For exmple, if your captain gives you orders to do something, then a colonel tells you not to, or tells you to do something else, who are you suppose to listen to? and will u get in trouble with the original officer if u listen to the colonel?
2006-12-07 13:22:42 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
It all depends on the situation. Normally you respectfully will explain to the senior officer that you are under orders from the other officer to perform a duty. If they insist, you perform that duty and notify the other officer as soon as possible.
Normally you will not get in any trouble. If you refuse to follow the orders you could, unless you feel that your safety or that of another person might be put at risk if you follow the orders. In that case, you could challenge the order, however you better hope you are 100% right or right enough to cover yourself.
2006-12-07 13:29:29 · answer #1 · answered by handyman 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
First you explain that you were ordered by so-and-so to do this.
If the senior officer still wants you to do something different - obey his orders but inform your captain immediately.
The only time you should do what the Captain says and not the Colonel is if it is a situation where the Colonel does not have the authority to give such an order. (An example here is that an 'on-duty' MP gets orders from the Military Police chain of command only.)
2006-12-07 21:47:50 · answer #2 · answered by MikeGolf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. The chain of command exists for good reason. Technically, yes, the instructions of the higher authority take precedence. But, as a professional human being, you don't have to respond as a robot. You are free to communicate, albeit with respect. To avoid confrontation and/or embarrassment, you might return to your captain and infom him/her that you just received orders from the colonel that supercede your captain's orders. If he/she feels the colonel's orders are not to be followed, then as long as it's a lawful order obey your captain and let him take the heat and/or defend his decision to override.
The most important thing to understand is what is and what is not a lawful order. Example: Obviously if the Colonel tells you to shoot an unarmed combatant after the Captain says to guard them, then you absolutely do not have to carry out an order that is essentially murder. If you carry out a recognized unlawful order, then you can be charged and convicted for doing so in accordance with the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. Saying that you were just "following orders" is not a valid defense.
2006-12-11 12:38:22 · answer #3 · answered by CPT Jack 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whomever is in your direct chain of command. For example, if the captain is your commander and the colonel is a random guy who works in your building, I'd double check with the captain, tell him or her what the colonel said, and then do what the captain said.
Of course, a troop is always obligated to NOT follow illegal or unethical orders. Look at all the scandals we could have avoided in Iraq if troops had gotten past the 'but my commander told me too!' excuse.
2006-12-07 21:26:40 · answer #4 · answered by Julie N 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
the colonel, and no u cant get in trouble cus thats the way the rank structure works in the military
2006-12-07 21:26:14 · answer #5 · answered by u_ni_verse 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You take the orders from the highest ranked officer.
2006-12-07 21:37:59 · answer #6 · answered by Phoenix 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In army chain of command ........ you only listen to the highest rank giving you the order.
THAT'S WHAT RANK IS FOR!
2006-12-07 21:33:17 · answer #7 · answered by AlfRed E nEuMaN 4 preSIDent 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Y E S, and you cannot get in any trouble.
2006-12-07 21:36:01 · answer #8 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
r00sh It's your news?
http://www.osoq.com/funstuff/extra/extra04.asp?strName=r00sh
2006-12-07 21:36:24 · answer #9 · answered by elj g 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋