Posted on Oct 6, 2020
Can a platoon leader order you to make and turn in a personal family budget sheet?
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I have a family member in the hospital where I might have to pay for some insurance costs/bills. My platoon leader wants me to turn in a budget sheet which I understand they're concerned but I don't want them involved in my personal life
Budget
Platoon Leader
Personal Finance
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 16
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By joining the Army you involved them in your personal life. This isn’t a civilian job where you can go off the rails when you’re not at work. Your PSG, 1SG, PL, Company Commander, CSM and BN CDR are all responsible for you. When you can’t pay your bills, they are the ones who start getting the calls. Imagine your Battalion Commander getting a surprise call from one of your lenders saying that you’ve missed payments for the last three months, or S2 calling your Company Commander to inform them you have had your clearance suspended because you missed several payments or have amassed some amount of unsecured debt, and are no longer eligible to do your job because it requires a clearance. Now, as the PSG you have to explain to the Company Commander and Batallion Commander how you failed to foresee this very foreseeable event and stop it. Instead of preventing a preventable problem, you’re struggling to fix a big one.
Your leaders are in your business because it’s their business to make sure you’re ok.
Your leaders are in your business because it’s their business to make sure you’re ok.
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Suspended Profile
and if you are looking to use AER...
SFC (Join to see)
I think there's a LOT missing here to leap to some of your assumptions. You could be right, maybe there were replies elaborating that I didn't see?
Is the LT just trying to help?
Are the medicL bills known to be a chunk of this Soldier's pay?
Are they in an Intel or SOF unit?
Before jumping to saying they control your personal life, is the request appropriate?
Is the LT just trying to help?
Are the medicL bills known to be a chunk of this Soldier's pay?
Are they in an Intel or SOF unit?
Before jumping to saying they control your personal life, is the request appropriate?
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PO3 Pamala McBrayer
Absolutely! I spent alot of time helping my fellow sailors with these issues, as I cam to the military with a background in finance from college. Clearances and ability to maintain a government credit card are issues to address!
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PO3 Pamala McBrayer
LTC (Join to see) actually this can be done with any US government employee, especially if it involves UNPAID INCOME TAXES or failure to file timely. That SSN WILL FLAG. The NCOs find out when the US Treasury files a TAX LIEN, then either Levies government reimbursements through Treasury Offset Program, then does wage garnishment through DFAS, also. IRS can do BOTH. You woukd be surprised how many junior enlisted, filing as SINGLE, underwithhold for taxes!!!
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If you'd rather not work this with your LT, offer to consult an actual financial advisor and make the appointment.
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CPT (Join to see)
It's a very common service at most active duty locations, and free to the soldier just like family counseling.
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I understand your concern but this isn't uncommon. Medical debt can be crushing and debt is also a major concern for federal employees in regards to being compromised and targeted by outsiders wanting to turn someone into an insider threat. Many of the federal employees and Military members who get coerced into sharing information are compromised because they are severely in debt and they are bribed for their services. I have personally witnessed service members lose their Security clearances because they were so far into debt they were viewed as a security risk. I would take the help and fill out the budgeting form.
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CPL Jason Northedge
Amen to that response. It was point on. If you have debt above your ability to pay it back you can not get security clearance. Well except for the commander in chief.
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PO3 Pamala McBrayer
52 percent of all bankruptcies are attributable to catastrophic medical bills. Medical billing and reimbursement is often complex and can be time consuming for the servicemember/insured to contest and follow up on. Example: your family member has a serious illness like cancer. Getting ahead of the problem may also mean assisting that family tap into resources like SSA Disability, SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, WIC…referral for donated leave, FMLA rights, a whole host of options, like the unit fundraising for that family, help from Navy Relief.
But some of that military help starts with that budget info to QUALIFY. It’s on that checklist. But, the other thing, if the issue is KNOWN to the command, it cannot be weaponized against that person by outsiders.
In the worst case scenario, the situation forces the servicemember to avail themselves of Chap 7/13 bankruptcy protection. That is NOT NECESSARILY a career killer. It is a shelter from creditors to enforce a debt discharge or payment workout to resolve the issues. Yes, sometimes creditors get zero. But the damage to the servicemember is minimized when it is clearly shown that responsible actions were taken early. Life happens. Except for the grace of God, go I.
But some of that military help starts with that budget info to QUALIFY. It’s on that checklist. But, the other thing, if the issue is KNOWN to the command, it cannot be weaponized against that person by outsiders.
In the worst case scenario, the situation forces the servicemember to avail themselves of Chap 7/13 bankruptcy protection. That is NOT NECESSARILY a career killer. It is a shelter from creditors to enforce a debt discharge or payment workout to resolve the issues. Yes, sometimes creditors get zero. But the damage to the servicemember is minimized when it is clearly shown that responsible actions were taken early. Life happens. Except for the grace of God, go I.
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