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.
Customs and Courtesies
Officer
Career Advice
Career Counselor
Respect
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 874
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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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AN Tony Leding
"If you ignore a failure to meet the standard, you have just set the new standard." --- Without a doubt one of the best statements I've ever read. This should probably be applied to all things in society...
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SFC James Wood
SGT Abdul Lopez - In regular Army there was never a separation you are a soldier and is it it does not matter on duty off duty if you recognize an officer you show him respect in uniform or civies you must have been in a NG or reserve unit where they are civilians all but 2 days a month or something
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SGT Abdul Lopez
Wow this post was from a year ago or so. Now I am going to answer this as a civilian. I never needed a rank or title to validate me as a human being. That was a time and place in my life. As for your statement of National Guard or Reservist. It does not matter. That is a human being that served in the armed services and maybe didn't have your six. But they had someone six at one time or another. You looking down on citizen soldiers down right low. If you know the history of the USA. You will know that it was build on citizen soldiers. So Sergeant First Class Wood. Ask yourself, did you wake up this morning with your panties in a bunch or something. You suppose to be a leader, but I see that you are nothing but a follower and you will always be that chasing rank to validate your existence on this planet. I look at it this way. You respect me. I respect you. That's as plain as it get. Enough said. Carry on soldier.
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SPC Kieran Jackson
"If you ignore a failure to meet the standard, you have just set the new standard."
That quote is going right in the tool box!
That quote is going right in the tool box!
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Anonymous
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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CPT Larry Hudson
There is no forgiveness, or polite talk or buddy lets have a drink. Military protocol requires service members to respect the ranks of officers. Only occasion for not saluting is the case of an OCS Candidate and another soldier. OCS candidates were E-5's enlisted until the day they were granted by congress the rank of an officer and by law made a gentleman.
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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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