Military Courtesy at Army National Guard Units

SPC Darin Taylor — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 20:32:03 -0400

When I first joined the Army National Guard, I was shocked to see that many of the military courtesies were completely ignored. At my first weekend Drill, I'm approached by a Captain and immediately I snap to attention and render a salute; but to my surprise, I'm told not to salute while at Drill Training. And to make things really awkward for me was to see Privates walk up to NCO's or Officers and just start talking without standing at attention first and then waiting to be recognized. When you are on any Military Base and in uniform, you are required to show the proper courtesy toward your superiors. I think soldiers at National Guard Units should render military courtesies at all times.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Sep 13 at 2014 8:35 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 20:35:15 -0400

Discipline and Courtesy in the Army is so different than in the Navy, I was shocked at first to even learn how tight it is. The very idea of having a junior Sailor snap to attention before addressing me is totally foreign to my way of thinking. I was really tempted to not even respond to this question, but then decides that I had to.

Each service and each area of the service has its own way of doing things. Look and learn before you judge. You need to figure out what is going on in your new unit and integrate yourself to that set of rules in order to be part of the new team.

Response by COL Randall C. made Sep 13 at 2014 9:33 PM

COL Randall C. — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:33:17 -0400

SPC Darin Taylor, I can tell you from my experience, that what you described is the exception, not the rule. Overwhelmingly the majority of reserve component soldiers I've been around are professional soldiers who adhere to the courtesies of the service.

I will grant that I don't see many privates being statues until they are acknowledged when around RC soldiers, but then again, I really don't see it on the active duty side either (outside of TRADOC institutions that is).

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 13 at 2014 9:57 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:57:38 -0400

Yes as COL Randall C. mentions that is definitely the exception. We were always fairly tight on discipline, customs and courtesies and D&C - far from the level of the Old Guard - but we met standards. I think we had a more casual office atmosphere during in house drills but other than that we seemed right in step with our AC counterparts when we deployed

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2014 10:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 22:06:06 -0400

I think it's time to leave the National Guard alone. I've been in the National Guard for 6 years now, AFTER serving on AD as a Cav Scout. I'll admit that at first it was a bit of a culture shock. I'll tell you what though. Once I eased into the culture and saw how everything worked, I realized that it wasn't so bad. The National Guard has been fighting battles since before AD even existed on this continent. The National Guard has fought in every armed conflict that this country has been involved in with the exceptions of Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and Somalia.

For almost 400 years the National Guard has been kicking ass and taking names. In a lot of cases they've been doing it BETTER than their active duty counterparts. Are there exceptions? Yes. There are some units that live up to and even feed the stereotype.

Out of the soldiers that I've deployed with, I'd take the part timers over damn near ANY full timers ANY day. We're from the same towns, go to the same schools, hang out at the same places, and even work for the same employers. We're all from the same place so we already know how the other guy thinks. You want to talk about camaraderie? It doesn't get any deeper than it does in a solid Guard unit. Any solid Guard unit can also flip a switch and play the game, courtesies rendered at all times and everything.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2014 10:52 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 22:52:41 -0400

When in Rome...just kidding. Better to render the courtesy and be told it isn't necessary than approach a leader without it!

Response by SPC James Patton made Sep 13 at 2014 11:19 PM

SPC James Patton — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 23:19:41 -0400

I had the same question when i transitioned from Active to Guard. But i soon learned that, unlike Active, the Guard train and fight with the same guys (and gals) year after year. Theirfor they know each other with great intimacy. Not saying Active Soliders arent good at their jobs, but the Guardsmen have a better knowledge of how their peers act and move making for more percise drills. Active units train 365 days a year, but every 2-3 years have to adjust to working with new Soliders.

So to sum up, the Guard may seem lax in rendering salutes, but make up for it in job performance.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2014 6:50 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 18:50:30 -0400

There is low turn over in my unit. I have had the same commander for 18 years. Most of the people in the unit I have known for my entire career. It may be lax but the respect is still there.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Oct 31 at 2014 5:15 PM

SGT Michael Glenn — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 17:15:19 -0400

I am kinda torn on this subject, yes you are in the military and yes your in uniform, so standards should be kept, HOWEVER !!!! after seeing the dog and pony show in Europe and how everything there went of of its own regulations ( USAREUR regulations this , USAREUR regulation that, all superseded actual Army regulations if the command so chose to have it that way,and then the regulations didnt mean anything if that was needed. They twisted so much stuff over there it was mind boggling to even try to come to grips with what was actual and what wasnt, so if they can do it in the Army????why not the Guard??

Response by SSG Christopher Parrish made Nov 3 at 2014 8:49 AM

SSG Christopher Parrish — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 08:49:06 -0500

While I have not served in the NG, but am currently serving in the Texas State Guard and we train with the NG from time to time, I have not seen this happen on a grand scale. There are always some that will get a little too comfortable since the NG and TXSG are not "full time" Soldiers.

I have seen this happen more often with my TXSG brethren, since not all of our troops have prior service. But those of us that are prior service do our best to make sure everyone is as squared away as possible, and it is getting better.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 12:38 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 00:38:01 -0500

This meme says it all lol