Posted on Oct 31, 2013
How do you handle unprofessional behavior by somebody senior to you?
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Brothers/Sisters,<div><br></div><div>This has been bugging me ALL DAY. This morning, prior to first formation, my detachment was standing outside talking. Some of the members in our company stay in their vehicles listening to music until the company starts to form. A member (E-5) on another team was in his car, listening to music (which was not in violation of Ft. Bragg regulations, you couldn't hear the lyrics nor was there any bass). Out of nowhere, I hear "HEY!" and turn around to see a senior noncommissioned officer (E-7) yank open the E-5's car door, screaming at him "TURN THAT S*** DOWN!", then leans over him inside his car, turns down the radio, and slams his car door as hard as he can, in view of the entire company (except the 1SG or CDR). </div><div><br></div><div>That being said, I maintained my military bearing, went to my Detachment Sergeant and explained the events that unfolded. I also spoke to the E-5's Team Leader as well. They said they would talk to the E-7, and that was it.</div><div><br></div><div>Here is my question. I can't help but put myself in my peer's shoes, and imagine how I would have reacted to someone doing that to me. They say "do what you think your rank can handle", what would you have done in both my position observing the incident, and the other NCO's position that had this done to him?</div>
Discipline
Military bearing
Professionalism
Conflict
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 67
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Immediately I would have informed the 1SG and Commander and expressed my concerns to them about the situation and allow them to handle it. Abusing rank is the wrong answer from that (SFC), but if that SGT was to flip out and hit him then the SFC would have wanted to push punishment or some form of legal action. I would just inform that SGT that you were willing,available, and prepared to write a sworn statement if need be. This type of conduct can not and should not be accepted among our ranks!
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
When I was a SSgt I had an overzealous MSgt who was our NCOIC giving a lot of chicken grief to My men, We all obeyed His orders but It wasn't good enough for Him. I did stand up for My men, and He didn't relent and I walked away from Him as if I had stayed i would have punched Him and I knew that leaving was better than to remain. There was no talking to Him, that hadn't worked. I went directly to one of My seniors, next in My chain of command, a SMSgt and He supported Me as did the Captain He worked for. This was not the first complaint they had with that MSgt. within the week that MSgt was reassigned to a position where He supervised no one and a New MSgt was assigned where He had been and all the problems stopped.
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SFC (Join to see)
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter Not all of us is
so lucky to have REAL people we work it. Keep it real man!!
so lucky to have REAL people we work it. Keep it real man!!
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Well I would say you did the right thing, however if I was that NCO, that E7, and I say E7 not SFC because he seems like a strip wearer, that we need to go talk to the commander, NOW! He can't touch a soldiers property and do as he pleases with it, I would have him with the commander for a talk.
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SGT James Wright
I had an E7 while in the military, who was not in my chain, my E7 had no backbone and wouldn’t confront the other E7. When I took it to the commander the E7 refused to go into his office and talk(seriously?) I tried pushing it up the chain , but this E7 was was untouchable, they didn’t want to hear it from a junior NCO( I was an E-5 Sgt at the time. We ended up butting heads on numerous occasions and I found it was the only way to get the commander to jump in and do anything about the situation. Bear in mind here that I had to make sure I knew my sh#* before confronting said person and had military regs to back me or something else in writing. This E7 was a shitbird for sure! I’m just saying that sometimes you have to take the other approach to things...
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I would respectfully approach the SFC about it later, when he calmed down from whatever was really bugging him and no one is one. It is always best to deal with things at the lowest level. It would be good character building for you to ask what his rationale was and express, tactfully, that you think he handled that situation poorly. It is a senior NCO's job to train younger NCO's and set the proper example. Irrational and harsh behavior is not effective or appropriate corrective training, (I realize the SGT wasn't in any violation of rules). Anyway, my point is that I would have approached him and had a conversation about it to understand his reaction and express to him how it was perceived by others.
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