What I did vs. what I wanted to do.

**Alan H** · 15th February 07, 09:30 PM

He's a snotty KID, and as such, deserves at most mild annoyance.

But I understand your more-than-mild annoyance, anyway.

**ccga3359** · 15th February 07, 09:43 PM

Even ignorence of the kilt aside. He may not be covered under the miltary code of conduct but should still be made aware that his uniform means something. Is ROTC not a primer to the future officer corps of the US services? If I recall Erisianmonkey cuts a rather imposing presence. To take a name and unit(?) *forgive my Canadian ignorance* and then gently correcting his mis-information regarding a man's kilt, would surly put the fear of God in this young man's heart. A uniform is a uniform. I am Coast Guard Auxiliary, it is strictly voluntary, and at times lax. But heaven help me if one of my crew shows disrespect for our uniform in public.
Having said this if Eirisianmonkey could not do this without the slightest posibility of losing his temper then I will conceed to Dread's input.

**Erisianmonkey** · 15th February 07, 09:44 PM

My karma is clear. I walked away from the temptation and the confrontation. What I plan on doing tomorrow is going to talk to the Army recruiter on campus tomorrow after I get done with class. Chances are good he knows all the JROTC instructors in the area. I don't plan on reporting the comment, I'll let the young man's karma take care of him. But I do think that the multitude of uniform violations displayed by this young man might be a sign of a deeper problem. His collar rank insignia was upside down for cryin' out loud. I find it hard to believe that he turned them upside down just to go out with his friends.

One of the reasons this is so important to me is that my high school did not have a JROTC. I joined CAP as a cadet and had to travel over 50 miles one way for squad meetings, work my tail off to balance that with other extracurricular activities and a job, and buy my own uniforms because I was too big for what they were able to get in. In all that I took the time to make damn sure any time I was in my uniform that I was properly in uniform. My shoes were the proper type, always shined, my tie was neat, my hair was correct, and I took pride in my appearance and the fact that I was wearing my country's uniform.

I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the majority of my family and ancestry and join the service. (Air Force, preferably, as that is what my father and most of my uncles had done.) I couldn't because of my health. If I had been able to join, I would still be in now, as that is the career I had wanted since watching my dad's C-141 taking off when I was about three years old. I have a great deal of respect for the armed forces, and hate to see them insulted by anyone. But by someone thumbing his nose at a chance I never had?
I'm really hoping that my discussion with the recruiting office on campus tomorrow will result in a uniform crackdown.

**ccga3359** · 15th February 07, 09:46 PM

All the power to you Brother.

**Dreadbelly** · 15th February 07, 09:48 PM

If a leaf is sick on a plant, you do not deal with the leaf. No, you go to the source and make sure that the proper growth is happening.

Snot nose kid was the leaf... The source of the issue is being looked in to. In time, this plant may become healthy...

All in all, a good outcome.

Edit. This Way of the Gouda is paying off. Wise Master Sri Reepah Gud Won would be pleased. I must be inching closer to eventual enlightenment.

**ccga3359** · 15th February 07, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Dreadbelly

If a leaf is sick on a plant, you do not deal with the leaf. No, you go to the source and make sure that the proper growth is happening.

Snot nose kid was the leaf... The source of the issue is being looked in to. In time, this plant may become healthy...

All in all, a good outcome.

I concur. My appologies for my misunderstanding of JROTC it has since been explained to me via pm. That's what I get when I use "Happy Days" as my scorce of information.

**turpin** · 15th February 07, 11:03 PM

I agree with Dread on this one. This young man's attitude will be his own undoing as his life unfolds. No need to waste you own emotional energy on him. If you do he is still controlling you.

**davedove** · 16th February 07, 05:24 AM

You did the right thing. It's not your place to correct him on any uniform issues; that's the job of his superiors. Passing the word through the military authorities is the way to go.

Even though he is not covered by military regs, I'm sure that he has standards he must meet to progress in the program (CAP was mentioned and that's the way it works there). If he gets in trouble about his uniform appearance, it could negatively affect a future promotion, and from his attitude I say he deserves that.

**Warlock** · 16th February 07, 07:07 AM

Command Seargent Major Michael Sims, JROTC Cadet Drill Instructor, would not have aggreed. I would have reported him, written him up and our SGT. who was military, would have taken him into the gym, put the gloves on him, and given him a damn fine ear boxing. Whether it's considered Military or not, The Uniform represents the Military, and therefore ALL common DECENCY should be observed at all times. JROTC may be the closest that I ever got to being in the Military, but it was an Honour and Priviledge to wear that Uniform!
I still have my ribbons, Medal and Drill Seargent Badge! They are very dear to me.