Would an E9 comply if ordered to attention by an O1?

Hew better comply, for all kinds of reasons -- appearance, UCMJ, all kinds. But afterwards, there would likely be some fallout.

In 1977, I was a brand new Marine PFC going to tech school at NAS Memphis. One day, while walking down the sidewalk, I heard what sounded almost like a dogfight on the sidewalk across the street. When I looked over there, here was this Master Chief about 6' 6" tall, with an Ensign perhaps 5' 8" tall, yelling up at him. I mean, it looked almost like Odie going after Garfield. After a minute, the Master Chief stopped walking, looked down at this Ensign, and just BLASTED him. "WOULD YOU JUST SHUT THE F*** UP!!!" I guess they didn't see me over on the other sidewalk staring at them with my mouth open! :-) When the Master Chief noticed me, it was MY turn -- "AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?"

I've never forgotten that incident. Embarrassed for the both of them, my own embarrassment at seeing them, wondering if that Ensign woke up or went to the civilian world in a couple of years, etc.

I witnessed a master Chief tell an a butter bar to climb up fid gold anchor and kiss his two silver stars.

First I would stand up and face this young ensign and address the issue head on. This did happy me a few times in my career and understand one thing I showed the young officer the difference between earned respect and demanded respect all in one sentence and in front of his/her subordinates. And as with the article above I was called in front of the XO and CMC but, as the Doc on board who due you think took the hit? Wasn't me. All I was told was try and play nice because we need our young officers to want to stay in. So moral of the story don't surrender to young impulsive officers who think after two years in the Military they know more then a 24-30 Veteran.

H

RHIP

As a relatively boot Marine an Officer (O1) ordered us to secure and lock up crypto equipment at the reboot (1969). The Officer got upset with me when I walked to the back of the open cabinet and make the crypto update and he insisted that I open the door, turn the crypto make the update, turn the crypto gear around and secure the door. Keep in mind that there was a large door on a 4 or 5 shelf cabinet with no sides. No sides and he wanted me to only go through the door? Cabinet sitting in the middle of the room next to the teletype machine! What! I had more than a few choice words, yes I was smart enough this time to keep my comments under my breath. An E7 coached me later to salute the rank not the person. Stupidity has no limits. I apply the same to POTUS.

No

As a Sergeants Major Drop the mic, enough said...

My father was an Senor Chief in the Navy (E-8) when I graduated from the US Naval Academy (25 years ago, yikes), and while he is a man of few words, he made sure to "educate" me on the proper way to interact with all the enlisted I'd work with, but very much what I should and better yet, should not do, as a newly minted Ensign. Basically he said, none will ever publicly make me look bad, even when I'm an ass, but if I listened, treated them with respect, and understood that I still had a lot to learn, an effective relationship with my senior NCOs would be incredibly career enhancing. He was right! At least this Ensign made sure I kept my mouth shut, ears open and learned the dazzling pearls of wisdom the senior NCOs I got to work with handed out. Their advice serves me, even today.

The premise here is nonsense. These senior NCOs work directly for senior officers and under the cover of those officers' authority. I know of no organization where an E-8 or above reports to an O-1. Everyone must understand their place in the organization. As a 2LT, I treated these senior NCOs with a great deal of respect and genuinely deferred to their experience. I think their assistance and insights were key. I also cannot remember ever seeing a senior NCO not beating any company grade officers to a salute or other formal sign of respect. I think they had a sixth sense or radar for avoiding the issue so they could focus on the job at hand. Lastly, I remember junior NCOs in places like PX parking lots with arms full and toddlers who would make a nod or other reasonable effort. Common sense, folks, right?

By the book, the E9 is required to obey the orders of commissioned officers but I believe the circumstances at the time would dictate whether it should be expected that the E9 would obey. I probably would not comply because I would be laughing too hard.

I would want believe the 01 would have more respect than to do something so foolish.

Oh hell with E9. I had a Butterbar "attempt" to humiliate me (Sgt USMC) at the time near a formation for complete BS. A quick trip by the "Top" (Master Guns) and the little puppy learned appropriate respect for his troops and especially NCOs who are keeping his dumb ass slice and training him

I've seen this before with a MSG with Delta Force under his belt. Both had a disagreement with the string order on a airborne jump. After the bickering the MSG finally said," Sir, I've got more confirmed kills than you got college credits, so we are doing this my way!"

If he were as professional as all I ever knew in my 11 years in both National Guard and active he would politely comply while smirking the whole time and then when meeting with the battalion commander for their usual afternoon drink the Lts name would be mentioned and the boys CO would get a call and the next time that college boy saw CSM he would just nod and wish the Sergeant Major a good day then carry on about his business.

Yes.we are taught to respect the rank...not the man (or woman).

Age or rank should not be the sole determining factor whether or not you address another service member as sir. I may just be a lowly little Senior Airmen in the Air Force, but I address everyone either by sir or their name and rank. Obviously because most people out rank me, but I even render the same courtesies to the airmen below me. All the same with standing for anyone who talks to me. It's about professionalism.

The O1 would not be happy or have a ass to sit on

When I was an E5, I was on a ship and we were going through OPPE (Operational Propulsion Plant Examination) where they test the engineering plant on the ship. While on watch during the examination we had an issue and the ship went in the dark. I was controlling the speed of the ship and our engineering officer of the watch (EOOW) was a Master Chief (E9). After we got the ship back up answering bells the head of the inspection team came up and chewed out the EOOW for not following proper protocol and giving directions to the watch standers. We all knew our jobs and worked like a well oil machine. He stood there facing this officer, who was a Captain, full bird, O6, clenched his fists at his side and said, "With all due respect sir, get the hell out of my space." The Captain left. A little while later the Captain came down and apologized to the Master Chief in front of everyone. He was a great E9 and someone I looked up to with great respect. When I received my commission I never ever talked to any E7 and above without due respect nor did I embarrass them in front of others by talking down to them or making them stand at attention. I guess with 17 yrs enlisted experience you understand that sort of thing. LOL