Posted on Mar 10, 2014

Ignorance of AR 25-50

SSG Roderick Smith

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Does anyone else keep a copy of this close at hand? I've noticed that there is a general ignorance in the Army when it comes to the proper formatting of correspondence. I'll never forget when I learned about AR 25-50. I had just finished typing a memo. I found one that fit what I needed on the unit shared drive and changed what needed to be changed. I mean, it was on the shared drive, it couldn't be wrong, right? I gave it to my Provost Sergeant for approval, and he took one look at it and handed it back with a copy of 25-50. I read it from front to back, and my eyes were opened! I never made the mistake of taking someone else's work for gospel ever again.

Now, a copy sits on my desk permanently. If a Soldier turns in correspondence that is done incorrectly, I explain how to fix it and give them their own free copy. For me, its all about the little things...

Most recently, a Soldier that was working on the MP desk with me was typing out a memo related to her Article 15 appeal. I immediately noticed that it was incorrectly formatted. I helped her fix it, and informed her NCO. He told me that the way she initially had it was the way JAG wanted it, so it was reformatted back to its original state. This is exactly the kind of thing I am talking about. If there is a reg that lays it out for you line by line, page by page, how is it that any organization can ignore that?

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Regulation

Posted >1 y ago

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SFC James Baber

Posted >1 y ago

If you have been in long enough, you know JAG has always done things their own way as they always throw the Military Justice regulation into the mix ands say it gives them the authority, and that being lawyers they know better how the documents are supposed to read and be written via legal speak.

How many times have you seen MP reports kicked back from JAG review because they want it worded a certain way even though it is not proper per regulation or grammatical verbiage?

SSG S., This is a battle you will never win when it comes to JAG, with any other organization within the Army or an installation you can and will have a leg to stand on with the regulation, but almost never will it happen with JAG, I am basing this not only on opinion but 27 years of dealing with similar circumstances.

Good luck and don't let it deter you in doing what you know is right.

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SSG Roderick Smith

>1 y

SFC Baber, what you say is very true. Using the JAG story was probably a bad example, because I know they have their own ways of wording things. The fact remains that I have run into the same problem with other organizations. I have no problem sticking to my guns and the reg, it just blows my mind when it is completely ignored or overlooked, especially on correspondence bound for commanders of any level or headed into someone's official file. Thank you for your input and advice.

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Ignorance of AR 25-50

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