Posted on Sep 13, 2016
LTJG Ansi Officer
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If a fresh 2LT/ENS ordered an E9 to attention because of a disagreement, would the E9 have to comply? What would possibly happen?
Posted in these groups: Army2lt 2LTSgm SGMArmy usa or 09b.svg CSM
Edited 9 y ago
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Responses: 606
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MSG Daniel S. Rodriguez
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YES.......like it or not. unless it's an unlawful order.
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SGT Drill Sergeant
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Um, funny story about that lol
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A1C Sean Black
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Do it unless you want to retire early...
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PFC Combat Medic
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This reminds me of a story my old man (a retired E-9) once told me. My father prepared for the day with his 0-5 in the orderly room when a young 2LT walked in a fit yelling at all my dad's PSG's. My old man looked at the 2LT and asked "Sir, do you know what the maximum effective range of a 2LT is?" As the 2LT looked back at the CSM, my dad held up his two fingers as they touched. "This far" he said "now shut the hell up and let the colonel and I handle this"
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CPT Infantry Officer
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Depends who has lost their military bearing.
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Brian Schoonmaker
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Yes
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SPC Dennis Brown
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you have to respect the rank not the person
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SSG Matthew Wolfe
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I am here to read the story.
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CSM Christopher St. Cyr
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Yes. Staff sergeants and Lieutenants run the Army. Sergeants major work for senior officers and are traditionally viewed as their representative. Life would suck for a young LT who acted disrespectfully towards his commander, even through the commander's proxy. The NCO does have a duty to comply with the orders of a commissioned officer regardless of which end of the pay scale either falls.
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SFC Randy Stoneroad
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The E-9 may comply because he/she is a seasoned professional, but the LT would likely be schooled up by his chain of command.
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TSgt Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Systems
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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.
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AN Aviation Ordnanceman
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I witnessed a master Chief tell an a butter bar to climb up fid gold anchor and kiss his two silver stars.
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SCPO Jeffrey Curran
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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.
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SN Master-at-Arms
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B7a21345
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SFC Cannon Crew Member
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H
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Sgt John Bynum
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RHIP
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Sgt John Bynum
Sgt John Bynum
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of course in the Corps, an 01 is more respectful of his senior NCOs. Respect for the uniform and respect for rank!
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LCpl Dan McTiernan
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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.
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Sgt Robin Weaver
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No
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SGM M Crisp
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As a Sergeants Major Drop the mic, enough said...
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LT Carlos Barata
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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.
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