Has anyone gotten their tail chewed for making an on the spot correction of someone that was superior in rank?

I actually corrected a LTC on a uniform issue last week. I simply pulled him to the side and tactfully informed him of what was incorrect. I got a "thank you" for my efforts and we drove on. Likewise I had a SSG a few months back correct me on a unit SOP I wasn't tracking. It was a polite conversation, I fixed myself and we moved on with life.

I'm of the line of thinking that your rank doesn't make you right or impervious to correction. Your rank only indicates the amount of responsibility and authority you have. I would much rather one of my troops help me fix myself than walk around looking like an idiot. Furthermore, I would suggest leaders who get offended by this adjust their perspective. Those troops in most cases are simply trying to support their leadership.

Seniors should appreciate corrections, especially done in private. I appreciated it. Shipmates take care of each other. That said, sometimes an entire officer staff comes to the rescue. We had a Sunday blues inspection at Treasure Island. Problem was the Regimental Commander forgot his tie and there was no place within miles to get one.

So everyone was at the inspection, no exceptions. The Skipper had a tie. Interesting thing was the Ensign at the end of the line was proudly wearing a black sock stapled to his shirt. The Skipper complimented him on looking so sharp. So turning an oopsie into a unit event was the best.

Only once. I did however shut a CSM up once while getting an on the spot correction. While at Ft. Bliss/McGregor Range for our train up for Iraq, I ran across a CSM while comming back from the PX, I had bags in each hand and my weapon draped across my chest with a two-point sling. She called me from across the street and asked me how I was supposed to carry my weapon while on McGregor Range, which indeed was supposed to be at the ready, which because of the two-point sling, basically was. Well I answered her question and she continued to lecture me on the proper way to carry my weapon in a hostile combat zone. As she was speaking I kept seeing a (for lack of another word) gleam coming from her mouth as she spoke. Eventually I noticed that this gleam was a tongue piercing. As soon as I noticed this, I politely asked her if I could speak, she said yes, and I told her, "With all do respect, Sgt Major, before you correct me on the proper way to carry my weapon, you might consider taking the tongue ring out of your mouth". She promptly told me to carry on, and went on her way. I was actually surprised, because I figured I was going to get my ass completely chewed off after saying that, by her and my command. I did the OSC with the utmost respect, and was not angry when I said it, keeping my composure.