Posted on Oct 24, 2014
Can a Senior NCO tell their subordinate that they need to purchase a cell phone?
9.87K
101
54
2
2
0
So I have a question, this came up today. I was told that I need to purchase a Cell Phone while I am here in Korea, while my phone that I have from the States works fine out here. I was told that the applications that I, along with most other people use, are not an effective form of communication and that I need to purchase a cell phone, and spend the money on the phone as well as the money on the minutes for a prepaid phone. I have looked everywhere, but I was wondering if it was ethical for an SNCO to tell their Soldier that they need to purchase a phone, with his reasoning being that he shouldn't have to go through another NCO to reach me. I have no problem with purchasing a phone out here, I just don't want to do it, since I already have a phone that works. Just looking for guidance, I also don't want to stir the pot, and make a big deal out of it.
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 21
30
30
0
Some points in regards to phone "requirement".
- Your chain of command can not legally order you to make a civilian purchase to service a military or job requirement.
- If having a phone is a military/job requirement then your chain of command should issue you a phone.
- It is the lower echelon/person's responsibility to establish and maintain communications with the higher echelon/person. You fulfill this responsibility personally by providing your contact information to your boss (mailing address, email address, phone, etc).
- Your boss is confusing his/her personal want (I want to get a hold of you easily) versus a defined and legal need (I must be able to get a hold of you during off duty hours).
- Your chain of command can not legally order you to make a civilian purchase to service a military or job requirement.
- If having a phone is a military/job requirement then your chain of command should issue you a phone.
- It is the lower echelon/person's responsibility to establish and maintain communications with the higher echelon/person. You fulfill this responsibility personally by providing your contact information to your boss (mailing address, email address, phone, etc).
- Your boss is confusing his/her personal want (I want to get a hold of you easily) versus a defined and legal need (I must be able to get a hold of you during off duty hours).
(30)
(0)
CPO (Join to see)
and you are well within your rights to graciously decline their recommendation. Usually there is a leader who has enough to gift the shirts to their team if they are down on their financial luck. For the amount of money folks get paid there really isn't an excuse for not having the 10-15 bucks for a t-shirt. That being said, they cannot require you purchase a t-shirt or phone. As the COL said previously if you have contact information the responsibility is on you to ensure your chain of command has it. I cannot imagine why no one in this day and age would not have a cell phone. They sell Go phones for like 10 dollars at Walmart. They cannot require or force you to use your own money for official purposes.
(1)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
CPO (Join to see) my counter point to your specific comment that we should be able to afford 10-15 bucks for a shirt is this: for those of is with large families (6 kids) 10-15 bucks is a week of lunch money for my kids (and that's the reduced school rate). Yet, as a SRNCO I will be looked at in a negative light if I don't "support" the unit. How about the unit stop printing single sided color copies of a weekly briefing 64 slide show and use that savings to buy the shirts for the unit?
(1)
(0)
13
13
0
No, not ethical and not good leadership.
If phone comm is required then go to your S-4/Supply SNCO or OIC and tell them you want a cell phone issued to you because your SNCO requires you to have cell phone comm with him. Tell them your SNCO is being demanding about this and you don't want to be insubordinate or disobedient. Since your chain of command is insisting. Then the command just must be issuing cell phones..... Hmmmmm... yea, that'll take care of it I believe.
A good leader will never require a subordinate to spend their own money to satisfy their personal demands.
If phone comm is required then go to your S-4/Supply SNCO or OIC and tell them you want a cell phone issued to you because your SNCO requires you to have cell phone comm with him. Tell them your SNCO is being demanding about this and you don't want to be insubordinate or disobedient. Since your chain of command is insisting. Then the command just must be issuing cell phones..... Hmmmmm... yea, that'll take care of it I believe.
A good leader will never require a subordinate to spend their own money to satisfy their personal demands.
(13)
(0)
12
12
0
CW5 Sam R. Baker
Yes SGT Richard H. , they do and I don't have one, on purpose, the guys that do have a nice electronic leash, but they can check their email anywhere pretending to be at the office!
(1)
(0)
MAJ (Join to see)
CW5 Sam R. Baker We have a saying about blackberries - in the military you serve 24/7. When they give you a blackberry, you now serve 25/8. I can't count how many times my blackberry starts blowing up at 4AM because an O-6 needs something.
(0)
(0)
(1)
(0)
MAJ Dallas D.
I am with you MAJ (Join to see) my wife made me keep it in the kitchen at night because it woke her up so often! Of course that got me in trouble as well.
I was so happy to pass my Blackberry off when I changed Command! It was much harder to pass the guidon but that Blackberry was easy!
I was so happy to pass my Blackberry off when I changed Command! It was much harder to pass the guidon but that Blackberry was easy!
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google