Does a Corporal have to stand at Parade Rest for a Sergeant (E-5)?

Question

Please leave the Army Regulation number if you know it.

Answer 1

The answer is yes. Many CPLs and SGTs are informal and do not require it, but if you get into an altercation and the SGT tells you to "At Ease". I would highly suggest you do it, even if you truely feel you are in the right. If you feel the SGT was wrong and pulled rank, you just need to take it up the chain of command.

Answer 2

B9 is correct in his assessment. There isn't any regulation requiring parade rest, only attention to a commisioned officer. Even in joint operations there isn't a division between NCO and jr enlisted.. In the Air Force, its not about your rank, but your position. It is not uncommon for an E-4 and E-3's to be in E-5 and E-6 slots, very unlike the army. Also, you might consider If he has a 5 level or have been to ALS, which would be the equivalent of PLDC, and which his responibilities would be equivalent to a Corporal in that he is officially allowed to be in charge of troops. In that, he may allready be your equivalent. Doesn't really matter either way. Its doing the job, and your reputation for geting it done that is important. And if your nit picking about that stuff, I'd say your a very jr NCO, and have a lot to learn, or you need to work a bit on your attitude and learn a bit about c&c in the AF. Good question though! Thank you for your service, and see you at the fiddlers green.. Does he call you sir as well? lol

Answer 3

General customs and courtesies of the Army dictate that a corporal should stand at parade rest when being addressed by a senior in an official capacity. When conducting day-to-day business, this is impracticable and therefore seldom done in an informal atmosphere.

So, how professional are you? Do you adhere to the customs and courtesies of your profession?

On an entirely different note.... whenever ordered to stand "at ease" or 'parade rest" by a superior, I would strongly recommend doing so. Failure to do so is a violation of an order and would be prosecutable under the UCMJ.

Answer 4

In the military rank orders must be followed until they are reversed or a higher rank changes the order. So yes a Corporal must stand at parade rest for an E5 if so ordered. Failure to do so is a violation of several items of the UCMJ. The first is failure to obey a lawful order. Every member of the military is allowed access to the UCMJ manual, so go get it and read it. Normally your admin dept. will have a copy.

Answer 5

I doubt if there is any regulation which prescribes this, but it is always a darn good idea for a person of lesser rank to accord courtesy and respect to a person of greater rank. RHIP definitely applies here. By the way, as an Air Force enlisted man I achieved E-4. As an officer I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

And I stood at attention or parade rest when required for anyone of superior rank.

Answer 6

A corporal is an NCO just like the sergeant and does not have to stand at parade rest in front of him. Only an officer can command such a thing.

Answer 7

If ordered to do so, yes. Corporal (E-4) It's a matter of rank. I wasn't in the Army, so I don't know the regulation.

Answer 8

No regulation exists to tell you how to follow orders except the UCMJ. A Sergeant can order you to go to attention when talking to them or tell you to go to Parade Rest when they are speaking to you. Failure to do so would would disobedience of a lawful order under the UCMJ. Is it typically done-No but I have done it myself when addressing a sub-ordinate's short comings to ensure they understood the seriousness of what they had done or needed to improve upon.

Answer 9

Not sure of the Army regulation but if a Sgt tells a Cpl to stand at parade rest....and the Cpl refuses to do so.... the Cpl is in violation of Article 92 of the UCMJ (Failure to obey order or regulation)

So the answer is yes.... get your butt at parade rest.

Semper Fi,
Z
Capt. USMC Ret.

Answer 10

I only did it in basic training and in formations and things like that, but when working I dont think I ever did Unless it was some serious stuff But that was just me, im sure you are supposed to.

OK, my wife got on my account and left the previous answer. The real answer is yes a Corporal does have to stand at parade rest. In truth, anyone is supposed to stand at parade rest for anyone senior to them. Although the reality is that in many situations this doesn't happen because of a more laid back atmosphere. I'm an E7 and when I report to anyone higher than me I stand at parade rest until told to relax.