Posted on Oct 12, 2020
SSG Kevin S.
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A Little background, I was promoted to E5 last Dec and due to primarily VBA's, I havent had the opportunity to grow in my rank, but was thinking of the following situation
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I ask a soldier a question pertaining to their job and they cop an attitude, so I bring that soldier to parade rest (only the two of us are in the office) and ask for an explanation.
Just then their NCOIC walks in, asks what going on and tells the soldier to sit and dismisses me.
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IMO this is the senior giving the solder "permission" to disrespect which is not "proper".

How would, could should one handle this situation should it arise?
Just want to reiterate, this is completely hypothetical, I have one seen it happen before I was an NCO.
On one hand, I could stand my ground and cause an possible issue with the NCOIC, which the soldier could interpret as me either its ok to disrespect my senior, or me not backing down when I know Im in the right.
Im sure this situation as played out in many ways, and I would like to know you experiences to help my abilities grow as an NCO .
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Responses: 5
SGM G3 Sergeant Major
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Edited 4 y ago
Hypothetically? Yes.
In real life I have never seen this happen.

The only three scenarios I can think of where this could happen (in descending order of likelihood) are:

1.if the junior enlisted is already a chapter case, and the senior NCO is only trying to de-escalate a situation that might blow up into more paperwork delaying the chapter.

2. if the new NCO was actually wrong about the issue at hand, and the copped attitude (real or perceived) was the joe explaining it.

3. a bad senior NCO.

In the first two cases, the senior NCO would not explain this in front of the junior enlisted.
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SSG Kevin S.
SSG Kevin S.
4 y
I understand 1 and 2

Number 3 is the one Im more concerned with as Ive seen seniors "protect" their soldiers from problems (I was junior enlisted and might not have been privy to the results).
My thought is to approach the NCOIC off-line, or go to my NCOIC and we both go.
OTOH, if I handle the situation myself it might make garner respect for me authority, although this will depend on the unknowns and the attitude of the senior.
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SSG Kevin S.
SSG Kevin S.
4 y
Thank you for your guidance SGM.
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SPC Nancy Greene
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@SGT Kevin Smith SSG Kevin S., I commend you for increasing your knowledge as an NCO by asking this question! Best of Luck and Congratulations on becoming an NCO!
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SSG Kevin S.
SSG Kevin S.
4 y
Thank you, its a new set of rules. I just want to get the hang of leadership.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
4 y
I think it’s great you are asking questions! I had some NCO’s who would have been much better leaders if they had asked questions and gathered information from Senior NCO’s...sounds to me as if you are going to be a good NCO!SSG Kevin S.
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SSG Kevin S.
SSG Kevin S.
4 y
I hope so...just trying to get a good foundation, I waited way to long to get my stripes.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
4 y
After almost 3 years SP4(P), I gave up & then requested a medical discharge. Cut off scores in my MOS (ADMIN) were ‘frozen’ at 998 until after I got out!SSG Kevin S.
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SGT Samuel Wilson
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Bro I to have had many seniors pull stunts like what you are saying, I would personally stand my ground especially when it was deliberately done right there. I was in the Army for 13 years and I was taught the old school ways and that was to fix the problem ASAP no wait get it done. If that senior gets me I get my senior and make sure to explain everything to them about the situation and ask then! I was in an Infantry Brigade so my NCOs whether mine or someone else's got dealt with accordingly, they wanted all JNCOs to do their job and not walk by and see shit happen and not say something about it.
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