Posted on Jul 13, 2019
Can access to a latrine be restricted without cause?
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I am a SGT currently in the Army reserve. My reserve center is shared between my company detachment (90 personnel) and a small group of CID personnel (approximately 20 persons). A chief warrant officer has been designated facility manager due to his AGR status. As such, he has taken it upon himself to restrict my company from utilizing the male latrine (it is on the second floor of the building, and he dislikes our company being on the floor for any reason). This leaves our 90 soldiers with only the female latrine and a single toilet unisex latrine. As much as I disagree with this leadership style, it hit a new low this morning.
My unit was in the middle of a urinalysis when the CID group reported for duty. The warrant officer immediately restricted use of the male latrine. This left us with our much larger group, executing a mission essential task, to utilizing a single toilet latrine all because of a preference.
I have always viewed this as an abuse of power/position. This morning I have been trying to find doctrine or guidance on the subject, but have been unable to find anything. Is there a course of action I can take to correct this issue for my soldiers?
My unit was in the middle of a urinalysis when the CID group reported for duty. The warrant officer immediately restricted use of the male latrine. This left us with our much larger group, executing a mission essential task, to utilizing a single toilet latrine all because of a preference.
I have always viewed this as an abuse of power/position. This morning I have been trying to find doctrine or guidance on the subject, but have been unable to find anything. Is there a course of action I can take to correct this issue for my soldiers?
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 15
Yea. Screw that guy on the power trip. He may be the building facility manager, but there is someone above him that is in charge of the entire compound. Turn and burn.
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PV2 Duane Schlender
That is nicer than I would do... But then again, I take a dim view of NON team players in our forces. I still remember the first blanket party I ever participated in, because dude refused to shower. Enough was enough...
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Due to the ongoing nature, I was leaning towards an IG complaint, but wanted to exhaust all other options prior to initiating that.
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SGT (Join to see) You can report it up the chain of command. Technically latrines can't be restricted unless there is a reason, e.g. urinalysis. You can also submit an IG complaint, if it's bad enough.
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Honestly just go with it and have your commander deal with him. God willing your commander has a spine and takes care of the issue.
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well the CWO can explain to the Base general or the IG why everyone is shitting on the floor..
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I am pretty sure there is a reason why this CW2 put the latrine off limits. Is it possible your unit was not being good tenets as it pertains to cleaning up after yourself. Regardless, the senior person in your unit needs to sign a MOU with the senior person in CID as it pertains to using the building including the latrines and their cleanliness.
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Normally, I would say let the senior NCO’s work it out, but this involves CID. Your unit commander should have a brief discussion with the CID unit commander explaining the improper position taken by the CID individual. The facility manager, unless specifically stated in the assignment orders, does not have the authority to restrict usage of “common” areas. Hopefully this can be handled low key. If not, then the respective reserve command may have to step in to educate the on site personnel as to their responsibilities and authorities.
To put it in perspective, that chief could not go up to your commander and say, as the facility manager, “I’m restricting your units access to the facilities main gate to the hours our unit is not using it.”
To put it in perspective, that chief could not go up to your commander and say, as the facility manager, “I’m restricting your units access to the facilities main gate to the hours our unit is not using it.”
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It's definitely a chain of command thing. After there male bathrooms on another floor? If so, although it may be inconvenient, that may become your new latrine.
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I think I remember, years ago, that CID was moved out from under local control and are a tenant whose CoC goes straight through to CIDC and not local commanders, But I could misremember. I heard this was from local commanders giving them problems with investigations. Agents have to say yes sir and no sir but are free to ignore local chain of command.
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This is a VERY simple Commander to Chief conversation. Inform your Commander you were unable to properly carry out your mission because of the Chief's restrictions. It will end quickly.
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What state is this reserve center in? If it’s one of my subordinate units I’ll put an end to that crap.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Also, I assume your commander is the senior commissioned officer in the facility, thus making him the facility commander who trumps the facility manager.
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Take it to your chain of command first. That CWO has a boss who needs to know about his actions, and the complaint needs to go up the chain, and then back down to the AGR's boss. Sometimes it takes the intervention of an O-6 or higher to show folks the error of their ways. And a reminder from the building manager's commander, reinforced by the signature of, say, a General in his chain of command, that his further service in the reserves depends on his future good behavior is very effective, while at the same time avoiding the distasteful spectacle of displaying your dirty laundry to the rest of the world.
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