Posted on Feb 19, 2014
Should Officers be allowed to use first names and have hands in pockets around Enlisted Soldiers?
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Discipline
Military bearing
Customs and Courtesies
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 103
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Sir, do you mean like these officers? I ask because it didn't appear to affect how they did their job; winning wars.<br>
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Cpl (Join to see) - Got a laugh out of Me on that one, logic and military in the same sentence ?
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SPC Andrew Phillips
I’ll point out that the military was not a 20 or 30 year career for most WW2 SM’s. I think you can make an argument that the military of the 40’s staffed by people who did 3 or 4 years and then went and did other things was more effective. There are many good “career” Soldiers, not saying they suck, but a lot of bureaucracy comes with large numbers of career SM’s. You get the 20 or 30 year garrison, paper pushing “Soldiers” who think them noticing some obscure nonsense regulation serves America somehow.
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Hands in pockets is easy AR 670-1 prohibits it. Make the on the spot correction. First names for suboordinates and equal rank is historicaly acceptable and is still today, however towards SR ranking it is not authorized. Sir or Ma'am is the appropriate response to a SR for the Officer Corps.
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SGT Tony Clifford
CSM, I don't think it would be wise to make an on the spot correction of an officer at field grade or higher. I did one time as a Col. had left his pistol in the dining facility and I handed it to him away from soldiers and I got called in front of my CSM to explain myself. Fortunately my CSM agreed with me, but he still had to smooth things over because the BC was the one who got the call.
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Tactfully…some senior leaders don't take constructive criticism very well. However, if you approach it in a tactful manner, off to the side - not in front of other people, they will react far better than they would if you did it in front of troops. They will either thank you - or ignore you.
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LTC Ken Connolly
Sure, counsel a Commander of the Combined Forces to not have his hands in his pocket. :) What is important is that we do the right thing regardless of others setting a bad example.
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