT) me and another LT were walking from place to place and passed a SPC that belonged to another unit. Anyway....... he didn't acknowledge us and we were within arms length. I stood him dead in his tracks, didn't point out his discrepancy and waited for him to figure it out.
On the other side of that, I had my BC mention to me someone wearing our patch not salute him when he went through the gate. Luckily it could have been from another company, but still, it applied to a subordinate in his command be it my soldier or not.
*******
Favorite story about this sutff:
I'm USAR, we went to S Korea for an exercise and the active COL/CSM met with my incoming party to brief us (basically berate us to not step out of line while in country). Then a SGT in the audience giggled at something serious the CSM was talking about, and the CSM asked him what was so funny.
The SGT replied, and I quote, "I'm laughing at what you said man".
So I'm a 2LT (3 month TIG at this point) sitting in the audience of reservists, and prior NCO, and first thing I think is "oh god damn it, this whole brief now is going to take the whole afternoon".
Yep........... that SGT got lit the F up in an auditorium in front of all his friends by a CSM flanked by the CSM's COL (highest ranking person in the room).
********
So, remember, lighting up someone now while you are an LT could possibly save them from the story above.
The most aggressive thing I've done so far was (when a 1LT) me and another LT were walking from place to place and passed a SPC that belonged to another unit. Anyway....... he didn't acknowledge us and we were within arms length. I stood him dead in his tracks, didn't point out his discrepancy and waited for him to figure it out.
On the other side of that, I had my BC mention to me someone wearing our patch not salute him when he went through the gate. Luckily it could have been from another company, but still, it applied to a subordinate in his command be it my soldier or not.
*******
Favorite story about this sutff:
I'm USAR, we went to S Korea for an exercise and the active COL/CSM met with my incoming party to brief us (basically berate us to not step out of line while in country). Then a SGT in the audience giggled at something serious the CSM was talking about, and the CSM asked him what was so funny.
The SGT replied, and I quote, "I'm laughing at what you said man".
So I'm a 2LT (3 month TIG at this point) sitting in the audience of reservists, and prior NCO, and first thing I think is "oh god damn it, this whole brief now is going to take the whole afternoon".
Yep........... that SGT got lit the F up in an auditorium in front of all his friends by a CSM flanked by the CSM's COL (highest ranking person in the room).
********
So, remember, lighting up someone now while you are an LT could possibly save them from the story above.
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SSG Matthew Fox
I concur. As I said earlier, if this would have happened back in the day when I was in, an Article 15 would have been served up immediately. I can’t believe these people think they can get away with disrespecting senior ranks.
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PO3 Pamala McBrayer
I had my say at a base briefing. I stood up after being called upon to ask my question. The speaker was the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. I THANKED HIM FOR CALLING ON ME FIRST. Then said, MASTER CHIEF ___, I understand what you are saying about fairness issues and sea shore rotations aligning between male and female sailors. I understand what the goal is. But gender based manning goals is a double edged sword. Not all these perceived advantages in favor of women are without disadvantages also. I gave my example, it was specific, and I was the aggrieved individual. Heads whipped around. I answered a couple of questions about my position/issue, and I stated in conclusion that life isn’t always fair and that I accepted that, but that I just wanted to share that there are unintended consequences that leaders needed to be aware of, that were detrimental to retention and readiness, in addition to fairness to personnel.
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MAJ Karen Wall
There is never a bad time to teach manners. Even if the other person, rank regardless, was my superior, manners are manners.
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A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
MAJ Karen Wall -
Every So Often I Look As Some SOB, And Say To Myself:
"DAMN, I Sure Wish He'd Choke To Death......
while both of my hands are still grabbing his throat"
Every So Often I Look As Some SOB, And Say To Myself:
"DAMN, I Sure Wish He'd Choke To Death......
while both of my hands are still grabbing his throat"
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