Army Smoking and Walking

Smoking and Walking Today during police call at the land navigation site, SGT xxxx stopped me and asked me why I was smoking a cigarette and walking in line. I had no excuse, I had forgotten I was smoking and was just going through the motions. So, in response, I have prepared this essay outlining the problem, the regulation, and the solution. Smoking while walking presents a distinctly unprofessional appearance, however I could not find any specific regulation that covered this subject. I can only morally side with the idea that using tobacco products in uniform presents an unprofessional appearance. Therefore, this should be avoided. My actions today were only wrong in the moral sense, not the legal. The United States Army enforces and upholds only the highest standards for its Soldiers, both on and off duty. Each post has its only rules and regulations which can only further restrict form the “Big Mother Army’s” rules and regulations. As Specialists, we are charged with teaching our junior soldiers and leading by example. Leading by example means showing them “what right looks like” and displaying our morals and Integrity. Presenting a professional appearance shows the American and foreign civilian population that the Army is a group of trained, disciplined professionals, upholding the highest standards and acting as a disciplined adult. This appearance can be degraded by actions such as: walking and smoking, drinking/eating while walking, utilizing a cell phone while walking, use of profanity, and improper uniform wear, just to name a few. All of these cumulatively affect the civilian perspective on the Army and US Military as a whole. The consequences of bringing a negative light onto the US Military and the US Army can be severe. They can range from a verbal counseling, negative counseling, all the way up to an Article 15, just for presenting a negative image unto the military and placing discredit upon yourself, your team, your unit, and the United