Can your superiors get involved in your personal lives?

2015-04-03T14:54:30-04:00

I Have Been Wondering This Question For Quite Some Time And I Stumbled Across This Site Through My Platoon Sgt & I Would Like To know The Answer. Only Professional Answers Only

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 3:25 PM

2015-04-03T15:25:08-04:00

Short answer yes.

Longer answer is of course they can. you are in a career where your personal life has a direct affect on your proffessional life. If you got injuried at home on your personal time would you want the Army to provide you medical care? If you were having an issue with emergengy and needed some funds would you want the Army to help with and AER loan or a pay advance? This may not apply directly to you but alot of Soldiers want the Army to bend over backwards and provide them everyhting they can but then they want the Army to leave them alone when they don't need anything from them. it doesn't wark that way. We are Soldiers 24/7 and the Army provides for us 24/7.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 3:40 PM

2015-04-03T15:40:23-04:00

1SG Private RallyPoint Member has some good points and he is right. I saw that you are in the guard so it is a little different. But the answer is still the same yes, they can they give you your own space but most of the times leadership depends on you to keep them informed. Say you got a baby due when you go to AT and your normally can't take a POV. Unless they know a head of time they can't do squat. I am in the guard too and it is my units SOP to text every week to your first line supervisor a sitrep; I get kinda funny: "I am not dead/dying, in jail or homeless and I know when next drill is." There is also bennies to this policy one guy in my unit was moving and he told the chain of command at the last formation for drill the 1st Sgt asked the unit to help him move. So keeping your superiors in the "know" is just good all around.

P.S. Good job on finding Rally Point, and then maybe spell check your topic header?

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Apr 3 at 2015 3:47 PM

2015-04-03T15:47:00-04:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member, your Leaders should absolutely be involved with your personal life. That is the only way that they can ensure that they are doing all that they can to provide for you both professionally and personally. With that being said, does that mean that they are "in your business every waking moment of your day?" Absolutely not. One of the pillars of leadership is to "know your Soldiers." The only way to do that is to sit your Soldiers down, talk to them, ask them how they are, ask them about their families, their concerns, their goals, and to counsel them on how to better themselves in a holistic way.

I remember as a young Enlisted Soldier, my Squad Leader and Section Sergeant knew everything about me. They knew where I was from, that I had a girlfriend, my financial situation, my goals, and looking back, probably knew me better than I knew myself. That insight into my life provided them the tools to help me in ways that I did not realize that I needed help. That was 20-some years ago. They did a pretty good job.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 4:00 PM

2015-04-03T16:00:18-04:00

Glad you found the site. Yes...Your leaders can...I would stress to you if they are not in your personal life there is a problem. Your leader should know everything about you.

Now if they found stuff that got you in trouble...then you should have squared that stuff away...We try to save you from yourself...If that makes since.

And remember when you don't have a leader that is in your personal sh*t all the time...you are going to feel like you are missing something.
...We care...<<<---That is why

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 4:05 PM

2015-04-03T16:05:19-04:00

The simple anwser is yes. The welfare of all soldiers it's leaders business. It does not matter if you're junior soldier or a GO when personal life issues interferes with your performance, leaders must take measures to help or correct any problems. That is one of the differences of a military profession and a private sector job.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 5:04 PM

2015-04-03T17:04:44-04:00

Uh, I can't believe your Platoon Sgt DOESN'T know the answer to that question.

It's very simple...

YES!

Response by Cpl Jason Briese made Apr 3 at 2015 5:27 PM

2015-04-03T17:27:40-04:00

Yes. Once you are in the military a lot of your civilian rights are left behind at home waiting for you when you leave the service. There are many things the military can do that is considered unconstitutional as a civilian. The deal is you represent not only your branch of service but the United States of America so the government holds military personnel to very high standards which includes what seems to be a micromanaged mindset to ensure we continue to represent this country as the best fes

Response by SGT Tyler G. made Apr 3 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-04-03T17:31:02-04:00

Yes. It is part of your first line leader, your NCO's job to know you (even part of the creed). Knowing what is going on in your personal life helps them to better take care of you, and ensure nothing happens that could be of detriment to your career.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2015 5:32 PM

2015-04-03T17:32:09-04:00

Yes they can, not in running it, but assessing you constantly. Others have said it, but a good leader has all your information of you in his squad book, platoon book. Names, birthdays, kids names, all of the above, including all your military data. All the members of my squad need to feel out their data sheet, to include emergency contacts, size of uniforms etc. I keep updating it on a monthly basis. Including all the required online training certificates. That way when COC asks did your soldiers did this or that, I refer to my book, and my platoon files copies, or send them copies of my electronic files. That way they don't lose time on meaningless tasks when I really need them for more important things.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 3 at 2015 6:06 PM

2015-04-03T18:06:40-04:00

Yep.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2015 3:28 PM

2015-05-02T15:28:49-04:00

Yes, leaders can get involved in our personal lives.
Anything that effects the ability of the indvidual or unit to complete its mission is fair game for discussion.

Response by MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM made May 2 at 2015 3:40 PM

2015-05-02T15:40:07-04:00

Yes, and they should. They are your mentor and they are ultimately responsible for your success and or failure. If a Soldier sucks at life they should be given assistance.

Response by Cpl J P made Dec 5 at 2019 11:42 AM

2019-12-05T11:42:38-05:00

I agree with with a lot of what’s being said here but I remember when I was a young single L/CPL it was odd to be given life advice from a divorced alcoholic and it wasn’t just one SNCO