Posted on Feb 20, 2015
SGT Automated Logistical Specialist
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I know most of you senior leaders have had your fair share of SMs (Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen etc) who did not have personal hygiene as one of their priorities...simply put, soldiers who refused to shower or refuse to brush their teeth or take care of themselves. How should young leaders deal with issues like that without appearing to be insensitive? I am saying this because in closed-out working areas, such odor is nauseating...not talking about spreading diseases.
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Responses: 11
SGT(P) Squad Leader
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It would definitely start with a private talk with the soldier on the lowest leader level. If the soldier genuinely refuses to conduct proper hygiene then scare tactics from medical personnel would be a tool.(pictures are pretty real) if there is nothing that can motivate the soldier then counseling on failure to adapt to military lifestyle is necessary.
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SGT Automated Logistical Specialist
SGT (Join to see)
9 y
Thanks Serge
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MSgt Michael Durkee
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Edited 9 y ago
I had a situation that occurred with an Airman that I supervised as a SSgt/E5. Three of the other women in our office came to me with a complaint about her hygiene and more or less demanded I did something about it. I addressed their tone, and my disappointment that they couldn't take her aside as peers but ultimately, something needed to be said or done.
I did speak with her, and found that she wasn't aware of the problem or how to effectively deal with it. I asked her if she would be comfortable having someone that knew more about that sort of thing than I did, she was receptive and I made her an appointment at the Health Office.
In the end, everything worked out for the best it just took compassion and understanding.
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SGT Automated Logistical Specialist
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9 y
Thanks MSgt...I appreciate that.
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CSM David Heidke
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When I was but a wee lad, my father told me that in the Army if they had a guy who didn't wash they would take him out back and scrub him with a wooden brush and the garden hose.

Of course that was at the tail end of World War II... ;-)
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SFC William Swartz Jr
SFC William Swartz Jr
9 y
Seen it happen a few times when I came in back in '87 CSM, after arriving at my first duty station there was one individual in one of the platoons that didn't heed the "advice" of the NCOs within his platoon, and ended up getting a good scrub down!
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