SPC Christopher Buckalew 234667 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I was recently talking to my son-in-law about my time in the Army during the early to mid-90's. He was amazed at the story I told him of the time I let my squad leader borrow my car one day. My squad leader was an E-5 who was single and lived in the barracks. I was an E-3, married, and lived off post. I then told him some stories about my chain smoking platoon sergeant (E-7), and I have tons of stories about me and my old 1st Sgt. We broke the rules and fraternized quite often. My son-in-law is on AD right now and just made E-5. He told me that in today's Army you don't speak to your platoon Sgt, you certainly don't speak to your 1st Sgt, and you NEVER speak to your CSM. He reports that if you are speaking to any of them then you are more than likely in some kind of trouble.<br />I can recall speaking to my BN CSM many times, and occasionally even my BDE CSM. Both our CSM's would get out and roam the unit grounds and speak with soldiers all the time. Our BDE CSM loved to go to the motor pool and inspect the vehicles. (This was in an Infantry Brigade by the way.) CSM Fitzpatrick would frequently quiz you on general orders, AR 670-1 topics, and promotion board questions.<br />Our 1st SGT was very approachable and loved to talk with soldiers every day. He had his finger on the pulse of what the soldiers were thinking and feeling, that made him invaluable to the CO, and is probably why he enjoyed a 34 year career in the Army, with over a decade as a CSM.<br />My son-in-law tells me that today's military is no longer like this and that the troops basically do not communicate with the higher up's. If the troops can't even talk to their platoon sergeant, then how is the 1st SGT going to get reliable info to the CO? How does the CO forward any useful info up the chain from there? This is distressing to me, I've read articles from troops saying that they feel disrespected and do not plan to re-enlist because of this situation. I know our morale is down right now, but it seems that our current command structure may be causing much of this. What say you? 2014-09-09T19:04:39-04:00 SPC Christopher Buckalew 234667

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I was recently talking to my son-in-law about my time in the Army during the early to mid-90's. He was amazed at the story I told him of the time I let my squad leader borrow my car one day. My squad leader was an E-5 who was single and lived in the barracks. I was an E-3, married, and lived off post. I then told him some stories about my chain smoking platoon sergeant (E-7), and I have tons of stories about me and my old 1st Sgt. We broke the rules and fraternized quite often. My son-in-law is on AD right now and just made E-5. He told me that in today's Army you don't speak to your platoon Sgt, you certainly don't speak to your 1st Sgt, and you NEVER speak to your CSM. He reports that if you are speaking to any of them then you are more than likely in some kind of trouble.<br />I can recall speaking to my BN CSM many times, and occasionally even my BDE CSM. Both our CSM's would get out and roam the unit grounds and speak with soldiers all the time. Our BDE CSM loved to go to the motor pool and inspect the vehicles. (This was in an Infantry Brigade by the way.) CSM Fitzpatrick would frequently quiz you on general orders, AR 670-1 topics, and promotion board questions.<br />Our 1st SGT was very approachable and loved to talk with soldiers every day. He had his finger on the pulse of what the soldiers were thinking and feeling, that made him invaluable to the CO, and is probably why he enjoyed a 34 year career in the Army, with over a decade as a CSM.<br />My son-in-law tells me that today's military is no longer like this and that the troops basically do not communicate with the higher up's. If the troops can't even talk to their platoon sergeant, then how is the 1st SGT going to get reliable info to the CO? How does the CO forward any useful info up the chain from there? This is distressing to me, I've read articles from troops saying that they feel disrespected and do not plan to re-enlist because of this situation. I know our morale is down right now, but it seems that our current command structure may be causing much of this. What say you?

2014-09-09T19:04:39-04:00 2014-09-09T19:04:39-04:00 SPC David S. 234692

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Not sure about now but when I was in, late 80's, enlisted and officers talked and hung out. However it was National Guard and we knew most of each other in a civilian setting. Not sure about regular Army.

2014-09-09T19:17:57-04:00 2014-09-09T19:17:57-04:00 PO1 Private RallyPoint Member 234694

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Seen something like this in the Navy...mostly happens in garrison environments. There's something that goes dead in the brain for senior personnel (officer and enlisted) when they get in garrison. All of a sudden inspections become "the thing" rather than getting the unit "combat ready".<br /><br />I always agreed with the old saw: "a combat-ready unit NEVER passes a formal (garrison) inspection.

2014-09-09T19:19:07-04:00 2014-09-09T19:19:07-04:00 MSG Wade Huffman 234743

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I certainly hope that his stories are isolated to that particular unit! I can't imagine leadership being disengaged to that degree!

2014-09-09T19:47:33-04:00 2014-09-09T19:47:33-04:00 SPC(P) Cody Patterson 234755

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>That's the way it is in my company. We were told by our team leaders not to talk to anyone above E-5 unless they talked to us first.

2014-09-09T19:53:50-04:00 2014-09-09T19:53:50-04:00 Sgt Jennifer Mohler 234763

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I saw a huge mix while I was AD (2006-2014). Some units the PFCs didn't talk to the LCpls, other units the young Marines could freely talk to the 1stSgts no problem. I think the healthiest relationships were the ones that were open, yet still respected the chain.<br /><br />My personal philosophy was I would do the best I could by my Marines, if I couldn't help, I would facilitate them talking to the higher ups. This did several things, one I could do my job as a leader, the Marines (hopefully) trusted me, I also allowed the senior leadership to do their jobs, and no respect was lost for the chain of command. This worked only in a perfect world of course; but in reality as long as I kept that ideal in mind and worked around the realities of what was happening around me, things tended to work out alright.<br /><br />I think the leader who makes themselves unavailable is downright foolish. You can expect high standards and be approachable. Most of all, as long as you understand your subordinates are human and not perfect (as well as your leaders) it will be hard to get an unclear mind about anything. Too bad some leaders (of ALL levels) never learned this. A good leader also understands that some people will hate you, and there is nothing you can do about it :)

2014-09-09T19:57:55-04:00 2014-09-09T19:57:55-04:00 SPC Christopher Buckalew 234960

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I knew where both of my CSM's lived, BN and BDE (I still avoided there AO, but I knew) My very first 1st Sgt lived on the same street, off post, that I did as an E-3. He called me in the office one day and asked me how I could afford to live on the same street as him. I told him that I just could...dumb 19 year old at the time. He told me that he better not hear of me not being able to pay any of my bills...and he never did. He would come by the house and get me to go run with him on weekends. We weren't exactly chummy but we were social and my wife and I did go over to his house several times.<br />My next 1st Sgt was the one that I fraternized with so much, I made E-4 under him and for some reason we just hit it off. He took me to his house one day and I met his wife and his son, we watched football games together and drank lots of beer. We broke bread with each others family numerous times and I eventually became the godfather to his son and looked after his family while he was gone to Korea. We have remained friends since then and he only recently retired after 34 years of service. There isn't a place on this earth that I wouldn't follow that man to. He could ask me to run up a wall and I'd figure out a way to do it. He knew how to take care of his troops and his commanders loved him. If you don't believe it, just ask Gen. Petraeus who came and spoke at his retirement ceremony. How many retiring CSM's can say that? I learned about leadership, Army values, being a man, and life in general from that man. It's sad to think that in today's Army, young troops may never have a man like that in their leadership.

2014-09-09T22:07:43-04:00 2014-09-09T22:07:43-04:00 Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member 235130

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have had the same comment from a group of Army troops when I was deployed. <br /><br />I was aircrew with the UAS's out of Balad. Every night I would to dinner with a few of the Enlisted crew members in the unit. We were sitting next to some enlisted Army ADA troops. We got into a conversation with them. One guy mentioned he was surprised to see me sitting with our enlisted and mentioned that he cant really talk to anyone casually above an E-4 in most cases.<br /><br />I was shocked to hear that. If this is the norm, it shows a breakdown in unit structure and is flawed IMO.<br /><br />There should always be an open door policy with the leadership. This does not mean go VFR direct to the commander at every issue since usually most problems can be handled at the lower levels. However, they should know that they have the option to see the next echelons in the chain if they need to.

2014-09-10T01:16:46-04:00 2014-09-10T01:16:46-04:00 LTC Paul Labrador 235140

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Are we talking "hanging out" or are talking "I have an issue I want to bring up to the boss"? If's a matter of hanging out, fraternization is still prohibited and should not be tolerated....but that does not mean you cannot be sociable and friendly when its appropriate. Sticking your head in my office and saying "what up!" is not appropriate. Saying "good morning sir/sergeant, how was your weekend?" is totally appropriate. Your command team will usually set the tone for that. If it's a matter of the latter, that sounds like a poor command climate. There are certain protocols to go up the chain with issues, but "never" is should not be anywhere in those protocols.

2014-09-10T01:37:05-04:00 2014-09-10T01:37:05-04:00 1SG Mike Case 235259

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As LTC Labrador said, popping your head in and saying "what's up", not the best idea but if I see a Soldier in the chowhall, I will sit with him and really just talk with him. Like I tell my leaders, you need to talk to your Soldiers. There is counseling and there is talking to your Soldiers. I will always walk around work and just sit down and talk with the Soldiers and see what is going on with them. I don't just talk Army business, I ask them about hobbies and how the home life is. All my Soldiers know that they can stop by and sit down with me and vent or ask questions, but if they have a problem to be solved, I do let them know that I will take it to their first-line leader and let that person attempt to fix it at their level but telling Soldiers they shouldn't be talking to the PSG and such is just wrong. Soldiers need to know that they can come to us for help, guidance, or just sometimes vent. Sometimes leaders forget what it was like to be that PV2. I am not condoning Soldiers just running to PSG's or 1SG but don't give them the impression that those avenues are completely closed to them.

2014-09-10T08:20:06-04:00 2014-09-10T08:20:06-04:00 SGT Ben Keen 235293

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>This is a poor command atmosphere! Every leader should have an open door policy and SM should be allowed to use it; not abuse it. As a SGT I told my Soldiers that they should come to me first but if they didn't feel comfortable with that, they could go to the Section Chief or whomever within their chain of command/responsibility. <br /><br />If a Service Member is being told by their leaders to not to talk to someone because of their rank, than that command is failing.

2014-09-10T08:57:18-04:00 2014-09-10T08:57:18-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 235695

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>His units command climate sounds horrid, in my unit we are visited constantly by our battalion CSM and BC they enjoy coming around and talking to us all. Our 1SG often comes around to visit our motorpool (we are a support company) and he gets upset if no one talks to him. Even when i was an E-2 they took what i had to say just as seriously as our plt sgt.

2014-09-10T14:33:47-04:00 2014-09-10T14:33:47-04:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 422494

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I as a team leader ask my Soldiers to speak to me first if it is an issue that I may be able to help with. If I can't do anything I will ask that the Section NCOIC speak with us... and so on. As far as PS or 1SG.... the soldiers are free to speak with them as they have an open door policy. I do however ask that the Soldiers have the common courtesy to let me know and I will make sure it happens. I have NEVER told my Soldiers that they can't talk to someone other than myself. They will not "hang out" with them though. Because we are an S&amp;R shop, PS and 1SG are asking all the time what we are working on. BN CSM and BN C MD are in our shop a lot also. Sorry so long.

2015-01-17T19:07:27-05:00 2015-01-17T19:07:27-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 802226

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>In the Army, I think this is more in non-line units like signal, aviation or medical. In these units, there is typically a separation of troops and leadership. Maybe the E-5 team leader works side-by-side with the troops, but the E-6 is a NCOIC for a shop or clinic. Then the PSG is located somewhere totally different from the actual platoon. Even if the higher ups are co-located with the troops, there may be some type of administrative division. This can create a weird environment of troops never seeing or speaking with the higher ups, unless they are in trouble or have an issue that requires that level of attention. In these situations, if leaders don't take it upon themselves to engage those troops, it can lay the foundation for toxicity.

2015-07-09T09:05:51-04:00 2015-07-09T09:05:51-04:00 SGT Scott Bell 925066

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>yes

2015-08-28T14:56:19-04:00 2015-08-28T14:56:19-04:00 PFC John Hofer 1142499

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I've been out since 2005. But in some rare instances our higher ups would talk to us. But most times we tryed to do it we would get that look like we lost our mind. In my opinion it made it really hard to trust them when you couldn't know them. My 1st Lt. Was different though he was always talking with us offering help if we needed it. Always had an open door to you if you had issues. True leader in my book. Every one looked up to him and trusted him.

2015-12-01T10:44:34-05:00 2015-12-01T10:44:34-05:00 SSG Ronald Rollins 1678799

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>When I retired in 2012, there seemed to be an air of if you are talking to a senior you were in trouble. And it always seemed to be true. Now days they only seem to have time for you if you are in trouble or are yelling or counseling you for something done wrong. Very little of anything done good seems to be noticed.And if a soldier has a problem heaven forbid he try to get help. Most would tell them to "handle your business" or "it is your problem not mine". Leaders seem to care only about themselves and getting their next promotion. And the 1SG really had not time for anyone below the PSG.

2016-06-30T19:25:48-04:00 2016-06-30T19:25:48-04:00 CSM John Mead 3888226

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The last 15 years have taken a tremendous toll on our soldiers. However, to lose touch with those that we are entrusted with as leaders is unforgivable. if todays Army is to survive into the future, perhaps lessons learned should be reviewed and instilled into our NCOs. Officers should heed from them as well, as each learns from a commensurate grade NCO. To hear of this saddens as well as alarms me. If this is not an isolated case, shame on those that condone it.

2018-08-17T16:38:21-04:00 2018-08-17T16:38:21-04:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 4504528

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>How many units has your SIL served? I want to know if this is a systemic problem. I firmly believe leaders have to give a shit, take care of the soldiers, fight for them, and act as a conduit of change.

2019-04-01T14:39:28-04:00 2019-04-01T14:39:28-04:00 LTC Jason Mackay 4504597

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If RP posts are any measure, soldiers and their NCO channel have a huge communication barrier.

2019-04-01T15:02:08-04:00 2019-04-01T15:02:08-04:00 2014-09-09T19:04:39-04:00