As a military leader of others, what is your biggest pet peeve about subordinates?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:08:25 -0400

If you are a military leader (or were) in any branch, you most likely direct subordinates. What have you discovered is your biggest pet peeve about leading subordinates, or about the subordinates themselves? How do you handle your pet peeve? Any suggestions for the RP community?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 27 at 2015 2:10 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:10:41 -0400

Having someone act as if they are an expert in something I'm teaching. One time I was giving a class on the wonderful M2 machine gun. I was the only person in the unit to have actually fired the dang thing before and this E4 tried to relate his knowledge of a .22 to the class and wouldn't stop talking until I put him in the front learning rest.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jul 27 at 2015 2:13 PM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:13:51 -0400

Jumping to conclusions based on my appearance. I use it to my advantage and show them that one should not judge a book by it's cover. I have numerous pages and pictures too.

Response by SSgt Scott Schwerman made Jul 27 at 2015 2:24 PM

SSgt Scott Schwerman — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:24:35 -0400

Thinking that they know it all, getting resistance from them on the simplest issues, having to repeat myself a thousand times in a short span, etc

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 2:26 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:26:58 -0400

Hearing the words, "I joined the military for college, not for war! Why should I fight and possibly die for something I don't believe in." This lack of respect for what we do and why we do it, drives me up the wall. I try very hard to allow them to believe what they want, while trying to explain the importance of it all. Usually, it just turns into a political argument.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 27 at 2015 3:02 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 15:02:26 -0400

Mine is a lack of vision. They don't necessarily see the big picture. My other is "that's not my job". I believe in total teamwork. I won't as you to do something I won't do....

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 3:06 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 15:06:54 -0400

I can't stand when a junior leader hits one roadblock when trying to accomplish a task and then decides to give up or not think outside the box. I usually have to jar the mind to help develop answers. I will not flat out give them the answer unless it's an emergency or a safety concern. I need junior leaders to be innovative thinkers.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 27 at 2015 4:07 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:07:22 -0400

(Inappropriate) "Down time"

We all need a break, but if there are "taskers" pending, get those done. Don't mill about and create work for yourselves (and me), if the senior leadership sees you doing nothing. At least hide where I can find you.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 27 at 2015 4:46 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:46:31 -0400

My biggest pet peeve were leaders who could not lead, communicate, organize, or execute. I should have done more to help them. I should take some of the blame.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jul 27 at 2015 4:47 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:47:31 -0400

The "Marginal Performer" , Managing that subordinate who does just enough to get by. What a pain right in the ass! You know the one, "Why Me?" That really burns my butt. No ambition, no drive, just constant complaints and bitching. We've all had them, I'm sure.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 4:51 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:51:58 -0400

Anyone who uses the phrase "at my last base..." (Or something similar) to justify why they don't follow rules or know something relating to their job. The easiest way to correct this is to pull out the regs for THIS base.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 5:24 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 17:24:57 -0400

When I ask "why do we do that way?" and get the response "that is how we have always done it" Instant BP of 160/110.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 27 at 2015 5:47 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 17:47:11 -0400

I always hated when people would say "To Easy".

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 6:40 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:40:54 -0400

Subordinates who pull a fake regulation to say why something can't be done then get aggravated when you cite a correct regulation that clearly explains how to do it. (drivers licenses in this particular case) Took command of a unit that hadn't issued a license in three years, needless to say we were in bad shape.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jul 27 at 2015 6:56 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:56:16 -0400

Dragging feet is something I don't like. I feel old when I tell young SMs to stop dragging their feet.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 6:59 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 18:59:57 -0400

The utter lack of resiliency, especially from those that portray they're "hooah." Ruck up or shut up. Excuses are not reasons, if those of us with age and miles can find a way to get it done so can you!

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 7:50 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 19:50:05 -0400

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 8:47 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:47:58 -0400

Sir, I have two: Back in the day, it was hands in the pocket, correction was asking the soldier if their hands were cold. They would immediately remove them and answer, "No Sir". That was normally the end of the counseling. Then, there was back pocket buttons not being buttoned. This was usually noticed during an inspection. When I was walking behind the soldier and noticed the open pocket I would lean close to the soldier's ear and bet him 50 push-ups if he could tell if his pocket was buttoned or not. Again, end of counseling. aaaahh, the good 'ol days. Thanks for bringing back the memories LOL.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jul 27 at 2015 11:42 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 23:42:28 -0400

Rather than simply saying "Roger That" and moving on, the desire to provide an argument (un-winnable) for the malfunction.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Jul 28 at 2015 1:08 AM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 01:08:27 -0400

To flip that, all the folks that I supervised and managed for the most part were solid and are today as well. My pet peeve is someone who cannot lead yet is in a position of leadership. Case in point was a prior enlisted butter-bar maintenance officer. All ego, no tact and could not need ants to pick-nick. Fortunately he was not with us long and became someone else's problem. The guy we got next was polar opposite. A stellar leader, a natural.

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Jul 28 at 2015 3:06 AM

SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 03:06:47 -0400

Their generational lack of testicular fortitude.

They are supposed to be soldiers, trained and proficient in their warrior tasks an drills, blah blah.

But the minute you put them in charge of the smallest of tasks...they shrivel in fear...

Then again, we micromanage every aspect of their lives so I can see how their fear of doing anything on their own is fear/insecurity inducing.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2015 6:21 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 06:21:39 -0400

The only time I've been annoyed by a subordinate is when they didn't fess up to not understanding a task until they had already gotten it wrong. If you don't know what you're doing, admit it, get some guidance, and move on.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Jul 28 at 2015 9:25 AM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:25:53 -0400

That they don't understand their biggest roadblock to success is themselves. They'll blame their leaders for enforcing standards, and continue to gripe because they are unwilling to put in the effort to succeed. I've had some soldiers who were great at their jobs, but would never apply that same effort to PT. Then I've had the soldiers who were PT studs, but couldn't understand the complexities of the technical work.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Jul 28 at 2015 4:25 PM

CSM Michael Poll — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:25:18 -0400

procrastination.......

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2015 1:52 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 13:52:12 -0400

Straight out defiance of instruction.

Response by 1SG Darren James made Jan 14 at 2017 1:24 AM

1SG Darren James — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 01:24:06 -0500

I tend to find myself as a PSG taking on a lot of tasks that support the company and the battalion mission. So I easily get annoyed with subordinate leaders that complain about not being afforded time to do their jobs but then get mad at getting called out for doing nothing when they have the time to train.