SSG Private RallyPoint Member 354511 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do you call at ease for an E7 that you work for? Here is the change of command where I work. I work for an E7 who reports to another E7 who reports to the 1SG. Now its my understanding that you call at ease for someone in the position of 1SG or CSM. Am I wrong? <br /><br /><br />One day out of the blue the E7 that I work for, walked in the room and said .. so you guys **cking with me. So you guys arnt going to call at ease.I out rank you. Lets try this again. There were about 8 Staff Sergeants that were looking around at each other like is he really doing this.. So he walked back in an someone called at ease. After the meeting all the Staff Sergeants were talking about it. None of us have ever called at ease for an E7 that wasnt in a 1SG position. All the E6&#39;s that I work with have been in at least 14 years. So now im wondering have we been doing wrong all these years? 2014-12-04T07:45:11-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 354511

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Do you call at ease for an E7 that you work for? Here is the change of command where I work. I work for an E7 who reports to another E7 who reports to the 1SG. Now its my understanding that you call at ease for someone in the position of 1SG or CSM. Am I wrong? <br /><br /><br />One day out of the blue the E7 that I work for, walked in the room and said .. so you guys **cking with me. So you guys arnt going to call at ease.I out rank you. Lets try this again. There were about 8 Staff Sergeants that were looking around at each other like is he really doing this.. So he walked back in an someone called at ease. After the meeting all the Staff Sergeants were talking about it. None of us have ever called at ease for an E7 that wasnt in a 1SG position. All the E6&#39;s that I work with have been in at least 14 years. So now im wondering have we been doing wrong all these years?

2014-12-04T07:45:11-05:00 2014-12-04T07:45:11-05:00 Capt Richard I P. 354523

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="28801" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/28801-25u-signal-support-systems-specialist-cyber-coe-formerly-sigcoe-tradoc">SSG Private RallyPoint Member</a> Service Cultural Difference. Marines call &quot;Attention on Deck&quot; for Commanders and for Colonels and above. The officer for whom it was called gives the &quot;At Ease.&quot; We do stand when talking to someone senior to us, but the situation you&#39;re describing sounds silly to my ears.

2014-12-04T07:58:58-05:00 2014-12-04T07:58:58-05:00 SFC Mark Merino 369829

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Thanks SFC Jerry Crouch for providing the FM for the answer.

2014-12-14T15:38:58-05:00 2014-12-14T15:38:58-05:00 SFC Harry (Billy) Tison 369952

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My undersatnding is that you do call at ease for a senior NCO regardless of whether he or she is in a 1SG or above position, unless otherwise directed by said NCO. That&#39;s what happens in a majority of the cases, especially in the workplace because if you called at ease everytime an E-7 walked into the room, no work would ever take place

2014-12-14T17:42:59-05:00 2014-12-14T17:42:59-05:00 TSgt Joshua Copeland 369980

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I just don't get calling the command "at ease" when you aren't at attention in the first place...

2014-12-14T18:22:24-05:00 2014-12-14T18:22:24-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 370214

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Good question

2014-12-14T21:40:55-05:00 2014-12-14T21:40:55-05:00 John Russell 370264

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Its a TRADOC thing. If we did that all the time..work would never get done :)

2014-12-14T22:16:53-05:00 2014-12-14T22:16:53-05:00 CAPT Private RallyPoint Member 370828

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It&#39;s definitely an Army thing. In the Navy, you don&#39;t call anything for anyone entering a room except for calling &quot;Attention On-Deck&quot; for O-5 and above (the officer in question would then say &quot;Carry On&quot; to allow people to continue about their business).<br /><br />I also find it interesting that in the Army, apparently you stand at &quot;Parade Rest&quot; while addressing seniors whereas in the Navy and Marine Corps, you are not permitted to speak while at parade rest and would stand at attention while addressing seniors (for an &quot;official&quot; conversation, not casual, of course).

2014-12-15T11:43:08-05:00 2014-12-15T11:43:08-05:00 LTC Paul Labrador 370843

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Only NCOs I&#39;ve seen the room called to &quot;at ease&quot; for (outside of Basic/AIT because TRADOC is a world unto itself) are the 1SG and SGM/CSM. Just like the only officers I&#39;ve seen a room called to attention for is the Commander or GO. This is out of respect and deference to the position, not necessarily the rank (ie I would not expect a room to come to attention when I walked into a room, even as an O-5, because I am not the Commander). Stand at &quot;at ease&quot; when speaking to him or being spoken to? Sure. Calling the room to their feet? Not so much.

2014-12-15T11:49:54-05:00 2014-12-15T11:49:54-05:00 Sgt Private RallyPoint Member 370926

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>We call at ease to the lower rank to relax. I can do this to a higher rank in the Army? What witchery is this?

2014-12-15T12:51:22-05:00 2014-12-15T12:51:22-05:00 SFC Seth King 370927

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>In my 20 yrs, you only call at ease when the most senior person comes in the building. For examples: I&#39;m at BDE HQ and a BN CSM walks in, nothing other than &quot;good morning sergeant major&quot; is said, but if the post (questionable) or regimental (definite) CSM walks in you call at ease, because by position, they are senior to the bde CSM. If the BDE CSM is not in, then you would call at ease for the BN CSM or S3 SGM, because they are the senior NCO &quot;on deck&quot;. Same scenario for officers, if the deputy commander comes in first, he/she gets the &quot;unit level&quot; attention, but if the higher commander is there, they get a good morning sir/ma&#39;am.

2014-12-15T12:48:39-05:00 2014-12-15T12:48:39-05:00 SGT Kristin Wiley 370958

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Upon that logic let&#39;s see an example: <br />A group of E-4 and below soldiers are in a room, an E-5 walks in and they call &#39;at ease&#39;. Twenty minutes later an E-6 walks in and &#39;at ease&#39; is called again. An hour later an E-7 walks in and &#39;at ease&#39; is called. &lt;- Not sure how anyone could get any work done in that type of environment. If we conitnue with the logic that the senior NCO leaves, and reenters multiple times a day and &#39;at ease&#39; needs to be called everytime...then I don&#39;t think anything would ever get done. It makes sense if the NCO is in a command position, but even then we use to only call it when the CSM walked in first thing in the morning, and left at the end of the day. <br /><br />FM 7-21.13 seems to indicate that my example is the way it should be, but when have Army regulations ever been logical?

2014-12-15T13:22:54-05:00 2014-12-15T13:22:54-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 370976

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am disappointed that this question is even being asked. <br /><br />ANY TIME a senior NCO is in your area, you will call AT EASE. Then the most senior person, even an NCO, in that group is to expeditiously move to that Senior NCO and greet him.<br /><br />The only time that you do not call at ease in this situation is when safety is paramount. As the Senior person in that group you will put the next lower ranking person in charge and the most senior person will expeditiously move to that senior NCO.<br /><br />In this situation, I have never hesitated to perform this act of courtesy and respect, for me it is second nature and an automatic reaction.<br /><br />If NCOs are not teaching this, and if they are not exercising this, then I truly am concerned for the Corps.

2014-12-15T13:31:52-05:00 2014-12-15T13:31:52-05:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 371102

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>An interesting question no doubt. But SPC Thundercloud asked a very important question, &quot;how can I discern which regulations I&#39;m required to follow and which ones I&#39;m not?&quot; The answer is simple you follow the guidance that is in black and white! A lot of what I see in some of the Forum questions and answers I see here is directly related to her question. <br /><br />We as seniors (some not all) often get complacent. We use the common response of &quot;we don&#39;t do that here, or I have never done that&quot; when we know for a fact that it is in writing in the FMs, ARs and TMs. We know this because we go over these basic functions in our ALC/SLC courses.<br /><br />To my previous statement of what I see in these &quot;Forums&quot; some NCOs and Officers will post a question that they do not have a clear answer on or a situation that they witnessed and or had happen to them and they rave about soldiers not following the regulations or not knowing basic things, when those that are at fault are the very ones that will dismiss this type of scenario. I acknowledge that other services have various customs and courtesies but if you were in the Army this was a no brainer!

2014-12-15T15:02:23-05:00 2014-12-15T15:02:23-05:00 SGT Charles Vernier 371157

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SFC Jerry Crouch. I&#39;ve been out for awhile so thank you for citing the FM. When I was assigned to the MPI Office we had an E-7 NCOIC so he was afforded this respect when he came into the office at the start of the duty day.

2014-12-15T16:03:34-05:00 2014-12-15T16:03:34-05:00 SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member 371198

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SSG,<br /><br />Understand that what the Army publications state are what guides soldiers. But, there are different workplace situations in which the command group can deem certain rules to be more/less strict or nullified by setting policies/orders. These types of situations should be brought up to them. Every individual work environment is different. Bring this and similar situations to the attention of your leadership and command group and let them know your side. They can decide from there. Until then, the FM is what you should follow.

2014-12-15T16:31:15-05:00 2014-12-15T16:31:15-05:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 371290

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Regulations say you are supposed to call &quot;at ease&quot; when an NCO senior in rank to the group enters the room.<br />Having said that, this cat is on some kind of power trip. Outside of Basic Training, I haven&#39;t seen ANY NCO insist on this - not me, not any CSM I&#39;ve had - unless it was a formal setting or a meeting. Frankly, I don&#39;t want the work of my unit to come to a halt every time I get out of the office and walk around. If I want to get their undivided attention, well... let&#39;s just say we First Sergeants have our ways.

2014-12-15T17:35:05-05:00 2014-12-15T17:35:05-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 371315

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>FM 7-21.13 &quot;Military courtesy shows respect and reflects self-discipline. Consistent and proper military courtesy is an indicator of unit discipline, as well. Soldiers demonstrate courtesy in the way we address officers or NCOs of superior rank.&quot;<br /><br />The above passage says it all. The military &quot;way of life&quot; all boils down to the basics of self and unit discipline and readiness. When we lose sight and do not perform (moral actions) and uphold (legal actions) these customs and courtesies, we no longer have a &quot;way of life&quot; you only have a set of in-actions without consequence, better known as a job.<br /><br />When was the last time that an NCO in these forums handed out a copy of this FM and had a true discussion with their troops about the how and why things are done. It is not enough to tell them, you have to let them know the history for them to understand.

2014-12-15T17:48:15-05:00 2014-12-15T17:48:15-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 371350

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have seen a few comments posted by Senior NCOs in this forum saying that they don&#39;t expect or demand these actions and it is a pity.<br /><br />This courtesy is given freely, it is not to be demanded.<br /><br />If you, as a senior NCO, have to demand your soldiers offer the very basic of respect and courtesy, then you have a very serious issue involving not just the junior soldiers, but the lack of knowledge and leadership by your subordinate NCOs. Your unit is septic.<br /><br />At the same time, if your subordinates have to be forced to render such courtesies then you most definitely have a unit discipline problem, especially with your subordinate NCOs and how they are teaching their soldiers by setting the example, or shall we say lack of example.<br /><br />When superiors and their subordinates fail to render, and/or recognize, these simple gestures it tells a lot about the culture of that unit. These courtesies are given freely, they require only 2 simple ingredients....respect for oneself, and respect for others. When one of these is missing, neither are present.<br /><br />Be careful when you say you don&#39;t expect or do not want these customs and courtesies to be rendered. Leaders lead by example, so if your soldiers are not doing it for you, then you must not be doing it for your superiors.

2014-12-15T18:02:23-05:00 2014-12-15T18:02:23-05:00 SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member 371538

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Technically speaking, yes you should. Does that always happen? No, infact it probably rarely happens.

2014-12-15T19:38:32-05:00 2014-12-15T19:38:32-05:00 MAJ Private RallyPoint Member 371604

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SSG Williams,<br /><br />Several points of interest that I would like to address pertaining to your question! While I understand the topic very well, I believe we should practice using rank rather than pay grades to identify or define people as opposed to their pay grade, which the later essentially does not define a person. I have always taken this position and know that many people in conversation refer to Soldiers by pay grade which is a bad practice, in my opinion. Nonetheless, the general rule applies as stated by SFC Jerry Crouch, however, in most cases this used in mixed company of ranks where junior enlisted Soldiers are present. In the moment, the best response is to adhere to the standard that is being projected by the senior ranking individual---in this particular situation. At the rank of Staff Sergeant, I would imagine it has been several years since you or any of your colleagues have been in Basic Training or Advanced Individual training so it is easy to assume the standard is only the way you previously perceived it to be. Perhaps, at your current rank you feel that you are all worthy of mutual respect amongst your fellow NCOs, which is very reasonable! <br /><br />Consider the Golden and Silver Rules:<br /><br />- One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself. <br />- One should not treat others in ways that one would not like to be treated.<br /><br />Now, the reason I believe this topic is worthy of discussion as it pertains to our values! The senior ranking person as well as those subordinates must consciously recognize that our respect and approach in any situation has the potential to negatively impact others and the situation. However, I believe the best way to address this topic at the unit level is to conduct NCO professional development, seeking guidance from the CSM, 1SGs, and NCOs at every level, researching the regulation, and using scenario based examples to capture the outcomes of behavior. Ultimately, we shouldn&#39;t lessen our military bearing or forget we are in the Army, but also, the value gained may enlighten everyone by making them aware of their actions. This will combat against toxicity and enhance the effectiveness of the work environment.

2014-12-15T20:22:17-05:00 2014-12-15T20:22:17-05:00 CSM Private RallyPoint Member 371950

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Personally, as a 1SG and then CSM, my units gave an &quot;At Ease&quot; only when I entered the office the first time in the morning and when I left at the end of the day, and an &quot;Attention&quot; for the Commander for the same occasions. The only people who received this custom/courtesy/respect was the Commander and 1SG/CSM.<br /><br />At the O3 Command level, they called &quot;Attention&quot; for any O4 or higher and &quot;At Ease&quot; for any CSM.<br />At the O5 Command level, they called &quot;Attention&quot; for any O6 or higher and &quot;At Ease&quot; for any CSM working for an O6.<br />At the O6 Command level, they called &quot;Attention&quot; for any General Officer and &quot;At Ease&quot; for any nominative CSM. <br /><br />Given the different branches, TRADOC vs FORSCOM, etc, I recommend everyone check what is expected of them on their respective base/in their unit. I don&#39;t think there can be one {right} answer here.

2014-12-16T00:51:39-05:00 2014-12-16T00:51:39-05:00 SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz 372157

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I remember an E-7 who would come over to the CQ area every evening and would get mad if the CQ Soldiers did not call at ease. We informed the 1SG about this situation because we didnt know if he was correct or not. To our surprise, one evening our 1SG was hiding behind the CQ door and waiting for the E-7 to show up. I have to say that was the funniest scene ever. First time I saw an E-7 getting his ass chew out by a 1SG.

2014-12-16T07:37:08-05:00 2014-12-16T07:37:08-05:00 SCPO Ralph Hensley 373190

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Sounds like this army E7 needs a reality check.

2014-12-16T17:45:01-05:00 2014-12-16T17:45:01-05:00 SSG Trevor S. 410006

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Technically the E-7 is right, notice I didn&#39;t say the Sergeant First Class, you are supposed to call at ease for an NCO senior to you when they enter the room. It is along the lines of a conversation about certain ranks and certain courtesies way back when that we are all trying to forget, and one person is tired of hearing about. <br />Technically right does not mean that the anti-respect garnered from acting like a total (very nice guy) is worth it. The last time this happened to me, I stood at the door waiting for the &amp;(very nice guy) to enter the room, scream &quot;AT EASE!!! at the top of my lungs into his ear in my drill and ceremony command voice, for the next couple days. I ENTHUSIASTICALLY followed his orders and proper courtesy. For some reason that seemed to change the (very nice guy)&#39;s opinion of ridged adherence to courtesy.

2015-01-09T16:44:05-05:00 2015-01-09T16:44:05-05:00 SSG Clayton Krieg 451783

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>We would call it for our first sergeant in the mornings back at the battery before pt. Or when Smoke wanted to see all the Chiefs and we knew it was going to be a butt chewing... On the trail we taught the joes to say it every time they saw an drill or nco. But man o man did that get annoying. Annoying to the point that we would say &quot; carry on&quot; before they had a chance to call it. But of course any good Soldier will always call at ease for the TOPS and CSMs.

2015-02-03T07:11:44-05:00 2015-02-03T07:11:44-05:00 SPC Private RallyPoint Member 536864

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>According to doctrine, he&#39;s right and absent anything supplementing or clarifying that doctrine further that&#39;s what you should fall back on. <br />I&#39;m willing to bet, unless your unit just stood up or something, there is an SOP somewhere that delineates, when and where that&#39;s appropriate and how it should be handled. My first unit&#39;s SOP specifically stated the company commander and first sergeant at the beginning and end of the day only and anyone who out ranked them while within the administrative company area. Common areas like the platoon rooms where the squad leaders had their desks were situational. If training was occurring, we wouldn&#39;t stop. Downtime, &quot;at ease&quot; for anything E8 or higher. Work areas like supply, arms room, motor pool, warehouse were exempt. If somebody that important was coming, he/she probably had an escort from the local hq, and if they didn&#39;t it&#39;s because they didn&#39;t want the attention.<br />But like I said this was in the unit SOP. I called my old man (retired 1SG 13z) for his combat arms opinion and he just laughed. I asked my brother (former 11b) and he said some units have privates do it for specialists. Check the SOP. Even check the old ones, most company commanders say &quot;unless otherwise directed or updated all rules and SOPs are in effect&quot;<br />It&#39;s a nice catch all.

2015-03-18T14:11:33-04:00 2015-03-18T14:11:33-04:00 SGM Private RallyPoint Member 3373601

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I disagree with some of the posts. So here are my two cents. As some of our fellow NCOs have so kindly pointed out, it is actually proper to call at ease for an NCO when he/she is senior in grade to those in the room, when the NCO enters the room (see comments for reference). It’s not about a power trip or ego as some of my peers have pointed out. It’s about tradition, proper decorum, and extending respect. Now I will ABSOLUTELY concur that the SFC (not E-7...that’s a pay grade) is probably out of line and unprofessional in the methodology utilized in making the correction. The bottom line is, even if you’re wrong, I will not degrade or belittle you while I make the on-the-spot correction. This is a hallmark of professionalism. Unfortunately, some of us chose to scream at our people to make our points. That isn’t necessary and only degrades command climate at best or incites division and subversion at worst.

2018-02-20T17:03:53-05:00 2018-02-20T17:03:53-05:00 MSG David Johnson 3504210

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I once had a 1SG whose rule was that the CQ, or CQ Runner call Attention when the CO entered the barracks, or At Ease if the 1SG arrived first. <br />He had some kind of German aristocratic bloodline in him and he liked to be treated that way. You also treated the 1SG&#39;s wife the same, you stood at Parade Rest to speak to her. I found out the hard way about this unwritten company rule as a young E-5. I was going through in processing, and this older lady came into the barracks and asked me a question. I was doing something at the time but I looked up from what I had been doing to see who was talking, but when I answered I had turned my attention back to what I had been doing while I answered her question. Next thing I know the 1SG is looking down his nose at me snarling about showing his wife the same courtesy as I would him.<br />These Barracks are in Germany, they are the big 4 story huge buildings with granite floors, and everything echos. I&#39;m sure they heard everything on the 4th floor that the 1SG had said to me in his 5ish minute block of instruction in customs and courtesies, and how they were to be shown to his wife.<br />She stood behind him smirking at me the entire time...I&#39;d been in country about 3 days.<br /><br />Eventually enough anonymous notes got slid through the BC and CSM&#39;s car windows that something had to be done, we heard he retired from the Army in Germany and was working for his father in laws shipping conglomerate.<br /><br />It got to the point where we would post 3 guys by the entrances so we wouldn&#39;t miss the 1SG coming in the barracks, he would try to come in and catch the CQ or Runnee sleeping.

2018-04-02T01:31:43-04:00 2018-04-02T01:31:43-04:00 SFC Private RallyPoint Member 7085576

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I always do it, especially when I&#39;m new to a unit. If the senior NCO then carry on or tells us that to not do that, then that is their discretion and I will no longer say it. Personally, please do not say it for me when I walk in the room. If you do, then thank you because technically that is how it is supposed to be done, but I honestly do not care unless it is for formal reasons. I will tell other to &quot;carry on&quot; in a heart beat.

2021-07-03T12:27:25-04:00 2021-07-03T12:27:25-04:00 SPC Private RallyPoint Member 7086096

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Outside of training or heavy formal occasions not typically no, but there has been an established working relationship and the fact that there are officers in our office as well. Will I stand at parade rest? Yes. Does the SFC usually dismiss it and tell me to relax? Also yes.<br /><br />I call at ease for the 1SG and up, unless I am in my legal office as there is usually an MAJ - COL in the office. However I recently worked in a BLO where even with officers present we called at ease for the brigade CSM which I had not experienced previously.<br /><br />Most CSM&#39;s I have seen immediately waive off and have discouraged the call because when they walk into the office they know we&#39;re busy and may be interacting with persons in the office or over the phone regarding the UCMJ or scheduling legal services and they don&#39;t want to interrupt that. A lot of E8&#39;s and E9&#39;s know that their presence is acknowledged and in a work setting don&#39;t typically need the ego stroking that comes with calling at ease in an office full of busy people that are working for brigade commanders and higher. That said, we&#39;re in a unique circumstance of understanding and can&#39;t forget the courtesies when we walk out of our AO.<br /><br />We did have one that went off when no one called at ease and only acknowledged his presence with good morning sergeant major. The CSM didn&#39;t know that there was a BG in the room who was meeting with the JA&#39;s. The CSM found out real quick then the BG turned and said, &quot;Good morning sergeant major, here for legal?&quot; Almost laughed out loud at that, but we were busy setting up a board so back to work we went. Though funny enough I had a MG order us not to call the room to attention when I was working in his AO because, &quot;We all have too much damn work to do for that kind of nonsense!&quot; and he made sure to let everyone including the CSM know that no one was to call the room to attention while he was walking about.<br /><br />I did have an SFC not in my lane grill me about courtesies regarding a MSG who was in my lane and why I referred to the MSG as &quot;Mas&#39;r Sarn&#39;t&quot; rather then just &quot;SaaarGent&quot; and why I didn&#39;t call him by his full rank of Sergeant First Class. My reasoning at the time was well quite frankly SFC is a mouthful and a MSG was an E8 and I figured he deserved the courtesy from me even if he wasn&#39;t due one by regulation. Seemed to annoy said SFC and after the grilling I was approached by the 1SG who was in the SFC&#39;s lane and told me not to worry about it and that he&#39;s just a salty cuss. Apparently he had been watching the entire encounter, so I rogered Top and kept on my way as Top walked towards the SFC. What happened next I don&#39;t know, not my business at any rate.<br /><br />So all those experiences figured, seems like that SFC was just on a trip.

2021-07-03T18:07:29-04:00 2021-07-03T18:07:29-04:00 2014-12-04T07:45:11-05:00