Call me old fashioned. I’ve never seen this rule written anywhere but outside of a few exceptions, an officer should not eat before an enlisted person.

Had a talk to a 1LT(P) about this today. First he claimed he got his food but didn’t eat first. Told him when he’s the first to pile his plate and it’s full, before the SGTs and SSGs, they notice and their impression is that he puts himself before them.

I know he’s a big boy and he’s hungry but waiting 10 minutes isn’t going to starve him to death.

Thoughts?

Agreed, except in very unusual circumstances.

Agreed…Officers are first out of the door when the light turns green, not first to eat, sleep, or shower before their troops.

That jerk is confused about "leading from the front." Makes me question the rest of his qualifications.

Added to clarify from where I come from: Army Enlisted, Naval Officer - retired

My rule #1 was to always take care of your people first.

I wholeheartedly agree. Troops eat first. (I was an officer.)

flashguy

In recalling my brief military career, many of the better officers I served with were "bootstrap" (mustang for you Army types) and had come from the enlisted ranks. They would take care of the troops first before themselves and were respected for it.

Enlisted always eat first, that’s been the unwritten rule forever.

As an Army cook, it was interesting to get to work with other militaries and see how they did it. The Germans would segregate their enlisted from the senior NCO’s which were then both segregated from the officers. Each group had their own dining halls and dining rooms which I would guess came from the European aristocracy model where officers tended to be the aristocrats and wealthy.

It was a completely foreign model to us and they in turn thought the way we did things was strange.

Tradition, a Leader takes care of his men. I retired as an officer back in 1990 after 28 years and it was a tradition long before I was a 2LT and was passed on to me as gospel. First the enlisted, then the NCOs in reverse order of rank then senior NCOs and Officers. Believe I read somewhere in some ancient manuscript that this was handed down in the fifteen commandments but since 5 were lost when Moses broke them I can't be sure.

IIRC, Alexander had a limited amount of water for his men. When he realized he did not have enough, he poured it all out and said all drink or none drink. That's leadership.

One of my favorite memories from the Army was at Airborne School. We had a long day and were getting in line to eat. All of the Army and Air Force officers went to the front of the line. Up came a Marine Captain, who wasn’t the highest ranked, and he had them all go the back of the line. I was and am still impressed at his leadership.

In the field yes. When we were in large mess facilities ( to include Iraq and Afghanistan) this wouldn’t be practical, as the time to eat was very staggered and people came and went at various times. But if I was in line and saw a dusty dirty enlisted guy he would be directed to go ahead of me

My date of rank as Sergeant, US Army was 18 Aug 69, about 51 years ago. I was generally responsible for about a dozen guys. None of them ever saw me sleep before they had places to sleep. None saw me eat before they were fed.

I remember a few times in Vietnam when we received resupplies in the field. I stood guard on the C-rations and allowed each guy a turn to select what he wanted until everything was taken. Otherwise one guy at the end of the line would have had nothing but Ham & Lima Beans, and nobody wanted that crap.

Ran into a guy from one of my units years later. Told me I wasn't the worst squad leader they ever had. I took that as a compliment.

Yeah I was gonna ask, what was the setting?

we never did in the field. always last.

in fact -- my PSG and I would get into good-natured arguments about who would be last -- him or me. he was a good dude.

in garrison we (officers) stood in line with the Joes in the mess hall like anybody else.

(ETA: Infantry / 1990s)

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When I was enlisted - it was like Officers never ate at all. I never once saw our Lt. or Capt. consuming food in the Field and at Mess they would just drink coffee by the gallons.

I firmly remember the highest rank either the Lt. or First Sargent would go to the front of the line, inspect it, and watch the platoon get theirs making sure there were no problems and getting his at the end.

Reminds me of a story. General George Kenney, IIRC, in the Pacific Army Air Forces. There was a line for the mess hall, and some new Lieutenant just strolls to the front of the line cutting off dozens of (mostly) enlisted waiting to eat. There was a *ahem* sound, and the LT turned around and saw the 3-star standing in line, waiting just like everybody else. He said something to the effect of "Hey, Lt, come over and stand in line with me." I don't think they recorded what that conversation was like, but knowing Gen Kenney's reputation, it was a valuable learning experience for the Lt. . .


Another lesson I learned (23-yrs USAF, retired as Master Sergeant / E-7) is that you NEVER complain about money around people who make less than you. I had to listen to captains, on more than one occasion, gripe about money. My thoughts were always, "gee, you make twice what I do - my heart weeps for you and your financial distress.". .

From my brief NCO school, here's what's expected of you:

1. Be a man
2. Take care of your men
3. Take care of yourself

In that order.

I was a LT. My men always were fed before I ate. That carried over to my FD days. When I Chief of our volunteer dept. and had a meal, I made sure my guys ate before I did.