R-E-S-P-E-C-T

So it's been a minute since I last posted here, I suppose it's time for another blog. Regrettably, (to the few who really read this) I only have a short post this time. This one is on respect. For the last few weeks I have been considered an Awaiting Transfer student, and I'm currently working as a Yeoman on another barracks (called ships, here). For the most part, the job is pretty much standard office paper-pusher stuff, nothing to interesting. But I have noticed how people respond to authority in said office. Most of the people I see on a daily basis have either gotten so lax in their bearing, or flat out just don't give a damn anymore, they refuse to acknowledge anyone higher in rank than they are. For example, standard office entering procedure:
Knock three times, wait to be called in. Once told to "enter and report," the student will loudly respond (at attention) "Good morning/afternoon/evening, (highest person in the room), SN Navy reporting." On a standard night student schedule, this comes out as.... "Good morning, chief. SN Smuckatelli reporting." Easy, right? Yeah, no. More often than not, most people will just try to walk in, do what they want and leave. Or they decide not to report at all and just demand something from the yeoman. Doesn't fly with me, thanks. The worst was when one female decided to refuse to enter at all, and when told several times to enter and report, she finally told me no, she wouldn't enter until the officer left, that she wasn't going to deal with him. Who the f%$# do you think you are?! And once the officer left, she refused to speak to him though he had to walk right past her. Bitch, please. If you expect to ever get respect in the Navy, you'd better learn to give it.

Here's another thing, using the word "shipmate." I may very well be your shipmate, however, my name is printed on my chest, and my rank is on my collar. Use one or the other, but don't be a jackass and say shipmate. I had a watch do this to me about a week ago. I crossed the quarterdeck improperly given the base was on a heightened security level, to which I apologized. The watch looked at me and goes "hey, shipmate, next time cross the right f%^$ing way." I looked at him, and said point blank "Are you really going to 'shipmate' a petty officer?" His response,"Well, don't expect me to call you petty officer, because I don't give a f^%$ who you are, you're nothing on my quarterdeck." Yeah, needless to say, the NMTI we had on deck that night had fun with the watch. I was warned by a Chief that once I got my third class petty officer status I'd be treated like dirt because I'm what's called a "push-button" E-4, meaning my advancement was guaranteed in my contract before I ever hit U.S. Naval property. But guess what? It doesn't matter how I got my crows, I still have them, and I am therefore above you, so you will respect that. I don't care if you don't like me, or want me dead. You will still respect tradition and honor that or you will face the consequences. Now I'll be the first one to admit, it's weird to hear someone call me petty officer, but I've gotten used to it. I'd rather people just use my last name, and that's fine with me. But if you want to disrespect me, go ahead and see how well that goes for you. I can promise you, it won't end well. So all in all, respect EVERYONE above you. I know there are people you're going to hate and hope they get thrown over the deck of an aircraft carrier, but none the less, to their faces suck it up. Someday you'll be the person everyone hates but has to respect, so deal.