Posted on Jan 8, 2016
As a retiree, DA civilian, or mil contractor - has anyone 'interjected' themselves into an Active Duty 'situation'?
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5 yrs ago I was deployed to Afghanistan as a civilian contractor (yet still Army Reserve O-4), It was a remote COP in the mountains (~ 300-500 Soldiers). Technically I worked for an O-5, but my 'supervisor' was a young O-3 and the night shift OIC I worked with was an LT (O-1/O-2 type) 'in charge'. One night was an especially busy night with troops in contact and patrols getting ready to leave and I accompanied 'my LT' to the Ops Center (he had previously had a heated phone call (yelling/cursing) with another LT over support being provided about an hour or so prior). On the way back from the Ops Center the two LTs had a chance meeting (only so many ways to get from A to B on a small COP). This was at around 0200 hours btw. Words ensued, voices raised, threats of 'kicking your a$$' were vetted, etc between the two. I initially let them 'sort it out' as peers but finally interjected (strongly - yet never once mentioning my rank, even though 'my' LT knew (the section found me in AKO). Told them that their yelling could be heard by troops, their conduct was unprofessional, that I was embarrassed to be watching this display, etc. The LT I knew from the section 'chilled' probably b/c he knew my rank. The other (whom I had never met yet) challenged me initially and asked who my boss was. When I told him I worked for his O-5 he chilled also... Has any other RP folks had a a similar experience where you were awkwardly in a situation like this? Deployed, garrison, or workplace? How might you have handled it?
Posted in these groups: 
Contractors
Leadership
Contractors Leadership
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 5
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Boy this is a touchy one. I was a reserve O-6 with the same Flag CoC as the Command I worked at. But what worked best for me was to drop a dime on the SEL, OPS, or XO depending on what's stirring and let MIL to MIL deal with it. Items of safety, violence, etc. there are standing orders for anyone to act. It worked out well because I was a Senior GS that was in the front office all the time and they appreciated my pulse on the Command. O-4 contractor type is a very different story as you don't have "rank mass" to anchor yourself well with. So keeping it private was a great idea and you were reacting to potential escalation to violence. I'm sure you don't need these things on a weekly basis. Not fun. BTW, as a reservist not in uniform, the less you wear your rank, the more you will be respected long term.
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MAJ Glenn Bergeron
I work as a contractor so I normally interact with military personnel and DoD civilians as well. At my last job I was employed to upgrade Navy and Marine Corps computers from Windows XP to Windows 7. We worked swing/night shifts so as to minimize the workflow interruption (keeping people off their computers). Every once in a while, the CTR (Computer Technical Representative) would fail to pass that information on to the offices we were to service that day. I ran into a case like that at one office where there was a very irate Marine Corps Major. I tried to explain why I was there and he wanted me to come back "during normal working hours." I explained that it was my normal working hours, his CTR should have briefed him, and why we were working the hours we were. He started raising his voice (I felt I was being completely professional the whole time) and even "invaded my personal space." I asked him to please step away from me and to keep his voice down as I was not active duty and did not deserve to be treated like that. He asked me for my supervisor's contact info, which I gave him. I then wished him a pleasant day and went on about my business. I did call my supervisor to let him know what just happened, and that was that. I didn't have to go back to that particular office.
I work as a contractor so I normally interact with military personnel and DoD civilians as well. At my last job I was employed to upgrade Navy and Marine Corps computers from Windows XP to Windows 7. We worked swing/night shifts so as to minimize the workflow interruption (keeping people off their computers). Every once in a while, the CTR (Computer Technical Representative) would fail to pass that information on to the offices we were to service that day. I ran into a case like that at one office where there was a very irate Marine Corps Major. I tried to explain why I was there and he wanted me to come back "during normal working hours." I explained that it was my normal working hours, his CTR should have briefed him, and why we were working the hours we were. He started raising his voice (I felt I was being completely professional the whole time) and even "invaded my personal space." I asked him to please step away from me and to keep his voice down as I was not active duty and did not deserve to be treated like that. He asked me for my supervisor's contact info, which I gave him. I then wished him a pleasant day and went on about my business. I did call my supervisor to let him know what just happened, and that was that. I didn't have to go back to that particular office.
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Some things are NOT ours to handle. In any case a simple reminder of where they where, who/what they where risking and maybe verbally explaining the benefits of squashing the disagreement would have been sufficient.
After that a simple "walk away" may have been resolution enough.
Some situations can only be resolved privately.....just a thought should a situation such as this reoccure!
What you have shared is not as rare as you may believe it to be sir.....I've been witness to situations similar to this in both Military and civilian life....
After that a simple "walk away" may have been resolution enough.
Some situations can only be resolved privately.....just a thought should a situation such as this reoccure!
What you have shared is not as rare as you may believe it to be sir.....I've been witness to situations similar to this in both Military and civilian life....
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MAJ Glenn Bergeron
You are SO right, I was biting my lip as I witnessed the whole thing! I truly thought they were going to start a physical altercation, that's the only reason I finally interjected - nothing to do with rank, just professionalism. I tried to stay in the middle ground - not "pulling rank", which I never did, but at the same time not tolerating unprofessional behavior.
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