Can an unsubstantiated SHARP case affect a SM's career?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 02:34:54 -0400

A soldier of mine was was a sharp subject of a sharp case around a year ago. The SM did not receive any UCMJ action but transferred BNs in the BDE. SM was told he was unfounded but later learned he was unsubstantiated from the case. Will this hinder the SM career with promotion or other military opportunities?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2022 8:34 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 08:34:03 -0400

Possible. While Big Army will have no official negative documents filed on the SM, we all know ow how individuals can be. Word gets around. Rumors. Perceptions created.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jul 8 at 2022 9:34 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 09:34:15 -0400

It could, people have long memories and it's an unbelievably small Army. Ran into a guy the other day that I was his 1SG for over 20 years ago, I remembered him as being a good troop, having saved the day on an obstacle at NTC, and going on a lot of missions.
Guess what he remembered..... A butt chewing for falling asleep on the perimeter that I had fired and forgotten and moved on from as soon as the correction was made.
The guy didn't hold it against me, made the effort to hunt me down to visit, but it impacted him enough that it came up in conversation.

If that stayed in his mind all those years, imagine how an accusation of having been involved in a sharp issue will resonate with anyone that was near the case.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jul 8 at 2022 12:04 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 12:04:02 -0400

It shouldn’t and there’s probably an Army directive that prohibits an unsubstantiated case from hurting the Soldier. However people are people and they will gossip and sometimes pass on false information thus ruining the Soldier’s reputation. Best thing for the Soldier might be to PCS as soon as possible.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jul 8 at 2022 12:19 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 12:19:06 -0400

Officially and legally, the answer is no.

However I have watched a Soldier have his promotion pulled due to allegation, not reinstated when cleared, lose a prime career enhancing assignment, and end up retiring 6 years later as a SSG (RCP) after never getting picked back up for promotion.