Do you think cursing in the Military makes us look unprofessional?

SFC Stephan,

Cursing and bad language is a condition out of habit with personal leadership skill sets. Cursing is normal when overlaps into the other social settings, and when it becomes an automatic reaction or a trained response. When it becomes a trained response, this behavior reflects on the individual's professional leadership skills, the unit and on the branch of service.

This is why professional development is important. Personal and professional leadership is addressed and nurtured.

This is the correct answer. Know your target audience and adjust accordingly.

However, we are NOT Apple, or Google...we kill people and break stuff, or enable and facilitate same. There is an incredible level of hypocrisy involved with someone who is fine with a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine taking another human's life, but is offended by that same service members "f-bomb".

It is very uncomfortable to be with my pre-school grandkids in line behind a couple of soldiers at the grocery store and every third word from them is the f-bomb. Been there. I don't want those soldiers to be nice when they are facing our enemies, but I also don't like explaining to all the children why the soldiers are all using bad words.

I would have agreed with this position a couple of decades ago however times have changed. I had this pointed out to me when as a BCT company commander I discussed initial entry training with the Marine Corps. Their point was that a DS/DI isn't shocking anyone by cursining in initial entry training. In today's society those kids have heard worse from their mom, their teachers and their friends. All we're doing is coming down to their level. Better to shock them with stone cold professionalism.

When I want my men to remember something important, to really make it stick, I give it to them double dirty. It may not sound nice to some bunch of little old ladies at an afternoon tea party, but it helps my soldiers to remember. You can't run an army without profanity; and it has to be eloquent profanity. An army without profanity couldn't fight its way out of a piss-soaked paper bag. ... As for the types of comments I make, sometimes I just, By God, get carried away with my own eloquence.
--General George S. Patton Jr.

SFC Robert,

Out here in my world, I could be sued for disrespect and declination of character for being the king of insults. Even worse, jail time or prison. There are many veterans in American prisons due to violent language and unlawful deeds associated with the former. Mostly former enlisted and not too many former officers go to prison, serving time for being a violent character.

I agree with LTC Jones about stone cold professionalism.

And Sgt Arron's leadership style to me is off the grid, but I was a small team leader back in the day and did my share of yelling, cursing and just going ballistic.

I believe that in these styles that are off the grid, a leader goes through a maturation phase. Like a growing phase. Later in life, the body does change with the seasons; hence a seasoned leader.

All the while profanity creates a lonely and isolated environment for that particular leader.

More so if halitosis and bad gas are the mixture within the exchange.

The military is for the young. For those like Sgt Aaron, I am not passing judgement, however this type of profane behavior may cost you your job on the outside, and/or loss of freedom in certain settings. It is different out here, so while you are in, get it out of your system before you ETS... IMHO.

"...lowest common denominator."

I agree with you for the most part SSG. I have made a big effort to stop doing it. Now that I work in HR, it has turned from an "I should stop" to an "I MUST stop."