Command Climate Survey; why is it so difficult to get Soldiers to complete it?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 16:53:42 -0500

If command climate surveys are implace to build effective and ethical command climates from the bottom up.
Why is it so difficult to get soldiers (all ranks) to participate in within the organization?
What are some common excuses you hear why they have not completed the survey?

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jan 13 at 2015 4:59 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 16:59:43 -0500

The feeling that nothing will come of the results.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 4:59 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 16:59:59 -0500

In my experience, Soldiers are told that thses surveys are about how the command team is doing. Soldiers may not have any experience with the command team only with their first line leader. If they have issues with their first line leader and maybe platoon Sgt, and they've attempted to get the issue corrected and nothings happened, they don't want to put it in writing just for it to be ignored again. I've also seen a command team who was more interested in the numbers of completed surveys than what was actually put in to the survey. It's a tough barrier to get through, but having good EOL's can make a big difference.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 5:02 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:02:59 -0500

I was one of the first member of the new (at the time) Navy's Command Assessment Team. One of the biggest issue we discovered was a total lack of trust in the command itself. No one within the command feels that (a) their needs and wants are heard, understood and taken care of (b) No one outside the immediate chain of command believes a single thing that is issued from command offices. (c) no one believes the command will do anything to assist or take care of their personnel if it means they have to get up out from behind their desk or pick up a pen or make a phone call. (d) real issues that might negatively impact the chain of command will result in retribution.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 5:11 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 17:11:23 -0500

I've heard people say that they don't think their input will change anything, that command climate surveys are done just so the command can say that they did one. And that's very similar to one of the excuses people give for not voting ... my vote won't make much, or any, difference.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jan 13 at 2015 6:29 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:29:30 -0500

I think that nobody really believes that they are anonymous. You get a number sent to you, so the belief is that they can be tracked.

Additionally they are sent to units, and then typically ask questions like race/sex, rank, time in service...you can quickly deduce who some of the participants are...

Then, there is the belief that nothing will come of the results, or, that they do not want to air laundry good or bad.

They need to be completely anonymous if they are to have any real effectiveness.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 6:36 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:36:02 -0500

Sorry but my experience has told me that nothing ever changes and all attempts to say retribution is prohibited...you're going to get some.

I recall standing in a formation before a PT test in the snow and it was freezing getting an earful from the 1SG for about a hour because of things that were said on the survey. We were given about 5min to warm up in our cars and then took the test...almost half company failed.

Just one example of what that survey can cause.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 7:17 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 19:17:05 -0500

I believe the biggest concern with this is issue is simple. Soldiers don't believe in command climate surveys. I never once had a commander address or correct an issue as a result of my responses or the responses of others. In order for soldiers to have the motivation to complete this survey, soldiers need to see the product of their responses. Otherwise, they will simply check the box.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Jan 13 at 2015 7:51 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 19:51:29 -0500

It is simple. They are NOT anonymous. Secondly, no changes are ever seen on the SM level. We just had one, and the command team was beat up pretty good. Matter of fact, we even had a sensing session afterward and things were even worse then. At the end of the day, nothing changed, things move on just as it was prior. Junior SM's don't participate because they don't believe it will change anything...just my two cents.

*edited to change previous wording to 'anonymous'.*

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2015 9:48 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:48:26 -0500

Because nothing every happens afterwards

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Jan 14 at 2015 12:56 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 12:56:54 -0500

I can't say it better than this:
"The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership." -- Colin Powell

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Jul 10 at 2015 9:36 AM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 09:36:44 -0400

I have participated in multiple command climate surveys and was even part of the action group that compiled a list of findings and recommendations to improve command climate. The way we organized the action group was so everyone in the command would be speaking with their peers on these issues. We also made sure to go to the individuals and not require them or ask them to come to us to discuss command issues. Despite what leaders tell the command, our servicemembers are not always given time out of the day to complete these surveys. If you work in an office environment where your supervisor can look over your soldier and see what you're writing, do you really think they are going to be honest on the survey? After interviewing a number of individuals (who gave us much more information than what was in the survey), we put together an action plan with a list of recommendations. When we presented this to the command, we were told to put a positive note on it and take out anything overly negative. I refused to do so, and briefed the unfiltered results during an all-call. Regardless, our command choose to downplay the findings and only looked at modifying things that had no effect on the real issues. They choose to implement things such as a digital records management system over resolving leadership issues such as servicemembers not getting counseling statements and enlisted being treated as the janitor and still being expected to be a SME on a subject they were given no time to study. So when our troops see how much the command chooses not to care, we cannot expect them to care enough to complete a survey that the command has shown holds no value.

Response by SSG Thomas Trutt made Nov 23 at 2018 12:56 PM

SSG Thomas Trutt — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 12:56:19 -0500

I remember as a young private, I took a CCS and I addressed an issue that our section was requiring someone to stay through lunch and therefore they missed chow in the comments at the end. I had brought this up before, so I think they figured out it was me from that but not only did nothing happen, I ended up on CQ, details, and pulling "lunch guard" much more over the next couple months with no real reason.

This was for a simple almost non-issue that could have been fixed by doing a missed meals form. So I can only imagine what would have happened if I'd been hazed, assaulted, sexually harassed, or been discriminated against because of race/religion/etc.

Another example of "anonymous" surveys being handled the wrong way. Soldiers in the barracks complained of leaking sewage pipes, broken heating systems, black mold, and non functional latrines and laundry rooms. The command's response was to have a GI party every day after work for two weeks and also on Saturdays, as well as give an article 15 to the floor NCO's for not reporting issues (DPW actually had work orders).

Soldiers don't reply because not only do they not trust issues to be fixed, they have seen it come back to bite them instead. For a CCS this is even worse as the new commander is a complete unknown. Are they going to be a hard charging strong leader who gets in the trenches with the troops because they genuinely care about them? Or are they just trying to make sure their OER looks good and god help you if you put that in jeopardy by reporting a bunch of problems. If you want a soldier to open up, you've got to prove yourself trustworthy first.