Posted on Feb 28, 2020
My son is trying to pcs from ft bliss. This is his first duty station. Who helps newer soldiers thru this process?
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I ask this question, because his section nco(that's how my son referred to him), refuses to help him. Told him that he isnt part of the unit anymore and will find no help here. He is lost. He was supposed to start leave monday, but when he finished clearing his unit, he was told now he had to wait on orders to clear the installation. I was in the army over 20 years ago. But I can remember being able to go to just about any nco for guidance. From what he has told me in the past, that they get punished for going either above his nco or outside the chain of command.
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Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 11
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From reading all your responses, I think I know what happened.
Your son received an assignment notice in his email. New Soldiers always think this notice is a set of orders. But they have to complete a levy packet and turn that into the reassignment section. Then that section returns orders. Then he turns in his leave form and 10 days prior to him leaving he receives clearing papers.
What your son did was think he had orders. He picked up a set of unit clearing papers and ran around the battalion getting signatures. Then when he went to try to clear they gave him his levy packet to get filled out so he can get ACTUAL physical orders.
Obviously, your son's NCO is a giant POS and I hope your son finds real NCO at his next unit who gives him a real example of leadership and mentorship
Your son received an assignment notice in his email. New Soldiers always think this notice is a set of orders. But they have to complete a levy packet and turn that into the reassignment section. Then that section returns orders. Then he turns in his leave form and 10 days prior to him leaving he receives clearing papers.
What your son did was think he had orders. He picked up a set of unit clearing papers and ran around the battalion getting signatures. Then when he went to try to clear they gave him his levy packet to get filled out so he can get ACTUAL physical orders.
Obviously, your son's NCO is a giant POS and I hope your son finds real NCO at his next unit who gives him a real example of leadership and mentorship
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CPT Lawrence Cable
It's amazed me when I started reading Rally Point just how many questions come from young soldiers (and sailors, marines etc) about administrative processes that should have been taught to the them in Basic Training, or at least in AIT. I know that doesn't happen, and it didn't happen when I was in either. It's a shame that so many young soldiers end up feeling like they got, to use the proper military acronym, Fucked, when a lot of it is simply knowing who to ask and who to go to with sometimes simple problems.
I had some advantage with my father being a Senior NCO, but in reality his knowledge was 20 years out of date. I try to be careful here and check current regs before I shoot my mouth off on current administrative problems, although they aren't a lot different from when I was S1.
I had some advantage with my father being a Senior NCO, but in reality his knowledge was 20 years out of date. I try to be careful here and check current regs before I shoot my mouth off on current administrative problems, although they aren't a lot different from when I was S1.
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SFC (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable I feel the same. When I retire in two years my knowledge Wil be completely out of date within five years and I wish there was more mentorship happening for young soldiers like there was when I joined. I remember my squad leaders and platoon Sergeant walking me through admin processes that I didn't understand as a private. I blame it on the GWOT for so many leaders being promoted before they learned their jobs.
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PFC Duane Snell
That sounds exactly like what he described. He kept saying something about getting a packet complete and turned in before he could get his orders. But like I said, his nco refused to help him in anyway. In fact last night after a lot of grilling him, he even said his buddies were told not to drive him around nor help him. Luckily he was in the process of buying a car so has been able to get around himself. Thank you SFC. And I couldnt agree more..and I have tried to tell him over and over that not all nco's are like his. Almost eve nco I ever encountered in my time in had no problems helping a new soldier. I am not sure what problem his nco has with him, I know my son isnt perfect, but I have seen an email from a sgt major as well as a captain who accompanied him during his spur ride, both praising him as a person and soldier. I would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to respond to my question.
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SFC (Join to see)
PFC Duane Snell I would suggest that your son go to higher leadership. This NCOs behavior is entirely unethical and unbecoming of a professional
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Wait - what? How did he clear the unit without orders? Yeah someone messed up in his chain.
If his first line isn't helping him he needs to go to the PSG or section sergeant and keep going higher til someone answers. I have never been able to clear a unit without orders. Ever.
How does he have a report date if he doesn't have orders? Something is up either with your son not telling you the truth, his leadership or both.
If his first line isn't helping him he needs to go to the PSG or section sergeant and keep going higher til someone answers. I have never been able to clear a unit without orders. Ever.
How does he have a report date if he doesn't have orders? Something is up either with your son not telling you the truth, his leadership or both.
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LTC (Join to see)
I'd pick door #1. No way any unit is that jacked up. People can get relieved, demoted, court martialed if they allow crap like that to happen.
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Something is missing from this story. He wouldn't be able to clear his unit or anywhere else for that matter without MULTIPLE copies of his orders. This is not how this works. Sir, you may need to talk to him again to fill in the giant holes in this story.
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LTC (Join to see)
exactly. No way he could clear his unit without orders. 36 years and I've never seen it happen. There have been the few odd times I've seen someone sent TDY with orders pending with a promise that orders would be forwarded but never, ever, seen or heard of anyone clearing a unit without orders. Something very fishy about this story.
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LTC Jason Mackay
Huge holes. Dumb guy logic, if he is "no longer part of the unit" how is this alleged NCO going to punish him if he goes to another NCO. Sounds like the guy is being chaptered, not PCSing. Don't know how you clear anything without orders.
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