Posted on Dec 27, 2014
ARCOM for calling out inappropriate use in Social Media. Appropriate or not?
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Posted >1 y ago
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She does not deserve an ARCOM. She does not deserve an AAM or any medal. At MOST she deserves a certificate because she was just trying to do her job as a NCO. Her statement “I looked them up, introduced myself and explained to them why they were stupid." falls short of the professionalism I expect of a senior NCO. Since the NCO Creed starts with "No one is more professional than I", I believe there is a learning opportunity in this for the 1SG and also an opportunity for her to share her experiences.
Since she was so quick to let the director of the Army SHARP program know about these service members transgressions, she must have some knowledge and interest in the program. I would have her appointed as a SHARP representative for the Brigade, Battalion and Company, and I would have her prepare a presentation on 'Monitoring Social Media of your Service Members'. After her Battalion and Brigade Command Sergeants Major were satisfied with the presentation, I'd make sure she had the opportunity to present it to every unit in the Division as part of the Divisions SHARP training program, as long as it did not interfere or take away from her assigned duties.
Her move to turn them into the director of the Army SHARP program rather than an immediate supervisor or someone in their chain to deal with the problem tells me she was either to lazy to find out about their immediate supervisor or chain of command or was looking for recognition she ended up with.
The Soldier's who attacked her and who were wearing uniforms in their profile photos are evidently not only not professional but also not the sharpest tools in the shed. It would probably behoove a serving member of the armed forces to not 'put themselves out there' by using a profile picture in uniform.
Since she was so quick to let the director of the Army SHARP program know about these service members transgressions, she must have some knowledge and interest in the program. I would have her appointed as a SHARP representative for the Brigade, Battalion and Company, and I would have her prepare a presentation on 'Monitoring Social Media of your Service Members'. After her Battalion and Brigade Command Sergeants Major were satisfied with the presentation, I'd make sure she had the opportunity to present it to every unit in the Division as part of the Divisions SHARP training program, as long as it did not interfere or take away from her assigned duties.
Her move to turn them into the director of the Army SHARP program rather than an immediate supervisor or someone in their chain to deal with the problem tells me she was either to lazy to find out about their immediate supervisor or chain of command or was looking for recognition she ended up with.
The Soldier's who attacked her and who were wearing uniforms in their profile photos are evidently not only not professional but also not the sharpest tools in the shed. It would probably behoove a serving member of the armed forces to not 'put themselves out there' by using a profile picture in uniform.
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SGT (Join to see)
CWO2 Shannon Reck, tracking, Sir. I saw the "asshat" comments. She could have handled it differently. I think, by the comments she posted, she opened herself up for a lot of backlash that could have potentially been avoided. As positive as her intentions were, she fell into a troll trap.
As you mentioned, though, there are some variables we're missing...like the entire website involved, and the video. Personally, I would have liked that to have been thrown into the article, so that we can read it all. Maybe it would shed some light on what started the issue and how we can handle the social media problem.
And, agreed, Sir. Medals have lost their value. I'm not too convinced that an ARCOM here was entirely deserved. Hopefully, we'll have some more info come up with this.
As you mentioned, though, there are some variables we're missing...like the entire website involved, and the video. Personally, I would have liked that to have been thrown into the article, so that we can read it all. Maybe it would shed some light on what started the issue and how we can handle the social media problem.
And, agreed, Sir. Medals have lost their value. I'm not too convinced that an ARCOM here was entirely deserved. Hopefully, we'll have some more info come up with this.
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MAJ Sitz Randy
The awards system has been flawed for many years. Some commands hand them out for everything and some only rarely. This command group...well I don't know what they are thinking? I think she needs some counseling on how to correct soldiers professionally...certainly not a medal.
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Ladies and gentlemen, this is a politically driven award. The Soldiers and former Soldiers that besieged her with aggressive unprofessional typed comments should have been put in check, but not by the HQDA Director of SHARP. That was a spiteful "oh yeah, I will make sure you get hemmed up move". She went about her correction wrong. You should always handle situations on the lowest level. Her comments in reference to the situation are unprofessional and demonstrate a serious lack of real leadership. As SNCO's we are supposed to correct deficiencies not take a personal vested interest in destroying Soldiers. By going to the highest level, she spotlighted and put on blast the entire organization for which these Soldiers belong, all without allowing the leadership an opportunity to fix the situation. In my professional opinion this SNCO wasn't deserving of an ARCOM, a COA, or a Coin. If anything, I believe she should have been counseled for not upholding the creed in reference to "Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties, they will not have to accomplish mine." She "CC'ed" the HQDA SHARP Director and therefore elevated this situation to a level that was unnecessary and involved a whole lot of Officers that had better things to do then to police up some unprofessional Soldiers on the internet. Our duty as NCO's is to enforce good order and discipline for Commanders, not run to them for recognition or for them to enforce the regulations for which we are supposed enforce.
Granted this is all based off of my "Monday Morning Quarterback" assessment of what has been written. There might be more to the story or it maybe distorted in the conveyance of these articles, but I stand by my assessment based on what I can see.
Finally, we all have a duty and obligation to teach, coach, and mentor our next generation and it is getting increasingly more difficult with Social Media and other forms of technology. Never pass up an opportunity to make a correction, create a professional learning point, and reinforce good order and discipline. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD....STOP THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED STYLE OF LEADING! "BACKBONE!!"
Granted this is all based off of my "Monday Morning Quarterback" assessment of what has been written. There might be more to the story or it maybe distorted in the conveyance of these articles, but I stand by my assessment based on what I can see.
Finally, we all have a duty and obligation to teach, coach, and mentor our next generation and it is getting increasingly more difficult with Social Media and other forms of technology. Never pass up an opportunity to make a correction, create a professional learning point, and reinforce good order and discipline. AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD....STOP THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED STYLE OF LEADING! "BACKBONE!!"
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1SG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see), on target, X-ring. I don't want to be too cynical, because I am not in her head, but it does look suspiciously like she went fishing for recognition.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG Jose Garza....There I upped you twice.......should counter that one. Just know I don't "Troll" I am merely adding information that was out there on the original post. I have said my 2 cents on this subject. I still stand by what I posted.
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SSG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see), well thank you for that. I wondered when I would ever get one. My question was in addition to your comment, and I stand by my comments as well!
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Joe's should be able to have their options, but Joe needs to fix his privacy settings.hahaha
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CSM (Join to see)
SSG Mirko Maravi, I'm sure it was an oversight and honest mistake and you meant to type/address Captain Ann Wolfer by her full name, not just her first name. I've never known a good Airborne NCO to knowingly do something like that, and you impress me as a good Airborne NCO. Will you help me out here and prove the professionalism of the NCO Corps is something we take seriously?
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SFC (Join to see)
Wrong answer all the way around battle. It's all funny until something happens.
SFC Mark Bailey in response to what you said
"If that is the criteria then the person is technically in uniform 24/7 and therefore unable to EVER express an opinion." that is exactly the point. our SHARP and EO policies apply 24/7. On and off duty. On and off installation. THAT is the point WE need to get through to our Soldiers. The point is that we want to change the climate that our young Soldiers come up in. If we stop the foolishness now, don't you think it'll make them more upstanding citizens to know that they are not violating/disrespecting someone??
SFC Mark Bailey in response to what you said
"If that is the criteria then the person is technically in uniform 24/7 and therefore unable to EVER express an opinion." that is exactly the point. our SHARP and EO policies apply 24/7. On and off duty. On and off installation. THAT is the point WE need to get through to our Soldiers. The point is that we want to change the climate that our young Soldiers come up in. If we stop the foolishness now, don't you think it'll make them more upstanding citizens to know that they are not violating/disrespecting someone??
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CPO (Join to see)
People are not programs, we all are individuals, the military is no exception to understanding the more we as leaders know and are involved with our people, meaning actually doing the leadership function, then we can much better provide for the success of their experience. The goal of a leader is to facilitate the process not the people. People need support, a person to act as a buffer so they have room to learn, grow, make mistakes and build their future with sound decision making capabilities. I would buy into the 24/7 stuff except back stateside, they just don't quite see it that way. Your benefits are being stripped away, even the ability to use many of the stateside military hospitals in the event of an emergency. Now go to a civilian hospital and you have to have permission first or they do not have to pay. You see, process improvement is about the processes for people to use, not to use the people to have them operate at peak performance 24 / 7. People just happen to be human and younger kids, even the real smart or well educated younger kids are still kids. Time the people in the military members learned and those that have been around need to mentor so that younger military members learn how to work "with" people. Congress is cutting our benefits, the Vets are trying to fight to keep them for you, me and all of us. That is what we do as a loyal Vet. We never forget where we came from and we have the ability to stand up for those who may not know how or are afraid to speak. That is the criteria, not leading by some little pin or scout badge but by knowledge, trust and willingness of those who will follow. We as a people can not keep treating people like a circuit board, burn it out and replace. The replacements are not coming and the ones that are there are not trained and mentored in the first place. Time to know the people again, that seems to have gotten lost someplace. The active duty, veterans and service groups all have a role, acting like a kid and a tattle tale, try and find trust when it is needed later to get a job done. ;) As a leader you are not there to "Make these people" into anything. It is your job to help them become professional and have the supplies and opportunities to learn, advance and grow. What they do with that opportunity is up to them. Including the one that showed her true colors as a leader by screwing the very people they are there to coach, mentor and work with peers to create a climate "Better" not perfect than before. Not a hard concept. Finally, I do not do the "don't you" and should't you and you must agree.... I don't have to do anything. Speak for myself, not have the false sense that I have power to make anybody into anything. Finally always stand up to my core values.... If you can not do the job, get help and if you can not get help, step aside and let another deal with the issue. That does not include taking this to flag level. Sweet lord, what is wrong with this soldier and that to me is the foolishness we need to stop also. Foolishness is part of being a kid, I personally hope that the child inside never dies and keeps me and my ability to dream and trust alive, watching as dreams come true for myself and those around me forever. Just an opinion looking at this from outside and a great deal of leadership experience.
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