Greeting-of-the-day for Non-Commissioned Officers: Did that just disappear off of the face of the earth? Or is it just our fault?

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2015 03:41:05 -0400

How many times has a soldier walked right passed you and not even bat an eyelash, much less give you the greeting of the day? Then you go on to see that soldier salute an officer and give them the greeting of the day. I think we have lost our touch! NCO's what do you think???

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Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 3:58 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2015 03:58:16 -0400

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member, here's my question to you: Why do some NCOs not even bother replying to the greeting-of-the-day? If all NCOs would reply to the greeting-of-the-day, maybe more junior enlisted Soldiers would give it. I routinely give greetings every day. While commissioned officers always reply, only about 4 out of 5 NCOs reply. Some Soldiers may interpret this to mean that the greeting isn't welcome and will stop giving the greeting. For me, if you don't return my greeting, you just make me more determined to get a reply the next time. If I see you coming, I'll even cross to your side of the street just to greet you.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 4:09 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2015 04:09:49 -0400

If you let them walk by you without giving you a greeting than you are adding to the problem. You should never be so busy that you don't have time to stop and drop some knowledge. SGT Private RallyPoint Member also makes a good point although I would challenge her on the comment that officers always reply. Seems the return greeting of the day from officers is, "what's up", "how you doin" or "hey", not all but the majority that I salute...I stop and drop knowledge on them too.

I usually initiate the greeting, whether it's an officer or an enlisted Soldier, I also greet fellow NCOs. If the enlisted fail to respond, I drop them, um, I mean I drop knowledge on them. Make corrections when you see something wrong, don't just walk by.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 5:17 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2015 05:17:53 -0400

I see this on the soldier and I see it as more predominant in the non-combat arms arena. It also seems to apply to all branches and affects forward deployed areas the most. We just had a Navy E-6 walk by our Chief of Staff (Senior O-6) and when he said good morning she replied with "hey, what's up man". Needless to say I heard about it and it went to her NCOIC to fix.

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 3 at 2015 5:35 AM

SFC Stephen King — Sun, 03 May 2015 05:35:33 -0400

This a great question I believe it is a combination of the NCO's and individuals fault. I talk to greet numerous people throughout the day it is just in my nature. Some people just natural are not open to morning conversation. If a Soldier blatantly ignores me I had no problem bringing it to their attention in a assertive manner. Now if a individual gives me non verbal disrespect once I greet them a different manner of communication is used. Lastly, I see this as a core value or belief in which people were raised and it's become the norm to ignore. So I challenge people to re-evaluate and be kind to one another.

Military customs and cortusties chapter 4.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 3 at 2015 7:28 AM

Capt Richard I P. — Sun, 03 May 2015 07:28:18 -0400

Did you let it?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 10:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2015 10:36:38 -0400

Without sarcasm, basically everything that is wrong is our fault as NCOs. I have heard people complain about the greeting thing a lot, but I would challenge by asking when was the last time you even gave courtesy instruction to a Soldier? When was the last time you gave a greeting yourself? I guarantee if we were leading by example in this way it would be less of an issue from the bottom.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made May 3 at 2015 10:43 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sun, 03 May 2015 10:43:32 -0400

Sgt. Ernie Savage: Good morning, Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: How do you know what kind of goddamn day it is?

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2015 12:49 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 May 2015 12:49:50 -0400

I would have to say it is situational. I try my best to always at least give a greeting of some caliber but sometimes I am in a hurry or have my mind elsewhere. There is no disrespect but no one is perfect.

Response by SGT Chip Hutchings made May 3 at 2015 1:22 PM

SGT Chip Hutchings — Sun, 03 May 2015 13:22:17 -0400

Can I get some clarification on this. Now I have been out for 17-18 years, but I don't remember any formal daily greeting that were required to be given to an NCO. This may have been something I just did as second nature and habit and I just don't remember. Can someone clarify this for me.

Response by TSgt Christopher D. made May 3 at 2015 1:22 PM

TSgt Christopher D. — Sun, 03 May 2015 13:22:49 -0400

I never threw my NCO rank around on junior enlisted guys. I wanted them to respect ME, and not just because I had a stripe or two more on my sleeve than they did.

One day while working at NSA-Hawaii, a joint-service SIGINT post, I was walking through the halls and made sure to greet everyone, whether above me or below me in rank. I got a response maybe 30% of the time. This was confusing and frustrating. On the long walk out of the "tunnel," I extended a "Good afternoon," to a Seaman. He looked at me awkwardly and just kept walking. I locked him up and calmly explained, "You know, as a non-commissioned officer, I'm under no professional obligation to acknowledge or greet you since you're junior to me, but I think it is important to do so. I was polite and professional toward you, yet you think it's ok to simply ignore me? Do you care to explain that?"

If we can't treat each other with courtesy and professionalism, then we've got big problems.

Response by CW5 Jim Steddum made May 3 at 2015 7:48 PM

CW5 Jim Steddum — Sun, 03 May 2015 19:48:05 -0400

Lack of leadership--not totally the fault of NCOs, but also Officers and the generation coming up behind those that notice this trend.

When we let it slide, we set a new standard.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 10:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 22:22:52 -0400

We are more concerned about checking the dipstick at the motor pool than we are about discipline, and respect. Soldiers are being pushed through BCT that 10 weeks need to be 13 to allow time for Drill and ceremony and customs and courtesy. If not then their first Permanent assignment should be doing this at 9 before anything else is thought of.

Response by MSG David Chappell made May 4 at 2015 11:31 PM

MSG David Chappell — Mon, 04 May 2015 23:31:21 -0400

There is no such thing as a bad soldier only bad leadership however it starts at the CPL/SGT and goes up. We at the senior level must hold those below accountable but must set the example.

Response by SSG Paul Lanciault made May 5 at 2015 6:45 AM

SSG Paul Lanciault — Tue, 05 May 2015 06:45:50 -0400

I haven't been active duty in a long time, but if your not getting the greeting of the day, maybe your not giving one.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 5 at 2015 3:50 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 05 May 2015 15:50:59 -0400

Soldiers are going to do whatever we allow them to get away with.. That's the nature of the business..

Response by SFC Charles S. made May 5 at 2015 4:58 PM

SFC Charles S. — Tue, 05 May 2015 16:58:38 -0400

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member If we as NCO's Don't enforce what the standard is, Then it's our fault that there is no Standard.

Response by SGT Beverly O'Hara made May 5 at 2015 5:20 PM

SGT Beverly O'Hara — Tue, 05 May 2015 17:20:59 -0400

NCO's are taught to lead by example. We are doing an injustice to the NCO corp if we don't teach our soldiers correctly!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 30 at 2015 9:46 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 21:46:45 -0400

SSG Jason Blanco, Your question leads to: Have you attended an NCO School? / Or did you attend a Leader's Course? Nuf said! It is now your Army!

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Jul 1 at 2015 7:01 AM

CW2 Ernest Krutzsch — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 07:01:03 -0400

I was in the 1/39th Infantry in the 8th ID in the 1970's, every unit had its own greeting ours was AAAO, the response was Bar None, I believe the 1/13th greeting was Forty Rounds Sir. It is everyone's fault who ignores making a correction. It is not only an NCO responsibility to correct, but on the spot corrections belong to all. Shame on a Colonel who has to go to an NCO to have them reprimand a soldier/sailor for an improper greeting.