Posted on Jul 12, 2015
Can a unit survive if the 1SG and Commander don't get along?
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How many of you have been part of a unit where the Command Team structure was rocky at best? Can a unit survive with this toxic dynamic in the long run? In your experience, who was the cause of the Command Team failure, the 1SG or the CDR or both?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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In Iraq we had that very predicament. It was a living hell for the PSG's (me). They pitted the Troop against each other and I just told the Commander that he could expect a lot of attention from higher as we all went to the SCO requesting any other assignment within his unit. Within 3 months we had an entire new chain of command within the Troop. It was a living hell before that and then we did a complete 180.*
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CW4 (Join to see) Yes a unit can survive when the CDR and 1SG do not get along. I did not get along with one of my bosses when I was a 1SG. We kept it professional and got the mission accomplished. Just because you do not get along with your counter part does not mean you cannot be successful.
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CW4 (Join to see) I posted a discussion many months ago about the Commander/CSM Relationship and its importance. My personal and military leadership feeling is that relationship on the surface (as perceived by the unit) has to be "iron clad". I've seen Commanders and 1SGs that hate each other and they were like oil and water. Unfortunately, they let this relationship run over into their dealings, communications, and body language in front of the soldiers. This was a recipe for disaster and ultimately they broke that team apart. The best-case scenario is to have the best possible working and personal relationship that you can with your First Shirt. I was very fortunate as a 1LT, CPT, and MAJ to have those type of relationships with TOP. It really makes a big difference in my opinion. You bounce ideas off each other, you let him run the NCO and Enlisted Corp, he lets you corral the junior officer corps, and he makes sure your training get accomplished by the trainers, because you had ample time to plan and resource as a leader. Its just good business to build and maintain that relationship.
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CPT (Join to see)
I've had both but I was lucky my first, 1SG when I had command was awesome! He was the best! As 2LT HHC CMDR...I caught a lot of BS, even though I was prior enlisted. He guided me through it and if there was ever something I missed he'd say, "Ma'am you might want to...." Before he left he presented me with an old beat up baseball bat with leather strapping on the grip and he said Ma'am if those boys start getting out of line you just hit them with this.... He was simply the best! I don't talk with him very often but every once in a while we do and it's like no time has passed between us....we just pick up the conversation where we last left off.
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SSG (Join to see)
Being a member of the 'backbone of the Army' it's my experience that a unit can indeed survive, so long as the senior NCOs of that unit are able to maintain discipline among the junior members. Young officers play a role as well in noticing the dissent and working with the NCO counterparts to lead by example rather than fall in to the trap that inadvertently gets set by the power struggle between the CO and 1SG.
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