Code of conduct in uniform?

[macker]

So it was armed forces night last night and there were lots of tributes and salutes throughout the game which was great and it was a great opportunity to teach my son about the positive impact that the armed forces have had on Canada. We even stayed late for the picture where all the Flames came out and had a picture taken with the soldiers. It was a proud moment for sure. So when we are leaving we hear the loudest most obnoxious drunks blurting out every profanity in the book and detailing their next stop to the speakeasy and it became clear that there was no escaping their verbal attack that was fast approaching. No big deal and this is stuff we hear on public streets all the time. So then one of them was going down a flight of stairs and was so loaded that he tipped over and rolled down the entire flight of stairs. Quite the sight to see for sure as one of our heros seemed that he had lost his ability to control himself and couldn't even navigate a flight of stairs. Just got me thinking....do we hold people in uniform up to unreasonable expectations? If you are in uniform in public do you need to act a certain way and show respect for yourself/others/country/uniform? Nothing wrong with having a good time and letting loose as there is always the angle that these people have seen a lot and could be stressed from their experiences and need to let loose more than most. Just wondering if there is some sort of standard that would cause you to ditch the uniform when you are crossing lines and making others feel less proud about your actions. I see those in uniform as a moving target when in public...

Feel free to joke/post based on the title as that is part of your freedom and you are likely not in uniform

[Hemi-Cuda]

are you also going to teach your son how to use paragraphs?

[Byrns]

There is a code of conduct and proper "dress and deportment". Sounds like that guy was full of fail.

[worth]

When I was in there were a few "incidents" lets say, and they forbade us to go out in our CADPAT. You were only allowed to go out in dress uniform.

I'm assuming these guys were in CADPAT? That rule was just for my regiment at the time, and i'm not sure if that is still the norm.

Anyway, a soldier most likley drinks more than a normal person. And when they are with their fellow comrades out on the town, they will drink as much as they can. If you see a soldier in a bar, or at a game, there is a good chance he is three sheets to the wind, in my experience anyway.

Anyone not expecting a soldier to drink when he is at a Flames game or out downtown is out of their mind. It has nothing to do with dress and deportment or code of conduct.

Not saying that falling down drunk is appropriate, because it's not. If the Regimental Sergeant Major found out about it, he probably wouldn't be happy, but soldiers drink to excess because they can't drink a ton while on exercise for weeks at a time or while being shot at. It's just the nature of the organization. Filled with male testosterone.

[Tron_fdc]

What's CADPAT? Is that the space invader inspired camo print?

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Not a surprise in the least, there are some great guys who would go all out for those who they serve with but at the same time the military culture is one which is steeped in excessive alcohol consumption and violence. It is generally kept under wraps in the mess but something like that doesn't really surprise me when it comes to military appreciation at a public venue.

There is a whole set of military laws which need to be adhered to when wearing a uniform and people have gotten charged for less than being stupid drunk. Frankly I think some people will have a meeting with a RSM based upon what you are saying.

[3 Justin 3]

We're Canadians, we just can't help but get drunk at a good ol' hockey game.

[CaptainCrunch]

There are strict conduct and deportment rules when you appear in uniform in public. From expectations of appearance to conduct in front of civilians.

Short term summary don't do anything that disgraces your uniform or your unit.

In a bar its one thing, but its pretty rare that you see a soldier in a bar in uniform getting gassed. A mess is a different thing and while you might be reminded about decorum, its not really strictly enforced.

At a hockey game getting plastered and falling down drunk and spewing profanity is usually frowned upon. Was it an officer on NCO? Officers are held to an even higher standard.

When I appeared in public in uniform I had to be especially careful, the climate in the late 80's and early 90's was not exactly military friendly and I took a lot of abuse on the C-Train and in public places and couldn't respond.

I actually got in a fare amount of trouble on the C-Train heading down to Mewata when an older lady in a fur coat started yelling that I was a baby killer and some even worse slurs, and I lost my temper and told her that I didn't understand how she could call me a baby killer which I wasn't when she was wearing a furcoat that looked like it was made with child labour out of puppies.

There was a Captain on the train with me, and when we exited, he pulled me off to the side and ripped me up one side out of the other about poor conduct while in uniform.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Not a surprise in the least, there are some great guys who would go all out for those who they serve with but at the same time the military culture is one which is steeped in excessive alcohol consumption and violence. It is generally kept under wraps in the mess but something like that doesn't really surprise me when it comes to military appreciation at a public venue.

There is a whole set of military laws which need to be adhered to when wearing a uniform and people have gotten charged for less than being stupid drunk. Frankly I think some people will have a meeting with a RSM based upon what you are saying.

Mess activities used to be a bit of a gong show, since the messes are split there were no officers or SNCO's to supervise and we were all young and fired up all the time. If a civillian ever entered the mess at the height of drunken debachery they would probably be scared for life.

[macker]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

We're Canadians, we just can't help but get drunk at a good ol' hockey game.

Sure but at least be able to walk out of the place when the game is over. If there wasn't other soldiers there to pick this guy up off the ground he would have been in the drunk tank guaranteed.

As to this guys characteristics of what it means to be a soldier last night :
-Proud
-Non-disciplined
-Weak
-Non-couragious
-Pathetic
-In need of help from others

Learn how to be drunk in public or take off the uniform. He likely did meet up with another uniform later in the night though as he wasn't going anywhere but still showed a sense of eagerness.

[Knalus]

Originally Posted by macker

So it was armed forces night last night and there were lots of tributes and salutes throughout the game which was great and it was a great opportunity to teach my son about the positive impact that the armed forces have had on Canada. We even stayed late for the picture where all the Flames came out and had a picture taken with the soldiers. It was a proud moment for sure. So when we are leaving we hear the loudest most obnoxious drunks blurting out every profanity in the book and detailing their next stop to the speakeasy and it became clear that there was no escaping their verbal attack that was fast approaching. No big deal and this is stuff we hear on public streets all the time. So then one of them was going down a flight of stairs and was so loaded that he tipped over and rolled down the entire flight of stairs. Quite the sight to see for sure as one of our heros seemed that he had lost his ability to control himself and couldn't even navigate a flight of stairs. Just got me thinking....do we hold people in uniform up to unreasonable expectations? If you are in uniform in public do you need to act a certain way and show respect for yourself/others/country/uniform? Nothing wrong with having a good time and letting loose as there is always the angle that these people have seen a lot and could be stressed from their experiences and need to let loose more than most. Just wondering if there is some sort of standard that would cause you to ditch the uniform when you are crossing lines and making others feel less proud about your actions. I see those in uniform as a moving target when in public...

Feel free to joke/post based on the title as that is part of your freedom and you are likely not in uniform

Yep, you are putting people in uniform up to unreasonable expectations. Most of them are just regular guys with an unusual job - they aren't heroes because of their choice of work. Some of them may get the chance to do heroic things, but no, they are just regular people.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

In a bar its one thing, but its pretty rare that you see a soldier in a bar in uniform getting gassed. A mess is a different thing and while you might be reminded about decorum, its not really strictly enforced.
.

Yeah when I was with DND, the mess was a drunkfest ... round after round of shots across the bar ... but I'm pretty sure when you are in uniform and off base, you are supposed to be sober.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Yeah when I was with DND, the mess was a drunkfest ... round after round of shots across the bar ... but I'm pretty sure when you are in uniform and off base, you are supposed to be sober.

Very much so.

I remember when I got promoted to Corporal and I had to ring the bell in the mess, the amount of money that I spent was insane.

Your briefed in basic training on your conduct off base while in uniform. Theres a very high expectation of behavior.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I remember when I got promoted to Corporal and I had to ring the bell in the mess, the amount of money that I spent was insane.

Yeah that was the same at my base (same everywhere?) Every Friday, someone would throw down there was a round of like 50 shots going around the bar. Then after a crap load of shots, then we'd hit a bar/club...

[speede5]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

.....no officers or SNCO's to supervise and we were all young and fired up all the time......

The officers mess is worse. I have seen the worst behavior in the military around officers.

And to the OP, that guy should have been behaving better and if reported could be charged, but would most likely would just have been reprimanded. Soldiers are just guys like everyone else, but they should have respect for the uniform.

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't know if he would have been charged "But he would have been councilled, and probably given a reprimand and a punishment"

Hey Private, we're having a party in your honour, its a casual atmosphere so you can take of your beret and your belt, and hey why don't you bring a couple of friends with you.

Yup, the good old charge parade.

So much fun.