Can a corporal in a team leader position have me do corrective action (“smoke” me)? And was I wrong to tell him to eat a bag of dicks?

SFC Domingo M. - I’m sure that you were/did. Those who are successful, (like yourself), frequently are. I was trying to point out that those were different times. I wonder if anyone in the past 10 years has gone from E-1 or E-2 to E-5 in 1 year of service. Not in my original MOS, that’s for sure. The promotion points required for advancement were frozen at 998 for 5 years.

2LT Ronald Reimer - I respect your take on this, but just for the sake of it, I just checked and the cut-off score is 450, and I couldn't find any time frame when it was frozen at 998. At least not for 11B MOS.

Everyone keeps talking about RSOs. There were no RSOs in Vietnam, we were on our own and if we screwed up, innocent people died. A battery 4th battalion 42nd field artillery 4th Infantry Division.

Remember Master Sergeant you are not allowed to drop a soldier unless you are doing it alongside the soldier
But other wise you were spot on

99 percent of getting someone to do something for you is the approach you take. once you mess that up, it's a lot harder to get them to respect you after that. Respect works both ways! The biggest impact came from a First Sargeant who told our unit : " You don't have to like someone, but you will respect the rank". There is a chain of command for a reason. An old saying that goes a long way and will save you many difficulties: Think before you act or speak.

Maybe I missed something but how can you say the NCO was wrong? All this arrogant SOB told us was a very vague one-sided opinion. New can be anywhere from a day to a year. All we know is what he told an NCO who IS IN CHARGE.

PO2 Mike Vignapiano - do you have any idea how serious it is to fire a mortar round outside the safety fan? I’m talking Article 34 hearings and possible criminal charges. He was wrong for telling the CPL to “eat a bag of dicks” but, he just might have saved everyone in his chain of command.

Normally just a reader, lurking to see the comments of today's potential warriors. On this matter, strikes a nerve that has haunted, or caused me a bunch of second guesses of the right or wrong decisions, for over 55 years. Several incidents come to my mind about this topic. Once upon a time, after being In country for almost 11.5 months in Vietnam, 1st.Inf. Division, my small squad of 6 while on support operations with an Infantry Platoon, came under heavy enemy contact, which was not supposed to happen according to directed mission assignment. Upon initial contact the inf. platoon had separated into various squads. The dense, thick terrane around the trail we were traveling made it impossible to determine the exact location of opposing fire, number of and type of weapons fire we were against. As the enemy's tactics were hit and run, the dense undergrowth cancelled any accurate area of concentration. The closest infantry squad leader I could see while under cover, motioned to withdraw to regroup. I and my small supporting squad, while under fairly intense fire begin to crawl, sneak to rear cover as directed. The infantry SSgt was hit and down, most of his squad was hit, down or scattered. Due to my 11 months experience in country, having a bit of knowledge of what was going on, could see most of the men who were up and able, were obviously green, new to country, and in confused or semi panic condition without a leader. 3-4 men begin to almost stand up to move back to regroup and immediately hit, killed or wounded. No one gave any instructions or orders to cover and hold to return fire. Though not their NCO or Leader, At that time, thinking only of my survival and my group, I began to give the men remaining directions that I had experienced in the past, to survive. Directed to cover our flanks as that was the know movement of the enemy. Set up covered firing positions, etc., going from firing position to firing position, getting ammo checks, wounded status, try to aid those wounded and ambulatory to cover. Seemed like hours later, it was over. Was a tough job keeping all in order to safely withdraw back to the LZ. Tending to the wounded, those lost doing what I told them to do, they all without hesitation, never questioned my orders, overcame their fear, panic with guts did so with the skill and ability they were trained for. None of those Inf men who fought with me even knew my name or who I was but they had the respect and discipline to recognize one who knew a little about what was needed to survive. For all these years I have carried the quilt of those that were lost doing what I told them to do, which outweighed the majority that survived my lead. Though I jumped the ranks afterwards, I have always wished it had never happened as it did, it wasn't worth it. The lesson I would like to preach, acquire and master the discipline, respect, loyalty to any and all designated leaders now via rank is fundamental in the Military. In peace time it is the beginning of the mandatory requirement of survival when there is no peace! In the horror, fear, panic, danger, witness of death and agony you will find of War this is essential for victory and survival. Here in peace, if one allows emotions, jealousy, personal vendettas to overcome their sense of respect and discipline, then when called upon as the sh...it hits the fan, you will be lost, dead, or curled up in a ball of fear and panic in the face of the enemy.

SFC Michael Peterson One would think that during a "Live Fire" Training Excercise a Safety Officer was present and responsible. Rather than tell the Corporal to "Eat a Bag of Dicks", the Specialist should have brought the problem to the attention of the Safety Officer.

1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) - Yes, there would be a RSO present. They mostly stick close to the FDC, where the firing data is computed, rather than on the gun line. A dispute on the gun line could be overlooked and, part of the Squad Leader’s job is to verify the correct data gets to the gun. That would be the CPL in this scenario. Otherwise, you would need an RSO at every position. One for the FDC and one for each of the guns.

Before I dropped a round, knowingly into a tube set with incorrect (and unsafe) data, I would walk away.... Straight to the FDC or RSO! I would not quibble with the Squad Leader or engage in a pissing contest. That round goes down range out of the Safety Fan and everyone from FDC to the RSO to the Gun Crew will be on the carpet defending their actions!

I really had no use for a NCO who quotes regs
Let the two go fist to cuffs and then tell what the solution should be and have them shake hands and get on with training
Quoting Regs and counseling statements do little to resolve such a dispute