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I don't know how Senior NCOs used to manage troops without smart phones and texting. It's still not as efficient as you might think.
During AT last year, I sent a text asking for a status on instructions issued earlier in the day. The answer I got back was, "Hells if I know." I just about blew my stack. Sent back, "Someone damn well better find out." I had murder in my heart.
As I was reaching for the logbook to my truck so I could go find the miscreant, I got a reply: "Well, maybe you should ask someone other than your wife."
During AT last year, I sent a text asking for a status on instructions issued earlier in the day. The answer I got back was, "Hells if I know." I just about blew my stack. Sent back, "Someone damn well better find out." I had murder in my heart.
As I was reaching for the logbook to my truck so I could go find the miscreant, I got a reply: "Well, maybe you should ask someone other than your wife."
Posted in these groups: 
Technology
Senior Leaders
Technology Senior Leaders
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 26
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Back in the day, there were "Runners" who ran errands for the Senior guys. If you needed someone, send the runner to find them. If you needed to pass on some info, send the runner with the info on a pice of paper. My previous 1SG was notorious for texting the night prior what we were doing for PT the next day. I despised that method, because my cell service is not the greatest at home. Sometimes I got the message, sometimes not. Now, we have a calendar with the WHERE, WHEN and WHAT for PT...life is good.
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SGT (Join to see)
If someone sends a text out they should have the Soldiers respond making sure they got it. If they don't hear from them for issues like you have for shit for service then they need to pick up the phone and make that call.
But yes the calendar is best way unless it's last min late night changes the day before.
But yes the calendar is best way unless it's last min late night changes the day before.
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CPT (Join to see)
There are third party programs that can verify this. For my 53 class, we use a program. It mass text. There are only 11 of us, but is great. For example, one person says they are stuck at the gate, so all of us receive the message. Works great so we can delay the class for 5 min instead of tracking the individual down. It's only good for certain groups of people and the purpose it serves.
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SGT (Join to see)
My husbands unit uses Whatsapp and they have the group messages as well for information. The ONLY issue with this is that 2300 they are fucking texting back and forth about unrelated work issues waking us up. Some of them do not know when to shut up or take it to another group message for the few that are talking about randomness.
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SGT (Join to see)
I hate people texting for what they deem an emergency. If it's just regular day to day "pt 630 don't be late", send a mass text. But if it's life or death or something you need immediately, call them or get a hold of them physically. Texting is not reliable always. It is extremely useful, but should not be the primary means of communication. Trying to chew someone out via text is stupid. If it's important, don't text. If it's generic information and they got ten to twelve hrs to reply, text.
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Absolutely not. For that matter, neither is the use of email to dictate orders or directions. I am adamantly against the regular use of text or email as a means to manage soldiers. There is absolutely no substitution for face to face interaction in any situation.
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Never had this issue onboard ship. Once I retired I found out that employers like to text employees at nite and expect instant answers. It was amusing ONCE. After the 2nd nite of a barrage of texts I decided I was gonna fix this issue - and I had my phone number changed on my cell phone. Best $35 I ever spent. After several days of not getting his texts responded to - my boss decided to have a "heart-to-heart" chat with me. Initially I was intent on saying it was my phone, but that changed with the bosses demeanor and inflection. Once he had exhausted himself on how it was vital I respond to his texts / queries I asked him: "How do I put this on my time card - under what .... overtime?" He responded - "Absolutely not!" I responded: "Well, then, I'll respond when I get back on the clock!"
Supervisors need to understand - if it's not life or death then texting your troops is flat out wrong after normal business hours. Yeah, Ad is paid 24/7, but bothering the troops for admin crap or something YOU forgot during regular hours - that's on YOU and NOT on the troops. There was a time the Navy tried to demand we have a phone installed in our homes. The first time my command told me that I asked the CMC for the billing code. He responded "I'm giving you a direct order!" "To which I replied, show it to me in black and white." Of course, there was no such directive and never has been - as far as the Navy goes.
Stop texting the troops after hours....unless it's life or death.
Supervisors need to understand - if it's not life or death then texting your troops is flat out wrong after normal business hours. Yeah, Ad is paid 24/7, but bothering the troops for admin crap or something YOU forgot during regular hours - that's on YOU and NOT on the troops. There was a time the Navy tried to demand we have a phone installed in our homes. The first time my command told me that I asked the CMC for the billing code. He responded "I'm giving you a direct order!" "To which I replied, show it to me in black and white." Of course, there was no such directive and never has been - as far as the Navy goes.
Stop texting the troops after hours....unless it's life or death.
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SPC James Mcneil
I agree. I can understand the need for a leader to contact his/her people in case of emergency. But sending texts of nonvital information that you can just as easily share the next day goes too far. If you want your people to know that bad, then you need to remember during on duty hours.
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