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I have a new Soldier, fresh out of AIT. He has told everyone more than once that he is only serving to gain experience for the civilian sector. However, he cannot pass APFT, abuses sick call, and has a blatant disregard for authority. I have tried just about every approach to counseling you can imagine: 4856, "aggressive counseling," corrective training, "under the oak tree" counseling, everything short of putting hands on this kid. I have expressed to leadership that I want to remove him from service, as I have ample ammunition to do so. However, leadership has expressed that they want to retain for the time being and see if he squares himself away. Has anyone had any success with this type of Soldier?
I know this is a frequent topic of discussion, but I would like to just throw this out there. The caliber of Soldier has indeed diminished. The "New Army's" ranks is being filled with the "everyone gets a trophy" generation. I believe the warrior spirit is almost gone and its time we bring it back. NCOs need to be the backbone we once were. We need to quit coddling and start reminding Soldiers they joined to fight America's wars, not to just receive a paycheck. In the words of Gen Patton "...this is not a tea party for old women, this is the Army, we kill people."
I know this is a frequent topic of discussion, but I would like to just throw this out there. The caliber of Soldier has indeed diminished. The "New Army's" ranks is being filled with the "everyone gets a trophy" generation. I believe the warrior spirit is almost gone and its time we bring it back. NCOs need to be the backbone we once were. We need to quit coddling and start reminding Soldiers they joined to fight America's wars, not to just receive a paycheck. In the words of Gen Patton "...this is not a tea party for old women, this is the Army, we kill people."
Posted in these groups: 
New Soldiers
Leadership
New Soldiers Leadership
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 44
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We've all, unfortunately, had to deal with a s***birds, sick-bay commandos, and our fair share of non-hackers. I always tried to make their existence as uncomfortably comfortable as possible. If the kid had a light duty chit, he would bring his camp stool to morning PT... and watch. When we went out on heavy gun shoots (fun stuff, right?), he brought his camp stool... and watched. When it was time for field day (that's cleaning, for Marines)... guess what? He brought his camp stool... and watched. For every event at any level, I made sure we had a camp stool for him. I made sure that his NCO's, Plt Sgt, etc. ALL knew that he 1.) was to be there, and 2.) not to participate. After a while, the non-hacker would get sick of having to endure his shipmates' criticism. I didn't keep a log of those that "came around." But, I'd guess this method turned about a 95% success rate. The other 5% were administratively separated for "failure to adapt to a military environment." Honestly, I didn't care the disposition of his discharge --for he was gone.
I hope that more RP members chime in on this... with more creative ideas. There is a leadership challenge in front of you. Best of luck.
I hope that more RP members chime in on this... with more creative ideas. There is a leadership challenge in front of you. Best of luck.
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CPT Chris Loomis
Capt. Mark Stobl Sir, that is an amazing idea and solution! I know a Soldier that could use a comfortable chair to rest while he's infirmed.
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CMSgt (Join to see)
CPT Chris Loomis -
Let's not get crazy, Sir. No one said "comfortable" chair. Lol
Let's not get crazy, Sir. No one said "comfortable" chair. Lol
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I recommend you calling HIS MOMMA! She don't want him back, let him tell her (on a speaker phone) that he is getting in trouble for his behavior and if he continues he will be sent back home.
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1SG Michael Blount
Depends on the situation. In BCT-land, I've been known to let problem children go all the way up to two days before graduation before telling them they're not walking the stage and I'm limiting their pass to the battalion area during Family Day. I then offer them the chance to make a phone call to their families to explain why. At the end of Family Day, I recycle their miscreant butts back to...oh....week 4 or so.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
1SG Michael Blount in my BCT last year, our last FTX was Monday through Thursday, on Wednesday they found three couples having intercourse in their tents (their where the only three tents set in the whole field, suspicious). We were graduating next Thursday and Family day was Wednesday. They waited until Tuesday's evening, when their families were already there, to tell them they weren't graduating. They were sobbing, nobody cared.
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1SG Michael Blount
CSM Michael J. Uhlig - did that to a boot my first trail, CSM. Put mom on speaker phone. She played the part well. Told little girl she didn't have bus fare to bring her lazy butt home and that she was stuck at Fort Leonard Wood for the duration. Afterwards, the 1SG and I had a good laugh telling and retelling that story.
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A problem as old as time, and this brings to mind a few guys, by name. It is also odd, that in view of this exact issue, that the good soldiers I won't necessarily remember by name.
The informal leadership in the unit always has more influence than the formal chain. I'd see about getting the SPC4 mafia to work for you, and not let Jr. get a Robin Hood reputation. SP4s are the smartest people in the army at this, and at the final accounting, they don't want this dude with them in a dry and sandy place.
Don't slack on the formal stuff and as mentioned above by SGT Wiley. If you get a big pile of paper, that translates to an other than honorable chapter action, it is a useful incentive/ detriment to his former civilian plans, and he'll realize he needs to get good at asking "do you want fries with that?"
There is a point where you need to get him out of there, though- if he never reaches the realization that its easier just to cooperate. If its a chapter, so be it. Otherwise, he can hand out basketballs at the rec center, whatever- but he needs to go- or he could end up infecting the whole unit.
Good luck- and I think you have a great deal of very good advice already posted.
The informal leadership in the unit always has more influence than the formal chain. I'd see about getting the SPC4 mafia to work for you, and not let Jr. get a Robin Hood reputation. SP4s are the smartest people in the army at this, and at the final accounting, they don't want this dude with them in a dry and sandy place.
Don't slack on the formal stuff and as mentioned above by SGT Wiley. If you get a big pile of paper, that translates to an other than honorable chapter action, it is a useful incentive/ detriment to his former civilian plans, and he'll realize he needs to get good at asking "do you want fries with that?"
There is a point where you need to get him out of there, though- if he never reaches the realization that its easier just to cooperate. If its a chapter, so be it. Otherwise, he can hand out basketballs at the rec center, whatever- but he needs to go- or he could end up infecting the whole unit.
Good luck- and I think you have a great deal of very good advice already posted.
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