Answered. Thank you. ?

I've been in Active Duty before, and it was far more organized. Some units are great in the Reserves and some have personnel that make simple things absolutely difficult and extremely time consuming. Accountability is lacking, even more so since COVID hit.

I'm contacting them through multiple means, but I utilize email the most to ensure I have a trail and proof of what I'm saying. Plus, it's way easier to refer back to if need be. I have contacted so many people about these issues, and it tends to fall on deaf ears and the issues remain the same.

Technically the blame won't fall back on me, but I've had money taken from me that I'll never receive back, lost 2.4 years of career progression where I was unable to promote (could be a rank higher by now), reenlist, or go to schools among other things. I may not get the blame, but my career is suffering big time because of all this.

I have contacted others, but very few make it a priority to get it taken care of. Usually, everything is still done at the very last second regardless. I had to get IG involved with the issue that took 2 years instead of 3 months to fix, and they did not speed the process up at all. In every instance people are just not doing their jobs, and I end up paying the price for it.

As for the NCOER, I have done my portion and the rater's portion. I have continuously contacted my rater for updates, and was mostly ignored until recently. I am now having the same issue with my senior rater. I can only do so much, I understand it's my NCOER but don't the people who are evaluating me have to be accountable for their portion as well? I can't sign it for them, all I can do is ask for updates and keep reminding them. It's been months... they're not even my unit anymore. I just feel like people get a pass for dropping the ball, and expect the Soldier to do everything when it's not set up that way at all. If I can't sign until they do, then isn't it technically on them? It just doesn't make sense based on the way it's set up. Going above them could result in my NCOER not being the best as well. It's just frustrating is all I'm saying. I wish there was some form of true accountability so everyone would just do their jobs in a timely manner. A lot seems to be swept under the rug, and it's concerning that careers are stalled and some ruined because important matters are ignored often for no good reason.

If the Army really wants Soldiers to be responsible for everything, they need to provide us the means and the access to do so. Otherwise, it just makes everything more difficult for the Soldiers. We get told we need to make sure it all gets done, but really there is nothing we can actually do, except for reminding someone to do their part.

I will continue to contact others and see what I can do to get things done.

Thank you for your input, I appreciate it.

SGT (Join to see) I was going to suggest contacting the IG because they were useful for me; however, you stated you already did that. I wish you the best of luck and I sympathize with you. Nancy SGT (Join to see)

SPC Nancy Greene - I contacted IG over a previous issue years ago, when my leadership directed me to. Unfortunately, nothing changed then. I have not contacted IG over these current issues. I don't want to make a complaint or get anyone in trouble, I just want things to work like they're supposed to. From what I'm understanding, this section already has a congressional complaint against them in regards to a separate issue with another Soldier. It's shocking even that doesn't seem to be enough to make sure tasks are completed in a timely manner. Thank you for your input and kind words.

Thank you for your input! While in Active Duty, this was never as big of an issue, but on the Reserves side there is a lot more BS that people seem to get away with consistently. In the civilian sector these people would be fired for much less, but in the military they can just BS their way through everything, constantly drop the ball, mess up Soldiers careers, and keep doing it with little to no consequences. It's becoming ridiculous. Not all Reserve units are like that, but there are too many out there that are. There's no true accountability, and the discipline is sorely lacking as well. People always say they take care of their Soldiers, but most of it is BS and they take care of themselves while screwing over Soldiers and their careers, as if it's not a big deal. I know there are good ones out there, but they seem to be harder and harder to find nowadays. Too many are in it for themselves, and that's fine until it affects other Soldiers and their careers, as well as creates a toxic environment for those around them. I know some give a F, some even give two Fs. But, they're hard to come by, and it takes a lot of time to find them. By then, the damage is done and it takes even longer to fix it, if it even can be.

"...unfortunately at the lower ranks you're at the mercy of the system until you can get to a level to influence said system."

I had to quote you here, sir. Absolutely well said! I don't like that the lower ranks pretty much have to hope the system doesn't screw them and their careers over, until they get to a rank where they can take control of it themselves. Having my career in others hands have been a nightmare for me for several years now. It's been one problem after another, a roller coaster ride. I do everything by the system, yet it keeps screwing me and so many others over.

I applied for AGR last year during deployment, and was denied. I applied again this year, and vacant slots for my MOS and rank are available. But, I'm lacking documents the AGR panel views. There was plenty of time to fix that, but my previous unit sat on it for so long and now it's just around the corner. I'll have to wait another year to even apply again. Plus, the longer I go without an NCOER, the more unrated time I will have. Which means I'll have to get a signed memo approving my new rater to rate me for the 9+ months for which I'm currently unrated.

I like the unit I'm in overall, and work in a great section. Currently I'm on orders for another unit out of state right now. My only issue is with a separate section that is in charge of cutting orders and submitting pay for Soldiers. It's one headache after another, and it seems they don't care.

Thank you so much for your input, sir.

SGT (Join to see) - Honestly my frustration with various policies when i was a Sergeant played a big role in my decision to make the jump to the officer ranks.

I feel your pain on going after AGR, very difficult thing to do in the Guard as a junior officer and I've been trying for some time now. Different process in the Guard too though.

Just keep your chin up and maintain your work ethic and professionalism. These delays can slow down your progression but if you hold on to the hard-charging motivation and maintain customs and courtesies and paper trail it won't hurt you too badly in the long run. Most importantly don't forget your struggles once you make E-6 and are a rater for junior NCO's of your own.

CPT (Join to see) - Thank you for your advice, sir. I definitely will not forget the struggles and will help others so they won't go down the same path I had to.