Posted on Jun 23, 2014
Customs and Courtesies - Calling "Attention" or "At Ease" in the workplace/office
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I work in a BDE level section that formerly fell under control of "BN X." Since our BDE HQ deployed, we now fall under another BDE HQ and consequently a different BN. Today the CSM from our old BN walked in and chewed us up and down for not calling "At Ease." First off, he was not even two steps into our office when he started his tirade and to make matters worse, we could not even see who he was or know who he was for that matter. We have customers coming in all the time and he has a) never been in our office even once before and b) we do not belong to his BN any longer.
As a BDE element, in my experience, we have only called "Attention" and "At Ease" for our BDE CDR and CSM but not BN level CDR or CSM unless in the BN HQ or lower controlled buildings (Subordinate Company's, BN Staff Duty, etc) Doing so would be like a 1SG walking into BN HQ and expecting "At Ease.
This particular CSM (whose BN we do not fall under) chewed two CPT's in my office for not calling "At Ease" and going to parade rest and even went through the trouble of alerting the BN Commander of their faux paux, told them to come see him in his office AND printed off the page of FM 7-21.13 highlighting the portion of the text that states, "When an NCO of superior rank enters the room, the first soldier to recognize the NCO calls the room to “At ease.”
Enough story time...based on the facts above, I have two questions.
#1 - Is it correct protocol to ALWAYS call "Attention" or "At Ease" for a CDR, 1SG or CSM from a different unit in YOUR workplace? (Keep in mind there is normally one of the aforementioned personnel in said workplace)
#2 - If an officer sees a CSM, should they call "At Ease" and go to parade rest?
As a BDE element, in my experience, we have only called "Attention" and "At Ease" for our BDE CDR and CSM but not BN level CDR or CSM unless in the BN HQ or lower controlled buildings (Subordinate Company's, BN Staff Duty, etc) Doing so would be like a 1SG walking into BN HQ and expecting "At Ease.
This particular CSM (whose BN we do not fall under) chewed two CPT's in my office for not calling "At Ease" and going to parade rest and even went through the trouble of alerting the BN Commander of their faux paux, told them to come see him in his office AND printed off the page of FM 7-21.13 highlighting the portion of the text that states, "When an NCO of superior rank enters the room, the first soldier to recognize the NCO calls the room to “At ease.”
Enough story time...based on the facts above, I have two questions.
#1 - Is it correct protocol to ALWAYS call "Attention" or "At Ease" for a CDR, 1SG or CSM from a different unit in YOUR workplace? (Keep in mind there is normally one of the aforementioned personnel in said workplace)
#2 - If an officer sees a CSM, should they call "At Ease" and go to parade rest?
Posted in these groups: 
Customs and Courtesies
Customs and Courtesies
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 32
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I expect the house to be called to attention when I get home but my wife out ranks me. :-) Where's my emoticon!
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Always remember, and never forget the 2 most important words that will save your life, "Yes Dear"
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SSG Daniel Deiler
I had a wise sage once ask me, "Do you want to be right or do you want to be happy?" Happy wife Happy Life!!!
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As the BN CSM doesn't have control over your unit any longer, I would say no to his "desiring" that the unit call "At Ease" for him, unless he is the first Sr NCO to have entered your workplace. As for the 2 CPTs, yeah, had I been one I would have "politely" reminded the CSM that while he is the SR Enlisted person for said unit, he does not out rank myself and therefor I will not ever go to "Parade Rest" when speaking to him, and would have reminded him that he should be speaking to me from the position of attention until told to "At Ease"!!
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SSG (Join to see)
It was not an buding entry it was an office one so i disagree if a random CSM wants to come vist my powertrain shop I will still call At Ease regardless of where he is from it is a disciplinary thing.
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Unfortunately you're dealing with a CSM with a large ego who desires to force others to respect his rank. I'm all for enforcing appropriate military customs and courtesies, but this senior NCO gives other professional NCO's a bad name. If you're a genuine leader who cares for his/her soldiers, but treats everyone with dignity and respect, you can still be "hard" and will earn true respect of subordinates, peers and superiors. In this particular case, you should not call "At Ease" when he enters since he's a subordinate command/CSM to your Brigade. Commissioned Officers are not required to stand at "Parade Rest" or call the building to "At Ease" when this CSM or any other CSM enters. I'd encourage SSG Deiler to enlighten the 2 Captains. NCO's can and should mentor Commissioned Officer when needed.
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LTC Paul Labrador
Only time I've seen a room of officers asked to stand up for a senior NCO was the SMA. And that was out of respect for his position not necessarily his "rank".
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