Posted on Feb 14, 2021
Can senior NCO’s make soldiers drive from home to a duty during harsh conditions such as frozen roads?
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Is there a regulation on this kind of stuff. I understand that a duty must be preformed such as CQ and Staff Duty. However in my mind it’s very dangerous to have soldiers who live 15+ minutes away from post to preform such duties when they can have someone who lives on base preform it. And have their duties switched up. Is there any regulation on this.
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 133
It's your turn it's your turn. How much do you hate it when you get same day notice of a 24 hr duty? Now make it soley because you live in the barracks. That's messed up. That's why joe makes horrible marriage decisions to get out of the barracks. You wouldn't give those icy roads a second thought to drive 15 minutes to bang your favorite porn star, but you need to get to work and all of a sudden it's holy risk assessment batman!
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CMSgt (Join to see)
SFC Thomas McMahon sexual innuendo has no place in respectable forum. With a wide audience as this one should be mindful always.
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CMSgt (Join to see)
SFC Thomas McMahon I am entitled to my opinion. Snd who are you to tell me what To leave!!!! I simply expect professionalism from my fellow veteran, especially senior leadership. Again, like you I am entitled to my own opinion. In or out of uniform I still try to live my core values! And on that note I'm done with this!
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SFC Leon Amer
You nailed it, 1SG Bradshaw! Duty roster is posted usually, or at least should be, at least a week out, so if there are issues of a certain Joe being CQ on a certain night, and with the 1SG's permission, finding an agreeable other Joe to trade with, and the DA-6 doesn't get screwed up, then everybody wins. Just gotta make sure the ones living off post set their alarms early enough to allow sufficient driving time for the less than ideal road conditions. Been there, done that, Germany 84-88, was married before enlisting, black ice on cobblestone streets in the villages were scary !
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It isn't a regulation it's the law - the UCMJ. It is an offense for you to be absent from duty without leave. The law makes no allowance for weather.
So, legally, yes. You can be required to travel through dangerous conditions to report for duty. Your authority to live off base will necessarily be conditioned on your being available on time. If you are supposed to be on duty and you fail to report without permission (regardless of the reason) you are AWOL.
Now for the reality check. What you ought to do if you are at home off post and you believe that travelling would be dangerous, call your PSG, TL or whomever you answer to. Let them know LONG BEFORE you are required to be on duty or as soon as you discover you will not be able to make it in on time. Let them know the situation with as much lead time as possible so they can sort out a replacement for you if necessary.
Any NCO worth his salt will take extenuating circumstances into account so long as you do not have a history of malingering or being a discipline problem. Adjustments can be made so long as they have time to do so especially as they need to let the COC know if they have given you permission to either miss duty or report late.
Best solution: if you see the weather turning bad and you suspect that it may interfere with your ability to report on time, grab your A & B bags and go to your unit while you can. Bed down there while weather is still permitting. It may be a pain in the ass but you should score some major brownie points for taking initiative and being reliable. You will also avoid pissing off your boss -- which is always a good thing.
So, legally, yes. You can be required to travel through dangerous conditions to report for duty. Your authority to live off base will necessarily be conditioned on your being available on time. If you are supposed to be on duty and you fail to report without permission (regardless of the reason) you are AWOL.
Now for the reality check. What you ought to do if you are at home off post and you believe that travelling would be dangerous, call your PSG, TL or whomever you answer to. Let them know LONG BEFORE you are required to be on duty or as soon as you discover you will not be able to make it in on time. Let them know the situation with as much lead time as possible so they can sort out a replacement for you if necessary.
Any NCO worth his salt will take extenuating circumstances into account so long as you do not have a history of malingering or being a discipline problem. Adjustments can be made so long as they have time to do so especially as they need to let the COC know if they have given you permission to either miss duty or report late.
Best solution: if you see the weather turning bad and you suspect that it may interfere with your ability to report on time, grab your A & B bags and go to your unit while you can. Bed down there while weather is still permitting. It may be a pain in the ass but you should score some major brownie points for taking initiative and being reliable. You will also avoid pissing off your boss -- which is always a good thing.
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LtCol Bruce Janis
LTJG Sandra Smith - 50 plus years ago I was stationed at Pendleton. All us unmarried lieutenants lived at the Del Ray area and our units were at Pulgas, usually a 25 minute drive. Every weekend one of us had the duty each day. The married lieutenants rarely, if ever, served. One of the perks of marriage. Plus there were more calls during the week when a married officer had a problem at home; sick baby or wife, etc.
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SFC Olivero Rodriguez
where ever I was, I always knew about my time to do duty, so unless they call you on the last minute, you had several days to get to work on time. Just saying.
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1LT Rich Voss
LtCol Bruce Janis - Sir, we share some similar experiences. Also 50+ years ago, this time in Germany, tight up against the corner of East Germany and Czechoslovakia. Unmarried LTs (mostly me at that point) got virtually ALL the Holiday and weekend duty until about 6 months later when other single "Butter Bars" arrived. Didn't matter whether I lived in the BOQ right across the entrance to the Kaserne, or 3 months later when I lived all the way across town. I did NOT get married just to avoid duty. The odd side-benefit was that some of those young wives felt sorry for me, so I was invited to family meals on weekends I didn't have duty !
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Does the enemy stop when the weather gets scary? Is it fair to the soldier that lives closer to duty location to pull someone's duty that does not live so close? As a leader I would suggest to the soldier that is concerned about driving in weather to see if someone lives closer would be willing to switch. Each soldier made decisions on where to live and that does not change duty requirements. I drove 90 miles in snow and rain today because of my paramedic job. People still need help and I am the one that chose this profession. The only regulation that exists in regard to your question is command authority, nothing is written that automatically gets you out of duty in bad weather.
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Maj Gail Lofdahl
My father-in-law fought in WWII with Patton's Third Army. At least you have a vehicle; they had to march through the blizzards!
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CW3 Kevin Storm
I have driven 700 miles from College Station, TX to El Paso. If Snuffy can't handle some bad weather, move him back in the barracks. Issue solved.
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SPC (Join to see)
And in most cases u have days if not hours to plan for it and could stay on post so u could make ur duty station. In very rare instances any more do we wake up to be shocked that we have been snowed in and cannot move. Those are the only times on things that were not expected and ur snowed in when u wake up that might be an exception. Tho they could CC ski or snowshoe in
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Bluntly, Yes. It was their choice to live off-post, if it is their turn at duty, then its their turn. You know that they have the right to move him into the barracks unless married and even if married they can move him temporarily into the billets as punishment or to ensure that the SM is present for duty on time.
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SSG Laurie Mullen
I'm going to play Devil's advocate here for a moment. When I was first stationed at Ft Hood I was kicked out of the barracks and was told to find a place ASAP. I was lucky and found a great place in Kempner that same day. If I was in this troop's shoes at the time I would have had a hard time getting in. I lived close to the bottom of a steep hill and when it was icy there was no getting up it. I was surrounded by hills. I would have made an effort and would have needed to do some map work, but I would have been there. I may have needed to do some walking and have taxi pick me up where it was safer and get a ride in that way. Where was I going with this?....Oh yeah, not everyone has a choice on whether or not they move out of the barracks.
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SGM Bill Frazer
Understand, at Bragg, my quarters were 4 miles from the unit. When it snowed/iced up (seldom) they closed Post- no snow equipment around there. My normal means of to and from was a bicycle (good PT start) or motorcycle. All of Bragg is on hills, everywhere. Ain't lived till you have come down a hill sideways using feet as outriggers and cussing like a salior.
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CPT William Jones
SSG Laurie Mullen - this is off this thread but you must be a real special case to be clicked out of the barracks. I would have had you kicked out of the Army f you were that much of a problem in my barracks. Yes My barracks I was signed for them
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SSG Laurie Mullen
CPT William Jones - ???? I wasn't a "problem". I was a SSG and they needed the space for the Sergeants and soldiers. The 1SG came up to me during lunch on a Friday and told me that he needed me out of the barracks ASAP because they needed the space. I found a nice place and moved out within three days. I never received so much as a company grade Article 15. Perhaps my choice of words were poor, but that's how I talk in my normal life. If I need to get a shot or blood drawn I say that I need to get stabbed again. WTF
SGM Bill Frazer
SGM Bill Frazer
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Are you seriously asking for guidance on pawning off standing duty to the guys in the barracks because you have to drive 15 minutes? Do you not realize that is a morale killer?
If you are on the duty roster you know when and where you are supposed to be well in advance. Make the necessary arrangements, even if that includes getting up and going in earlier. Don't expect someone else to cover for you.
You made a decision that led you to living off post, whether it was marriage or something else. You must accept the responsibility that goes along with it. I bet most of the guys & gals in the barracks would kill to move off post, even if it meant driving a few miles in bad weather every now and then.
If you are on the duty roster you know when and where you are supposed to be well in advance. Make the necessary arrangements, even if that includes getting up and going in earlier. Don't expect someone else to cover for you.
You made a decision that led you to living off post, whether it was marriage or something else. You must accept the responsibility that goes along with it. I bet most of the guys & gals in the barracks would kill to move off post, even if it meant driving a few miles in bad weather every now and then.
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Road conditions suck, it is your day for the duty, get up earlier, or call to let them know you are heading slow as the road conditions are poor. Thinking some one who lives closer should pull your duty...be thankful you are in now and not 20-40 years ago, your team mates would have had a conex counseling session with you.
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You have a duty on a specific date and time you are expected to be there. No there is no regulation to what you speak or are seeking. Command can make exceptions but we are all grownups and expected to be aware of the hazards and how to mitigate them to be where we are supposed to be.
The military did not issue us wives and families. We chose those.
The military did not issue us wives and families. We chose those.
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There's several things to consider.
-First, it's your choice to live off base. You're expected to show up for duty at the appointed time with the correct uniform and equipment. Leave early!
-A fifteen minute commute doesn't seem very long.
-The Base might be closed except to mission essential personnel due to weather. The essentiality of your duty is up to your supervisor. Be sure to check the installation web page where closure information is often posted. Also check with your supervisor.
-Scheduling people for duty based on their marital status, age, rank (in some cases), residence location, and many other things is a rabbit hole most supervisors don't want to go down. There's no bottom and they could end up with an EO complaint.
-If you sincerely believe it is unsafe for you to attempt to travel to the base, or if law enforcement has closed roads between your home and the base, you should contact your supervisor immediately.
-First, it's your choice to live off base. You're expected to show up for duty at the appointed time with the correct uniform and equipment. Leave early!
-A fifteen minute commute doesn't seem very long.
-The Base might be closed except to mission essential personnel due to weather. The essentiality of your duty is up to your supervisor. Be sure to check the installation web page where closure information is often posted. Also check with your supervisor.
-Scheduling people for duty based on their marital status, age, rank (in some cases), residence location, and many other things is a rabbit hole most supervisors don't want to go down. There's no bottom and they could end up with an EO complaint.
-If you sincerely believe it is unsafe for you to attempt to travel to the base, or if law enforcement has closed roads between your home and the base, you should contact your supervisor immediately.
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Think about this you fail to show up for duty some one else my not be able to go home, not cool
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My former.commander ordered me to come in during a snow storm, I ended up hitting black ice and rolling my truck, lucky for me. I wasn't badly injured .Even good commanders make bad decisons.
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CPT William Jones
SFC (Join to see) - Soldiers in the Battalion were standing in line asking to be transfered into my company.
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SGT Allen Treviranus
CPT William Jones - Go sign some papers somewhere. Soldier discipline is NCO business.
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CPT William Jones
You are incorrect on whose business is soldiers business. The company commander is in charge and responsible for every large and small thing that happens in the unit. Even things his NCO do or omit doing. You do your job properly th CO looks good. You don’t do what he/ she wants and needs there is a problem and that is the person standing in front of the next higher in the COC not the NCOSGT Allen Treviranus
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Thomas McMahon
The hardline comments about having "duty" are hiliarous. In my instance, I did not have " duty" . The commander just wanted his FTM at the unit eventhough 90% of the company could not come in due to " road conditions." The city of Atlanta never handles snow/ice well, if at all.
The hardline comments about having "duty" are hiliarous. In my instance, I did not have " duty" . The commander just wanted his FTM at the unit eventhough 90% of the company could not come in due to " road conditions." The city of Atlanta never handles snow/ice well, if at all.
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