As a retiree, DA civilian, or mil contractor - has anyone 'interjected' themselves into an Active Duty 'situation'?

MAJ Glenn Bergeron — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 20:08:13 -0500

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?

Response by SFC Eric Williams made Jan 8 at 2016 8:50 PM

SFC Eric Williams — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 20:50:41 -0500

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....

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jan 8 at 2016 9:48 PM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 21:48:42 -0500

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.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 8 at 2016 11:38 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 23:38:28 -0500

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.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 9 at 2016 3:21 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 03:21:06 -0500

Yes, and I think you did what was necessary... Said what needed to be said, when it needed to be said! Good job MAJ Glenn Bergeron.

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Jan 9 at 2016 6:48 AM

SSG Leo Bell — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 06:48:06 -0500

You handled that right and never had to pull rank or get there command involved. It is not right for soldiers to hear there leadership of any rank arguing about anything.
I was working as a contractor for the Army about five years ago. I've seen all kinds of mishaps going on. Once we had a unit on the range. The SFC wasn't in the vehicle and they took it down range to train anyway. The vehicle didn't have any NVG's on board and the black out light were working but every one knows that you can not see anything in picth black without your blank out lights. Well they got to the first firing point and pulled over to far and almost flipped the vehicle. Everyone but the drive got out because he was on the breaks and couldn't move because it was that far over the edge. They recovered the vehicle and everyone was safe. When the SGM got there and chewed some butt he ask where was the vehicle commander at and they told him they didn't know. SGM went back to the tent and found him in the rack knocked out. Jumped his butt for not being with is men and for not having his vehicle squared away. Then he relived him of his command right there in front of his soldiers. Then they had took the same vehicle down range again with out the right equipment again. It was a mess that night.