Posted on Apr 29, 2015
As a newly promoted SGT w/no deployment, how would you respond to junior enlisted soldiers questioning your experience?
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Leadership
NCOs
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Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 13
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What side your patch is on doesn't make a leader! A leader is respected for what he or she brings to the table and the example he or she sets. Embrace your promotion. Never question the stripes you now wear.
You don't get to decide whether you deploy or not. Echelons about you make that call. Your jobs is to get your subordinates ready for future deployments and put them in the best position to come home to their families safety. Congratulations Sergeant. Proud to serve with you!
You don't get to decide whether you deploy or not. Echelons about you make that call. Your jobs is to get your subordinates ready for future deployments and put them in the best position to come home to their families safety. Congratulations Sergeant. Proud to serve with you!
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
Hooah, sir! That was very inspirational and I feel more motivated to succeed and show my soldiers that I am well equipped to "place their needs above my own." Thank you, sir. It is an honor to serve with you as well and our fellow brothers and sisters in arms.
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SFC(P) (Join to see) first! Dont take the bait. The young person is playing a game... that you need not play.
Ill share that following Desert Storm (I was in Korea on the DMZ) I occasionally heard this from those that went. Of course they went as PVT to SPC... and a few SGTs. In your situation I might advise this approach.
I would recommend saying, "I understand your concern; however, you don't need to be... I'm more than capable of doing the job and leading our section... Watch and see. Now, if you want to help me make the team better I'd appreciate it.... But understand... I'm in charge... and I will not accept insubordinate conduct from you. Do I make myself clear?"
I actually had the same conversation with a SGT team leader...
My response was this, "SGT Smith... I'm the Squad Leader.... you can believe you know more than I do; however, let's pull out our 2&2-1s (now the ERB) and let's put that to the test. I think you'll discover that my experience.... And my KSAs... Will more than suffice for a lack of deployment to SWA. In fact... I know I have. So which individual or leader skills would you like to test? Understand this... Afterwards...I'm still Squad Leader... If you continue this you may not find yourself a team leader"
He deflated and was actually a very good team leader and became Squad leader after I became PSG.
But don't... Don't take that bait!
Good luck
Ill share that following Desert Storm (I was in Korea on the DMZ) I occasionally heard this from those that went. Of course they went as PVT to SPC... and a few SGTs. In your situation I might advise this approach.
I would recommend saying, "I understand your concern; however, you don't need to be... I'm more than capable of doing the job and leading our section... Watch and see. Now, if you want to help me make the team better I'd appreciate it.... But understand... I'm in charge... and I will not accept insubordinate conduct from you. Do I make myself clear?"
I actually had the same conversation with a SGT team leader...
My response was this, "SGT Smith... I'm the Squad Leader.... you can believe you know more than I do; however, let's pull out our 2&2-1s (now the ERB) and let's put that to the test. I think you'll discover that my experience.... And my KSAs... Will more than suffice for a lack of deployment to SWA. In fact... I know I have. So which individual or leader skills would you like to test? Understand this... Afterwards...I'm still Squad Leader... If you continue this you may not find yourself a team leader"
He deflated and was actually a very good team leader and became Squad leader after I became PSG.
But don't... Don't take that bait!
Good luck
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SGT Suraj Dave
1SG, I am a firm believer a subordinate should have the right to know their NCO's training and experience. That's how you know how competent they are. There are better ways to deal with this issue, without coercing/threatening your subordinates into submission.
But hey, I was a SGT and you were a 1SG. You made it further than me, so maybe that works for you... but that isn't my style.
But hey, I was a SGT and you were a 1SG. You made it further than me, so maybe that works for you... but that isn't my style.
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1SG Cameron M. Wesson
SGT Suraj Dave I agree... knowing your leaders KSA builds unit confidence.
With that said, the issue I had with "SGT Smith" was the manner of address and presentation. He did it in front of the soldiers and part of his challenge was I, out ranking him, bumped him out of position being the junior SGT squad leader. This provide context to the original post.
Additionally, there was no threat on my part. It was a statement of intention.... he was insubordinate.... Article 91 (3) MCM... it could also been consider "seditious" ART 94. If you would accept that as a leader... that is your choice. It was not mine. Had he continued I would have completed the 4856 and gone forward. It didn't go there.
I also agree with you that there are several COA to address to conduct; however, you have to address it the best manner that "you feel" will resolve the issue. This was my method in this forum and at this echelon. It worked.
Good luck with your career and rise to CSM... if that is your goal
With that said, the issue I had with "SGT Smith" was the manner of address and presentation. He did it in front of the soldiers and part of his challenge was I, out ranking him, bumped him out of position being the junior SGT squad leader. This provide context to the original post.
Additionally, there was no threat on my part. It was a statement of intention.... he was insubordinate.... Article 91 (3) MCM... it could also been consider "seditious" ART 94. If you would accept that as a leader... that is your choice. It was not mine. Had he continued I would have completed the 4856 and gone forward. It didn't go there.
I also agree with you that there are several COA to address to conduct; however, you have to address it the best manner that "you feel" will resolve the issue. This was my method in this forum and at this echelon. It worked.
Good luck with your career and rise to CSM... if that is your goal
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SGT Suraj Dave
Lol Oh 1SG, I turned those stripes in almost 2 years ago now. I am a biobehavioral health student at Penn State. You hadn't specified the manner that he confronted you, which was very unprofessional, and your response justified.
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1SG Cameron M. Wesson
SGT Suraj Dave then good luck in that endeavor! I should have add that in the context... to provide the rest of the story. Penn State.... one of my Boy Scouts graduated and commissioned Army this past summer from ROTC at Penn State. He loved the program and the campus! Hope you do also.
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Its an odd situation for sure. When I was a 19 year old PFC, I had already been deployed. I had a combat patch and a CMB. Upon returning from deployment I was given some slick sleeve E-5 to be in charge of me. It was tough for me to respect her, mostly because I was perplexed you could be an NCO and not have ever deployed when we had consecutive back to back wars for 10 years.
It was kind of a let down for me to be honest. My old squad leader during my deployment was hands down the perfect NCO/Soldier. He was a perfect shot, he scored on the extended scale, every day during deployment he taught me a lot of tips and tricks, the kind of stuff you don't learn in tradoc, the things older medics pass on.
But for what she lacked in raw combat experience, she made up for with excellent skills on dealing with shit heads like me. She was fully aware of the fact I had more experience, and incorporated me into the training. I was co-teaching the classes, or teaching them by myself.
They key is, if they are more experienced than you and lower ranking, take advantage of their experience! Incorporate them into the training.
And if the subordinates in question are slick sleeves too, go tell them to sit down and shut up.
It was kind of a let down for me to be honest. My old squad leader during my deployment was hands down the perfect NCO/Soldier. He was a perfect shot, he scored on the extended scale, every day during deployment he taught me a lot of tips and tricks, the kind of stuff you don't learn in tradoc, the things older medics pass on.
But for what she lacked in raw combat experience, she made up for with excellent skills on dealing with shit heads like me. She was fully aware of the fact I had more experience, and incorporated me into the training. I was co-teaching the classes, or teaching them by myself.
They key is, if they are more experienced than you and lower ranking, take advantage of their experience! Incorporate them into the training.
And if the subordinates in question are slick sleeves too, go tell them to sit down and shut up.
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SFC(P) (Join to see)
That's a great point. Utilizing their strengths and skills will only help improve the unit and bring forth more esprit de corps. There's always room for improvement and learning new things. Great input, thank you SGT.
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