Greeting of the Day... Not anymore

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 13:28:16 -0400

I do not live around a bse and I have not for many years now. As a recruiter I do make my way down to JBLM every once in a while and when I am there I usually stop at Clothing and Sales along with the PX. As I am walking through, in my uniform, I see many junior Soldiers that look away or down at the ground when they walk past me instead of giving the greeting of the day. What is with new Soldiers trying to get out of doing the very basic Soldier duties? How can we as Noncommissioned Officers change this? What do you think has led to the change in basics like this?

I cannot say that I am perfect in doing this with everyone that I walk by. There are times I will pass a fellow Staff Sergeant and they will give the greeting of the day and add Sergeant to the end of it. I am not that formal with my peers but I always return the greeting. Also, I cannot say that I chase down every Soldier I walk by that purposely ignores me and tell them that they are not showing proper respect by giving the greeting of the day. I don't believe I would ever complete the task I was there to complete if I did this.

When I go back to a normal unit, this will be one thing that I press on my Soldiers. Unless they are engaged in something that you would be distracting them from (another conversation, etc.) you better give anyone that out ranks you a proper greeting.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2014 2:00 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:00:08 -0400

I understand where you are coming from; the greeting of the
day is nothing new to people that have been in for a few years. Some commands
do not require a greeting of the day or the greeting of the day is limited to
certain areas on the base.

Some people would argue that not having a greeting of the
day given is a lack of discipline, I would disagree. If any soldier is worried
about not receiving a greeting of the day, they have too little on their
respective plate to do. Not trying to
say you are the latter type of soldier but I am sure there are more pressing
things to do as a recruiter (there was when I was a recruiter) then worry about
what a junior soldier would say or not say in passing.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jun 5 at 2014 7:59 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 19:59:32 -0400

SSG Ryan, it is just courtesy. That is something that you learn. Perhaps it isn't being taught anymore.

I can see where "people are busy" we all are. But...that does not mean that we cannot be polite and courteous to each other. That is discipline. If a 19 year old (pick a branch) sees my old and gray head, it should be pretty dad gum obvious that I have been around for a minute. And that is if I happen to be sporting some civvies. If I am in uniform, and that same young SM walks by with nary a mention, it is disrespectful.

Nobody is so busy that they should walk around, head down, not looking around or paying attention. Show some pride.

Just my opinion.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2014 8:25 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 20:25:24 -0400

The way to fix this is to stop the offender and ask them, "Hey do you know what the appropriate greeting of the day is?" Most of the time that will fix the problem. The problem is how many other people did they just walk right by and not say anything. You need to explain to them that it is a simple custom and courtesy. Most of the time they would probably just let some else of junior rank walk right past them.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 14 at 2014 12:03 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 00:03:03 -0400

SM or not its just basic human interaction. I remember heading off to ROTC advanced cramp down at Bragg and our ROTC staff telling us that perception was everything and that us "northerners" had a reputation of being cold and unapproachable, so we should go out of our way to greet everyone.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2018 9:08 AM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 09:08:05 -0400

I'm that private that doesn't say anything or looks away because, I hear don't say it in "civies" don't say it in public don't say it if he does this or that so I just don't say it, or I freeze I don't know why I'm afraid to say it, I feel like such a wimp if I don't but if I do and someone corrects me then i feel like a shitbag and most of the times I feel like they don't care if I do or don't so to fix it I'm just going to say it all of the time, if I get yelled at? so what it'll just teach me the right thing to do

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 4 at 2018 10:09 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 10:09:55 -0400

Somebody didn't smack them about the head and shoulders in basic military courtesy class. Now their current leaders are too wimpy to do it.