Can a platoon leader order you to make and turn in a personal family budget sheet?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:29:41 -0400

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

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 6 at 2020 11:37 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:37:00 -0400

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.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Oct 6 at 2020 11:41 AM

MAJ Bryan Zeski — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:41:37 -0400

If you'd rather not work this with your LT, offer to consult an actual financial advisor and make the appointment.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 11:45 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 11:45:17 -0400

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.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 6 at 2020 12:15 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 12:15:39 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member If the LT believes it is or may affect your job performance, your personal physical or mental health, yes it is completely common and allowed he ask for something that will help you better take care of your family, and these do your job.
"I don't want them involved in my personal life"
Then Id suggest you start planning on your exit from the military and hope you make it to your anticipated ETS date as planned.
That you had so little understanding of what you signed up for is telling in of itself. If your able to adapt to what you did not bother to learn in advance, great, you can likely have an enjoyable and successful time in the military for as long as you wish to stay.

Response by 1LT Christopher Gonzales made Oct 6 at 2020 12:22 PM

1LT Christopher Gonzales — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 12:22:00 -0400

Yes, it’s legal; however, I agree with MAJ Zeski: you should see if you can’t utilize a financial planner.

I don’t know this LT’s background, but I’m willing to bet that that he or she isn’t a financial planner. He or she could cause more harm than good. The intention is good, but the execution could fall flat.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 12:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 12:30:46 -0400

it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to do so.

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Oct 6 at 2020 1:04 PM

SSG Paul Headlee — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 13:04:44 -0400

This is a good thing. Let's say for the sake of argument that your personal finances are poorly maintained. Shedding light on the problem could turn that situation around for you. Your unit needs you to remain functional and deployable. That's their interest in you. Its not to make you feel violated. Let's say for the sake of argument that your personal finances are just fine. Your CoC will then know when they discover this that you are in fact the responsible soldier they want you to be. Sure, you may not actually need this attention but they obviously don't know this yet. Well here's your chance to show them how its done.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 2:35 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 14:35:17 -0400

Are you active duty? Is this a dependent on your DEERS? If so, why are you potentially going to get hammered financially? If not, and they are say for example a parent or sibling but you still feel obligated to pay? What are the "other" family financial resources that could be leveraged?

These are questions that need to be put on the table in front of someone that can look at the entire picture and create a payment path of least impact to you.

I am a financial professional so I understand the PL's concern.

Not for me to ask, but I'm thinking of things like............ If an extended family member not on DEERS then why not let the financial ax fall on them and liquidate everything they have to settle the debt, but do not sign yourself as a co-signer of the liability then you're in a position to get out from under anything that results from this situation.

It's one thing to help financially, it's another to contractually commit to it.

I can tell you the PL isn't going to know the best path. Knowing your monthly budget probably isn't going to be enough.

Could you even get the person on DEERS as a dependent? So many paths to be played. Find someone that can figure them out.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 6:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 18:33:04 -0400

This is a grey area. What’s he going to do if he doesn’t like your budget, reject it and tell you to rework/resubmit? Is he going to audit your finances if he doesn’t believe you? Good luck with that.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 6 at 2020 8:38 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 20:38:41 -0400

You do understand that under UCMJ you can be put out for excessive debts. The PL is trying to help you by making sure you have a handle on it so he doesn't have to request a chapter for you.

Response by MAJ Karl Swenson made Oct 7 at 2020 8:09 AM

MAJ Karl Swenson — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 08:09:04 -0400

This may seem to be an invasion of your personal life by the LT, but in reality, I believe he is looking out for the welfare of his men, which he should be doing. It is the LT's job to ensure that all troops are battle-ready without the encumbrance of personal finances taking away from the focus on the mission. Cut the guy some slack and let him help.....

Response by MAJ Karl Swenson made Oct 7 at 2020 11:21 AM

MAJ Karl Swenson — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 11:21:03 -0400

Greetings. It sounds like your LT is actually doing his job. He is responsible to ensure that you, and the others in your platoon, are prepared for combat. It appears that he wants to make sure that your readiness is not hampered by financial concerns or worries. Talk with the LT, ask him what his intentions are with your financial information. I believe your fears will subside.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Oct 9 at 2020 9:19 AM

MSG Danny Mathers — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 09:19:07 -0400

I had to take away a Private's checkbook because he thought as long as he had checks, he had money. I paid off all his LOIs and gave him a a budjet untill he understood how to manage his money. This action came under the orders of the CO. Most soldiers at the time would be chaptered out but the CO and I thought this Soldier was worth guidance. SPC no name, you better take the advise provided!

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Feb 9 at 2021 9:02 AM

SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 09:02:00 -0500

Can he/she order you to do it? Of course.
Should he/she order you to do it? No. Platoon Leaders are not financial advisors, hell, they are paid double what you make, so they probably don't know how to make a family budget anyway.

The real answer is to go to wherever AES is managed in your post (FRC?) and ask to see one of your installation's MFLC (pronounced em-flac).
Military and Family Life Counselors are licensed to assist soldiers with all aspects of navigating the military with a family, financial counseling included.
They do not report to your Commander, so there is some family privacy there, but likewise if you let your CO know that an MFLC is assisting you, that should be more effective than a green LT on your family's finances.

Response by Maj Diane Varni made Jul 25 at 2021 8:50 PM

Maj Diane Varni — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 20:50:03 -0400

The LT is doing his job and if you are stressing the budget he may be able to get you assistance or head off problems. There are resources that can help, but it is a supervisor to insure it is not a way out, but help with a justified need. Bouning checks, unpaid bills and calls to command can torpedo you, but if they are moring the issue impact is mitigated if not avoided. I actually shut down a base support unit intervention that they were out of line and we had it handled. While that was not strictly financial, knowing the financial situation helped a troop not get penalized for stuff that followed him from a previous assignment.

Response by PO3 Pamala McBrayer made Sep 19 at 2021 5:27 PM

PO3 Pamala McBrayer — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 17:27:24 -0400

Yes. Because keeping junior enlisted persons out of financial trouble us a priority. Payday loan places look for military people. It is easier to help you get off on the right foot, than dig you out of trouble with loan sharks…and many soldiers and sailors really do not even understand basic finance, contracts, and where their money goes…and what collections agents can and cannot do, legally. Once a creditor is aware that you are AD military, a common threat is to report your inability to pay TO YOUR COMMAND. Did you know that you can be disciplined by your chain of command for failure to meet your obligations?! Your platoon leader IS DOING YOU A FAVOR!!!