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Many of us have one thing that really gets to us. I have to say that probably my biggest pet peeve (as it pertains to the military) are ill fitted ACU tops. I constantly find myself explaining to people how their uniform should fit.
What is your pet peeve?
What is your pet peeve?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 332
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according to the label on the inside of the garment - it is a 'coat, acu", how many people call them shirts, blouses, jackets etc. etc. and at the same time scream about 'army standards', the army standard is what the army calls the garment, not what you want to call it.
people telling you that you're not authorized to keep stuff in your pockets - the 1st para. of ar 670-1 says that the uniform is supposed to be worn as it's designed, if you look in a dictionary the purpose of pockets is to hold stuff, therefore if your pockets are empty, you're not in compliance, my 1st mos was abn medic - we had to use our pockets
people telling you that you're not authorized to keep stuff in your pockets - the 1st para. of ar 670-1 says that the uniform is supposed to be worn as it's designed, if you look in a dictionary the purpose of pockets is to hold stuff, therefore if your pockets are empty, you're not in compliance, my 1st mos was abn medic - we had to use our pockets
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I just really hate the mandarin collar on the ACUs, none of mine ever seem to stay flat against the blouse and always want to ride up. That and those who have their patches on crooked or have the patches curling up because the velcro has worn down (get a new patch!)
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Fleece hats when it's 60 degrees out...wearing ACU to the mall, movies, or restaurant because the person was too lazy to change, and walking and talking on cell phone.
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1LT (Join to see)
Sir, I respect your position. However, I must say, in my case, and many other "weekend warriors," I live ~ 50 mi from "civilization" (i.e., mall, major shopping, non-fast food restaurants, etc), so after completing drill, or on duty weekdays, once I'm done, if I have any shopping to do, or if I'm hungry, it's completely pointless to drive home, change, and head back out. Granted, I could take a change of clothes with me, but usually, I'm rushed to leave (I've either stayed too late, or made plans shortly after final formation). So I understand ACU in the mall or a restaurant. Movies, not so much. Unless I had an impromtu date with the lady, such as she surprises me at drill and says "let's go," I don't see myself pulling that one any time soon.
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LTC Mark Maitag
Takes 5 minutes to change. If your commander doesn't have an issue, then it's not an issue.
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Those who stand in a manner in which they feel some need to have to lean their own weight upon a wall, a railing, a truck tailgate...in other words cannot stand on their own two feet---literally. Like what kind of quality "service" are you really capable of providing anyone, if u cant even handle your own weight?
Of course these are usually also the folks with their hands in their pockets.
Of course these are usually also the folks with their hands in their pockets.
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This is definitely branch specific, it irritates me seeing the obviously starched and pressed ABU sleeves when AFI36-2903 says "Do not starch or hot press the ABU. Light ironing and center creasing of enlisted chevrons is authorized". The worst part is that the biggest offenders are sernior NCOs. I'm sorry it is not lightly ironed if there is still a defined crease down the length of your sleeve at the end of the day.
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SrA Matthew Knight
TSgt (Join to see) I know exactly what you mean. You can tell it in the stripes too, usually completely flat and looking like the threading has melted together to form one solid shape.
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My biggest pet peeve was senior leadership (E-7 & up) not knowing uniform regs, or thinking they know uniform regs that are nothing more than an urban legend. I was in the Navy so I'm not sure about the other branches but here goes with a few examples.
Navy uniform regs Urban Legend #1: Men cannot shave their heads unless they are 25% or more bald. WRONG. Shaved heads are completely authorized as they fit the Navy definition of a regulation haircut and I DARE you, in fact I will bet my entire year's pay, to show me where in the regs it says this. You won't find it because it's NOT THERE.
Navy uniform regs Urban Legend #2: If you ride a motorcycle you must remove all PPE and be in a proper uniform as soon as you dismount your motorcycle. WRONG. PPE may be worn from your motorcycle/parking lot to your immediate work space.
#2 got so bad when I was on the USS Nimitz that our Command Master Chief had to put out to the Chief's Mess what the real instruction was. Chiefs didn't care and were still zealously enforcing their own regulations. It got to the point where I started carrying a copy of the email the Master Chief sent out as well as a copy of the uniform regulations stating that the Chiefs were wrong. Chiefs on the Nimitz hated being proved wrong and were Mafia-like in their retaliation. I almost got out of the Navy because of piss-poor enlisted leadership at that command, with the exception of the Master Chief.
My other pet peeve is senior leadership who can't/won't wear their uniform in accordance with uniform regs and then have the nerve to try and correct junior Sailors for perceived uniform infractions.
Navy uniform regs Urban Legend #1: Men cannot shave their heads unless they are 25% or more bald. WRONG. Shaved heads are completely authorized as they fit the Navy definition of a regulation haircut and I DARE you, in fact I will bet my entire year's pay, to show me where in the regs it says this. You won't find it because it's NOT THERE.
Navy uniform regs Urban Legend #2: If you ride a motorcycle you must remove all PPE and be in a proper uniform as soon as you dismount your motorcycle. WRONG. PPE may be worn from your motorcycle/parking lot to your immediate work space.
#2 got so bad when I was on the USS Nimitz that our Command Master Chief had to put out to the Chief's Mess what the real instruction was. Chiefs didn't care and were still zealously enforcing their own regulations. It got to the point where I started carrying a copy of the email the Master Chief sent out as well as a copy of the uniform regulations stating that the Chiefs were wrong. Chiefs on the Nimitz hated being proved wrong and were Mafia-like in their retaliation. I almost got out of the Navy because of piss-poor enlisted leadership at that command, with the exception of the Master Chief.
My other pet peeve is senior leadership who can't/won't wear their uniform in accordance with uniform regs and then have the nerve to try and correct junior Sailors for perceived uniform infractions.
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PO1 John Meyer, CPC
Or when they get pissy when you as a junior try and correct their obvious uniform infractions.
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I was a State Honor Guard for two years, so I notice every tiny flaw or mistake on a uniform. It's a blessing and a curse.
One of my biggest pet peeves is Soldiers walking around with a jacket zipped halfway up. It looks terrible and is usually just laziness on the Soldier's part. Another pet peeve of mine is Soldiers wearing unauthorized "cool guy" gear. We had a Platoon in the Battalion I deployed with that liked to wear shemaghs, cuff their sleeves, walk around without head gear, and sport coyote tan web gear. You'd think they were SF the way they behaved. Their behavior to me indicates an utter failure of their leadership to enforce standards.
One of my biggest pet peeves is Soldiers walking around with a jacket zipped halfway up. It looks terrible and is usually just laziness on the Soldier's part. Another pet peeve of mine is Soldiers wearing unauthorized "cool guy" gear. We had a Platoon in the Battalion I deployed with that liked to wear shemaghs, cuff their sleeves, walk around without head gear, and sport coyote tan web gear. You'd think they were SF the way they behaved. Their behavior to me indicates an utter failure of their leadership to enforce standards.
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SFC (Join to see)
LT, you nailed it with the failure of their leadership. Please remember that as you move up in rank. Always enforce the standards and back up your NCOs that are trying to do the right thing. Thanks Sir!
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1. Hands in pockets when wearing dress uniforms is definitely a sign of lack of discipline.
Note: If it's cold out and you need the dexterity, common sense tells you to warm up your hands and I can tolerate sticking your hands in your pockets, in your crotch, or under your armpits for that but be discreet. Don't stand around like the guys in the pic uploaded by SFC James Sczymanski. Put some gloves on.
2. Chewing gum in uniform. My XO (a LtCol) was interviewed as part of a documentary that was put together for a unit I was in, and he was caught chewing gum in uniform while being interviewed. The higher ups who saw the documentary were not amused. I got out before I could find out what happened to my XO, but I'm pretty sure he reached his terminal rank and that that incident helped seal the deal.
3. Wearing sunglasses in formation. When operational necessity dictates their use, we can make allowance for that. I see a lot of Army guys and a few Marines posting pics of themselves trying to look all studly and standing holding guns with their shades on. Whatever trips your trigger, but more often than not, it looks unprofessional... just like Gen MacArthur staging his own landing in the Philippines. Get over yourself and don't try to be too cool for school. Really cool people don't have to try and look the part. They simply are, and don't need props to help them. They don't require big cigars, cigarettes dangling from the lip, a big dip, gun in hand with bands of ammo slung over their shoulder, sunglasses, bandannas, etc. Not saying don't take pics with you and your buddies doing your jobs. Just check your attitude and don't let people see you channeling your inner narcisist.
In other words, "Don't be a poser!"
Note: If it's cold out and you need the dexterity, common sense tells you to warm up your hands and I can tolerate sticking your hands in your pockets, in your crotch, or under your armpits for that but be discreet. Don't stand around like the guys in the pic uploaded by SFC James Sczymanski. Put some gloves on.
2. Chewing gum in uniform. My XO (a LtCol) was interviewed as part of a documentary that was put together for a unit I was in, and he was caught chewing gum in uniform while being interviewed. The higher ups who saw the documentary were not amused. I got out before I could find out what happened to my XO, but I'm pretty sure he reached his terminal rank and that that incident helped seal the deal.
3. Wearing sunglasses in formation. When operational necessity dictates their use, we can make allowance for that. I see a lot of Army guys and a few Marines posting pics of themselves trying to look all studly and standing holding guns with their shades on. Whatever trips your trigger, but more often than not, it looks unprofessional... just like Gen MacArthur staging his own landing in the Philippines. Get over yourself and don't try to be too cool for school. Really cool people don't have to try and look the part. They simply are, and don't need props to help them. They don't require big cigars, cigarettes dangling from the lip, a big dip, gun in hand with bands of ammo slung over their shoulder, sunglasses, bandannas, etc. Not saying don't take pics with you and your buddies doing your jobs. Just check your attitude and don't let people see you channeling your inner narcisist.
In other words, "Don't be a poser!"
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SFC (Join to see)
Sir,
I am with you on 1 and 2. Unfortunately the Army recently changed the regulation concerning sunglasses in formation and it is now acceptable for us....I am not a fan of the change.
I am with you on 1 and 2. Unfortunately the Army recently changed the regulation concerning sunglasses in formation and it is now acceptable for us....I am not a fan of the change.
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I have to say I am irked by this very same thing as everyone else. I am currently in charge of about 45+ officers on a regular basis and there are likely about 20 who love to put their hands in their pockets all the time. But that number has been decreasing pretty rapidly with my "I'm watching you eyeballin" and bringing it up.
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SFC Boots Attaway
Good job SGT (Join to see), train those officers right. Then latter in their careers they will look back, smile and remember you when they see a SM with their hands in their pockets.
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Hands in pockets isn't a big deal. People make it a big deal and get butt hurt for some reason. What's the big deal?
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SPC Eric Cunningham
SSG, while it IS a regulation, I would contend that it is also important to question them. Some regulations are importaint and must be maintained for soldier and unit readiness. Some appear to have been made by some peacetime officer solely for an OER bullet. I would maintain that, in order to develop the bast force we can, we need soldiers who are intelligent and will question and understand the whys of what is required of them so that they can produce better results, be more flexible in how they tackle their taskings to fit the mission, and are better able to take the initiative to lead as they move up the ranks.
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SSG (Join to see)
SPC Eric Cunningham It is important to question them....but the way to question them is NOT to violate them.
I do think it would be a good idea for regulations to include explanations for some of the rules they expect us to follow. Kind of the principle of expecting the Soldier to execute now and ask questions later. Well, it seems like when you're WRITING A BOOK, you have the time to answer the questions. Then, when the seemingly odd rules have a valid reason that isn't "because that's what we say", the ones that don't yet have a explanation will be easier to swallow.
Regardless, violating them isn't the answer.
I do think it would be a good idea for regulations to include explanations for some of the rules they expect us to follow. Kind of the principle of expecting the Soldier to execute now and ask questions later. Well, it seems like when you're WRITING A BOOK, you have the time to answer the questions. Then, when the seemingly odd rules have a valid reason that isn't "because that's what we say", the ones that don't yet have a explanation will be easier to swallow.
Regardless, violating them isn't the answer.
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SPC Eric Cunningham
Soldiers have been executing this particular regulation for decades - and violating it just as long without the world crashing down. When can they ask the question? When will they get an answer? If they aren't allowed to use their powers of reasoning and logic at the level of where to place their hands when not in formation or in a standardized position, how can they be expected to take initiative when presented with a task they dont have the ability to do by the book? No, violating regulations is not the first step to questioning the existence of the regulation. But at the same time, we are a nation built upon challenging the rules placed over is when they don't make sense or aren't fair. It is literally the foundation that led to the founding of this country. Beyond that, the practicality of raising soldiers who resist micromanagement and ask questions about what is asked of them produces a force that can adapt their tasks to better fit the overall mission, act flexibly and smartly by bringing their own experiance to the table and be able to act independently in coordination with their unit. We don't need robots, we need intelligence ideas and the ability to honk critically.
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