2
2
0
We have all had outstanding leaders and we have had really bad ones as well. Describe the worst act a toxic/bad leader did either to you or in your unit. Don't mention any names, just describe what they did.<div><br></div><div>Here's mine:</div><div>Back when taking college classes meant taking time to go and actually sit in a room with a teacher and other students, we used to have to get the Company Commander to sign off on our tuition assistance, which was 75% at the time. I worked for an E-5 (I was an E-4) who would sit on his Soldiers' paperwork and turn it into the Company the day it was due. This essentially guaranteed that none of the Soldiers in the section would be able to take classes. The SGT didn't have this problem though, he was sure to turn in his form on time. </div><div><br></div><div>To sum that up, a SGT kept his Soldiers from taking college classes because he felt that he should have been the only one to do so. How do you respect a leader like that?</div>
Posted in these groups: 
Toxic Leadership
Toxic Leadership
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 8
2
2
0
My Company Commander at Fort Carson got one of my female Soldiers pregnant just before a 15 month deployment to Iraq (at the time we did not know he was the father) Once in Iraq he started sleeping with another one of my female Soldiers. Because she was sleeping with the commander she got away with all kinds of ..stuff.. My squad was on QRF duty and someone thought it would be a good idea to test my Squad since I had written the QRF response plan. We got the call and when she did not respond to the trucks my team leader tried to find her as I supervised the rest of the squad getting ready to roll out, we had to roll one man light because noone could find her..When I arrived back at the FOB we got the conducted a massive hunt for her and she was finally found. when questions by her TL she was sullen and unresponsive that's when I stepped in and it got UGLY after that. I submitted her for a Field Grade Article 15 which the commander blocked, i requested to see the BN CSM but every-time he was in the AO my squad was miraculously on a mission. I was finally able to get her on Disrespect to a NCO and the Senior NCOs in the unit basically threatened mutiny if he did not charge her. She then started to claim PTSD issued and that her CoC did not support her so she got sent back to Carson....two weeks later our Commander was replaced and returned to Carson where he continued to sleep with this Soldier. Going so far as to even put her on his car registration, she then wrecked his car and got a DUI on Peterson AB. That started an "investigation" but no charges were ever brought up. I request transfer from the unit as soon as possible after we returned. I found out just this year that he had left the military and become a high School JROTC Commander and slept with at least one of his 16 year old cadets, that is why he is now a guest of the Colorado State Corrections Systemt. I also found out that the BN CSM at Carson was ordered to leave the issue alone so the reason the investigation found nothing is because of command influence blocking the investigation. No One from the unit was ever interviewed about his misconduct.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Ok, now first of all you need to define toxic/bad leadership and don't just give me the party line.
Before you start though, you better address toxic/bad soldiers first.
Before you start though, you better address toxic/bad soldiers first.
(2)
(0)
CW2 Jonathan Kantor
I gave an example, but there isn't really a single definition that we can point at here.
As to your other point, there are some shitty soldiers out there, but it's a leader's job to reign them in, train them, and develop them. It is also their job to determine whether or not those Soldiers should remain in the service and lead them in that direction also.
Our leaders are accountable for everything, even our bad Soldiers. If your Troops are failing, it is often a sign of bad leadership. More often than not, I would say.
As to your other point, there are some shitty soldiers out there, but it's a leader's job to reign them in, train them, and develop them. It is also their job to determine whether or not those Soldiers should remain in the service and lead them in that direction also.
Our leaders are accountable for everything, even our bad Soldiers. If your Troops are failing, it is often a sign of bad leadership. More often than not, I would say.
(0)
(0)
SFC Scott Crouch
Here is a pretty good definition from the Army manual, “A toxic leader is one that employs prolonged use of negative leadership to influence followers which undermines the followers’ will, initiative, and potential and destroys unit morale.”
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Sadly, too many examples to enumerate here.
I can say that each of them provided a fine example of what not to do, which came in handy when I came into leadership positions.
The granddad of crummy leaders was a certain battalion commander I once had, whose trademark was to talk shit behind virtually anyone in the unit's back. He was also famous for concocting tales of his heroic adventures in Iraq, when he was a field grade CA officer in the Green Zone who spent more time in the Green Bean than at his desk.
Easily the worst leader I've ever dealt with, and an even worse person.
I can say that each of them provided a fine example of what not to do, which came in handy when I came into leadership positions.
The granddad of crummy leaders was a certain battalion commander I once had, whose trademark was to talk shit behind virtually anyone in the unit's back. He was also famous for concocting tales of his heroic adventures in Iraq, when he was a field grade CA officer in the Green Zone who spent more time in the Green Bean than at his desk.
Easily the worst leader I've ever dealt with, and an even worse person.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google