Posted on Dec 17, 2014
Would you make a uniform correction on a member of another branch of service?
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Responses: 45
SGT (Join to see)
*Motions the soldier over*
Me: "You can't wear whatever you want, soldier. You, are in violation of AR 670-1. I insist that you about face-immediately-and go change."
Soldier: "AR 670-1? *Points to patch* "I'm a Marine."
Me, straight-faced: "I know. But your patches reversed and you are wearing a summer top with winter bottoms, Lance Corporal Sergeant Major."
*scuttles away*
Unless they had dreadlocks and black lipstick on, I don't think I could do it...not at my rank. That correction is up to their branch superiors.
Me: "You can't wear whatever you want, soldier. You, are in violation of AR 670-1. I insist that you about face-immediately-and go change."
Soldier: "AR 670-1? *Points to patch* "I'm a Marine."
Me, straight-faced: "I know. But your patches reversed and you are wearing a summer top with winter bottoms, Lance Corporal Sergeant Major."
*scuttles away*
Unless they had dreadlocks and black lipstick on, I don't think I could do it...not at my rank. That correction is up to their branch superiors.
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Cpl Heather Jackson
If I know the service regulations even as a veteran and the spouse of a retired veteran, you can bet that I would say something. We took an oath and even as a retiree or veteran, we all have a responsibility to uphold the oath we took, to which includes uniform regulations.
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SPC David Hannaman
If I was absolutely sure, then yes... tactfully. Better to receive correction from a friend or peer than from someone higher up the food chain.
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LTC (Join to see)
Some corrections transcend branch of service (untucked laces, no headgear outside or wearing headgear inside), and anyone can spot correct those. For branch-specific corrections, it's better to ask than to tell, as in, "Marine, are you supposed to wear flipflops with your class-A's?"
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My last deployment was as the JOC SGM at RC East, Afghanistan. It was a Joint operation.. I had Ops officers and enlisted from the Marines, Navy, Airforce and Army... As uniform regs can very so much between services... If (when) I noticed something that did not look right.. say Ear rings on an AF officer wearing Army ACU, I would spend a few min to educate myself on that service reg and then take it up with an NCO from that branch to address. Or for the senior officers on the floor, just deal with it directly. Never had any push back and I must say the conversations were always professional.. often one or both of use learning something along the way.
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There is in my opinion a time and a place for it. As an example, in Garrison, and you know, not think, know what is correct. And because it is cross service, I would use more tact than I normally would-in the spirit of relations. Of course at my advanced age in the service, I doubt that I am going to catch much flak from many folks when I approach. More likely though, I would see if there was another member of the same service near by to ensure that "correction" was a required one.
As an example of when not to, again, in my opinion, is the deployed environment-or at a transit base where the troops are returning from who knows where and have experienced who knows what, and quite possibly have suffered casualties of very close friends/unit members. I personally leave that to the their respective services/units. That is unless they are causing a disruption, in which case, I have stepped in.
As an example of when not to, again, in my opinion, is the deployed environment-or at a transit base where the troops are returning from who knows where and have experienced who knows what, and quite possibly have suffered casualties of very close friends/unit members. I personally leave that to the their respective services/units. That is unless they are causing a disruption, in which case, I have stepped in.
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1LT William Clardy
I share PO2 Jonathan Scharff's opinion, CMSgt James Nolan. You not only get what I was saying, you have practiced it.
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CMSgt James Nolan
1LT William Clardy PO2 Jonathan Scharff Thank you both gentlemen. In the Air Force people turn to the 1stSgt as the "uniform police" I go back to it is everyone's job. Some people need simple instruction, some need care and feeding, some need a swift kick or harsh conversation, a good NCO will pick up on what is needed.
I always have my "ass" with me. It is up to you if you want it up on my shoulders for the world to see. There is a vast difference between the 'unintentional' and the 'on purpose', and the "ass" tends to come out for the 'on purpose'. I have found that the older I get, the bigger that "ass" can get.
And, I have been utterly embarrassed by NCOs who will chase after a troop who is actively engaged in PT (running), whose PT shirt (back) has come untucked (because they are exercising), yelling for them to stop. I will admit that I did get a kick out of the time that the troop feigned inability to hear and sped up....in fact I laughed.
I always have my "ass" with me. It is up to you if you want it up on my shoulders for the world to see. There is a vast difference between the 'unintentional' and the 'on purpose', and the "ass" tends to come out for the 'on purpose'. I have found that the older I get, the bigger that "ass" can get.
And, I have been utterly embarrassed by NCOs who will chase after a troop who is actively engaged in PT (running), whose PT shirt (back) has come untucked (because they are exercising), yelling for them to stop. I will admit that I did get a kick out of the time that the troop feigned inability to hear and sped up....in fact I laughed.
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1LT William Clardy
CMSgt James Nolan, I wasn't feigning, I just didn't understand what he was saying. You know how hard it is to comprehend when somebody decides to remove all doubt about how big a fool he is....
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