Veterans vs Greenhorned 2LT

2014-10-11T17:20:26-04:00

I am sorry...this is too funny not to share. So four seasoned combat veterans (including myself) are in the Commassary.

One of which happens to be an Ex- MSG which he chose to wear his old rank on his jacket lapel. ( Learher bomber jacket with large letters speliling out " Combat Veteran ...the 1% Club...or something similar).

A very very young green horned 2LT with a chip on his shoulder comes from behind the cashier and starts to chew out the MSG, 1SG, SFC, and myself SSG for wearing his rank on civilian clothing ...quoting Army uniform codes, etc., etc.

We all just smiled and laughed amongst ourselves and not directly at him...
He was informed that we know the regulations, and thank you very much for reminding us VETERANS about it. This kid had to be barely 19-20.

Now, he is red mad...so red his freckles melted away...and is acting unprofessional and un-officer like...demanding that we stop walking away and render him a salute as we are near the car loading the groceries.

Before it got too out of hand with this kid...and he was acting kiddish... Not like an officer at all. We called our ace in the whole over to clear his attitude and head up a bit. LTC Manson was parked right next to us and had heard part of the ruckus.

We calmy finished our business and drove away leaving the 2LT in the good hads of the LTC.

Now I ask you...even though we were very respectful to a point, where this kid could not be talked some sense into... We're we 'wrong' for laughing at him?
I tell you...had this kid done this off post... He would have been on the blotter report in the morning and reported as in the hospital he was being so arrogant and disrespectful. Sure we laughed... But it is easier to laugh at stress than to beat the stuffing out of it!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2014 5:27 PM

2014-10-11T17:27:28-04:00

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2014 5:48 PM

2014-10-11T17:48:50-04:00

This is all I got to say.

Stupid shit that 2nd LT's say

We all know what it's like to get a new LT... http://gruntstyle.com/

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 12:37 AM

2014-10-12T00:37:17-04:00

Got to love 2LTs. Fortunately, I have never had major issues with any of them..Mainly because I choose to shut them down if they get crazy.. I think you all handled it well. Glad you were not off post. He is probably salvageable and hopefully the LTC squared him away.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 11:23 AM

2014-10-12T11:23:19-04:00

My guess is he hasn't yet learned the value of NCO's in his workplace. Once he is redirected appropriately, he will come to his senses and realize his job will be a lot easier. As for this case, a more appropriate response would have been a firm hand shake from the LT along with a "Thank you for your service and sacrifice!". That's what I do when ever I see a combat vet. They are heroes in my eyes.

Response by SFC Boots Attaway made Oct 12 at 2014 11:31 AM

2014-10-12T11:31:18-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member , while you were wrong to laugh that kid brought it on himself. He sounds like a 2Lt I had in Korea my first tour. We would say "Give him to Mikey, he'll burn anyone" talking about Lt Mike S. (I will not give out his full name). No NCO in the company respected him and his temper tampers. I myself wear my rank on some of my clothing along with a few other decorations that I earned.

Response by Sgt Jennifer Mohler made Oct 12 at 2014 11:33 AM

2014-10-12T11:33:44-04:00

I suppose you could have petted him on the head and asked if his parents knew where he was. I only suggest that because people actually asked me that my entire eight years in the Marine Corps. I was asked this shit when I was 26.

Yeah, I normally would agree with CPT Gregory Wagoner but it sounds like he kind of buried his head in the sand and laughing was all you could have done in the moment. I doubt mentorship would have worked in that moment, and sometimes you just have to laugh this shit off and go about your day without raising your own blood pressure. I do hope that once he came back to his unit and presumably blew off some steam about it with some other officers someone more senior could have gently set him straight. It just sounds like leadership growing pains for this kid. We all do embarrassing shit early in our leadership careers.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 12 at 2014 12:29 PM

2014-10-12T12:29:49-04:00

The kid is green. Weren't we all at one point, regardless of rank? I would have had a good chuckle with it too I suppose, not to the point of humiliating the kid, but then set him straight, give him a cookie and some milk and sent him on his way. I think I would have had more empathy, having been in his shoes myself. Though I was taught not respect fellow vets and would have never gone down the road he did.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 12:30 PM

2014-10-12T12:30:16-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member You guys did well and absolutely nothing wrong in my opinion. Once the clueless 2LT had lost his bearing and refused to listen though, his ass would have needed a flak vest and helmet from the verbal round "return fire" I would have given him. Had a similar incident occur to me some years back (after retiring) I come a cross a 2LT in parking lot of grocery store right outside our installation, in uniform, no headgear and a civilan scarf wrapped around his neck. I stopped him, introduced myself and attempted to explain to him (polite but blunt) of his infraction. He attempted to inform me that since I was no longer on active duty and did not out rank I had no reason to speak to him, and he would do as he "damn well please". It was all down hill from there and I went into old form, "crazy ass 1SG" mode on him and as this was going on, a former Bn Cdr of mine (since proted to COL and a Bde Commander) walked up and said, "1SG Mack", is there a problem? The LT jumped to attention, saluted as I said, "No Sir, just trying to educate one of our Army's finest....when suddenly the Colonel realized what the LT had on and also no headgear. He immediately knew what was going on and began to "in the finest Old Tradition Infantry Colonel) rip him a new butt! I just stood there smiling in a "I told you so grin" until he was finished, offered the LT my hand and said, "Sir, anytime an old Soldier offers your young ass some advise, it might pay you to show a little respect and at least a little half ass attention....we've been there, we've talked and trained hundreds of you rocket scientistss! Also, you can expect to get a call from you Bn Commander as well, as I promise you Col XXXXXX, will give him a call and let him just what an idiot you've made yourself out to be! Have a nice day LT!" I walked away...SMDH and laughing! Some just have to learn the hard way!

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Oct 12 at 2014 3:59 PM

2014-10-12T15:59:13-04:00

SSG Scott Tolbert, Some people just don't get it...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 8:01 PM

2014-10-12T20:01:14-04:00

Poor guy! I would of had him at Parade Rest!

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Oct 13 at 2014 11:40 AM

2014-10-13T11:40:53-04:00

1984, a couple of months after I got to FT Riley, QuarterCav from one of my first and many tours/years in Korea! I and 2 other buddies were walking by Squadron HQ and properly saluted 2 LT's. The proceeded to tell us not to salute them!

Low and behold was the Squadron CSM, CSM Tumbler! CSM Tumbler was a proud wearer of the 1st ID patch on both shoulders at the time! Her served with QuarterCav, 2 tours in Vietnam!!! He was a tough, but fair individual, a man that most respected.

CSM Tumbler thanked us for rendering a proper salute and commence to cursing out the 2 LTs, needless to say they paid a visit also to the Squadron Commander, LTC Golf at the time!

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Oct 13 at 2014 12:38 PM

2014-10-13T12:38:23-04:00

That's funny right there.

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 13 at 2014 1:00 PM

2014-10-13T13:00:28-04:00

It seems LT Foghorn Leghorn failed to notice that the other officer's at the commasary , which I'm sure there were some, didn't flinch at the NCO's and their rank. You would think that one would wonder why. If everyone is wrong and your the only one right you might want to check to make sure that your universe isn't upside down. Most LT's I knew were very observant and asked a ton of questions. As to the matter, I think a simple as your were sir would have suficed sir see your company CO for instruction on this and if he continued I would have asked for the name and number of his CO.

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Oct 13 at 2014 4:08 PM

2014-10-13T16:08:28-04:00

What's worse than a Sgt. with a clip board? A 2nd Lt. with a briefcase. Seriously, as a Platoon Sgt I've had the glorious opportunity to have brand new 2nd Lt’s. as new Platoon Leaders. My company commander calls me in to introduce me to a brand new West Pointer and I say to him "Shit Sir, you gotta give me this rookie, he doesn't even know who to put his rank on, it's upside down." The guy starts to take the rank off his collar before he realizes you can't put in on upside down. Sometimes, they take it well other times they don't. But a 2nd Lt. learns very quickly who runs the Platoon. I will assist him in developing his leadership skills (he/she have none at that point in time) so they eventually display the proper skill to bepromoted and move on in their career. But a 2nd Lt is as dumb, militarily as a Pvt, E1.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2014 7:16 PM

2014-10-14T19:16:09-04:00

My bet is he just left West Point.

They don't get out much.

Response by SSG Sean Garcia made Feb 7 at 2015 5:31 AM

2015-02-07T05:31:34-05:00

Hahahaha another LT trying to validate his newly earned rank around.

I would have asked him to help me load up my car with the groceries while he was ranting. Then handed him a dollar and walked away.

I had a LT tell me a better way to do a med ret. I usually listen, but I wasn't cinvinced of what she was selling so I politely asked her how long she's been in service. She replied 8 months. Haha at the time I was close to 10 years then she tried to validate herself by saying her husband is a retired COL. That's when I stopped listening and let her talk, then ordered the supplies like I had been. I learned that sometimes they just gotta be heard.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made Feb 7 at 2015 5:46 AM

2015-02-07T05:46:21-05:00

This is why I don't get the obsession with on the spot corrections...
One, you better know what the he'll you are talking about. Two, I don't obsess over 670-1, I just make a point to generally look like everyone else in the formation or office. Three, come at me with some disrespect and you might incur physical maladies that exceed your perceived notion of my uniform violation...