CQ on New Years Eve after last minute change and after no holiday leave; suck it up or would you complain?

2014-12-31T12:28:58-05:00

This soldier is pulling CQ today, New Years Eve. The reason why he is upset and thinks it isn't fair is because he was deployed for the past 12 months in Afghanistan with a different unit while his unit was in the rear. He's the only soldier in the battalion that was deployed. He got back 3 months ago and as soon as he got back, he went to work everyday till 1700. They didn't give him half days or 4 day weekends for redeployment and he never asked for them either, he didn't feel it was his position to ask for days off.

He didn't take block leave because he went on leave in October for 29 days and was told that if he did put leave now, it would probably get denied because he just took leave, so he didn't. He just found out yesterday that he had duty today because they changed the roster last minute. He asked the NCO in charge of the roster to see if there was anything he could do because he wanted to spend this new year's eve with his family since last year he wasn't here, unlike everybody else. He was told "at least you get to spend Christmas with your family" meaning that that should've been enough. He now feels that his unit doesn't really care about him or his family.

Is this soldier overreacting? Did his leadership fail him or is he just complaining?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 12:31 PM

2014-12-31T12:31:46-05:00

I'm sure there is more to this story, but it does have the beginnings of both failed leadership and a weak Soldier. No one should be so intimidated by their leadership to fear requesting leave. At the same time, active leadership involvement could have identified this Soldier as needed extra attention due to a recent deployment.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Dec 31 at 2014 12:33 PM

2014-12-31T12:33:27-05:00

I don't know about the details on whether he should pull CQ duty on New Years Eve, but from everything you described, it sound like there is a generally over the top and UNNECESSARY "suck it up" mentality -- which is not positive leadership, and therefore fair reasons for feeling like the command doesn't really care about him. Reasons:

- The nature of the "last minute change" seems suspicious to me. Everybody has to pull undesirable CQ sometimes, but "last minute changes" with no explanation breeds suspicion and ill-will. You can't just throw that at somebody with no explanation the day before New Years and say "at least you saw your family for Christmas" and not expect them to lose some faith in the command.

- Not getting to even ask for holiday leave? Anybody should be able to ask for holiday leave. If somebody wants to turn him down, then that 1SG or whoever should put their name to the paper and turn down the leave and stand by it if questioned later. It sounds like he was intimidated into not asking, which is a leadership failure.

- Going to work EVERY day right after a 12 month deployment, and not getting a single half day off to try to take care of his household goods, family, or general welfare? Somebody should have at least talked to him to see if there was a need for it. Not even asking him is what creates the perception that nobody cares about him.

In short.... CQ duty may be fine, but based on the information you gave, I think that any Soldier should have some concerns about whether his chain of command really cares about his well being or not.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 12:34 PM

2014-12-31T12:34:09-05:00

I think he needs to suck it up. It's fricking New Year's Eve. Other then a chance to get drunk and possibly be out in the cold celebrating midnight, I don't see why this day is all that important.

This soldier has opportunities to ask for some time off, and I know I would have, given the typical holiday period slow down. I don't know how his unit runs, but when I was AC, we had every-other-day off during most of December and what duty there was included check-the-box activities and annual PMCS. Generally light stuff.

Maybe I'm just a hard ass.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 12:39 PM

2014-12-31T12:39:08-05:00

I guess my question would be why the soldier didn't put in for a four day pass? It's pretty common knowledge that if you don't put in for a pass for unit four-days you risk being assigned to staff duty or CQ over the holidays. The soldier has now been back over 90 days and is fair game to be assigned to duty rosters again. It sucks that he didn't get a lighter schedule post-deployment, but it does sound like the unit allowed him to take post-deployment leave, which is fair.

I'd say that once you find yourself on the duty roster, it's your responsibility as a soldier to find a replacement if you need one, barring exceptional circumstances (i.e., the unit messed up and double-scheduled you - then it's on the unit). Maybe be a good friend and offer to pull it for him on the holiday if he'll return the favor later on down the road?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 12:39 PM

2014-12-31T12:39:16-05:00

Response by SGT Kevin Smith made Dec 31 at 2014 1:07 PM

2014-12-31T13:07:23-05:00

I can relate. I was subjected to the same last minute change for New Years Eve, but in my case, after CQ recovery, I had to go to NCOES school. When asked about the change, the acting 1SG simply said that " my turn came up." I can understand a last minute change for Emergencies, but also I have seen Comands be reactive at the last second even though they may have known ahead of time.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Dec 31 at 2014 1:13 PM

2014-12-31T13:13:43-05:00

I have to agree with some of the comments posted previously, the Soldier has been back for over 90 days from the deployment and is back into the "swing of things" regarding duties and responsibilities. Now, while the Soldier may have not been reintegrated back into the unit properly, he was given leave time following the deployment, now unless there is some policy letter within the unit that specifically prevented him from putting in for Holiday leave, which as far as I remember in all the units I was in except for Recruiting, is usually a Block Leave period set forth by the Post Commander, he should have gone ahead and put in for the leave and let the command group approve/disapprove. Does seem "squirrelly" that no one notified him of the change to the roster ahead of time, but it does happen...he got shafted, it happens. I do not know whether it qualifies as bad leadership, but I would say that there may be the appearance of such from where the Soldier stands. I would caution against anyone saying that they should have put someone single on the roster instead, we have gotten past those days I had thought. I would say he has a legitimate bitch/gripe/moan, but am not sure that it equates to him being "abused".

Response by SGT Carlos Stinson made Dec 31 at 2014 1:27 PM

2014-12-31T13:27:29-05:00

I would pay some private who will be sitting in his room playing video games all that night anyways to relocate down to his cq desk for the night! I would buy his dinner maybe even a new video game to really seal the deal! Simple problems simple solutions. Don't ask anyone they won't care they will all be with familys drinking that night. To easy. That's the Ranger answer. RLTW!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 1:33 PM

2014-12-31T13:33:03-05:00

As a battalion commander I would want this Soldier to use the CoC up to me if necessary to express his concerns.
Obviously that is easy to say from my seat, but if my company leaders couldn't resolve this I would want my CSM and I to get involved.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 31 at 2014 8:16 PM

2014-12-31T20:16:59-05:00

I always said, "Air Cav!!!" and pulled my duty. Asking to see the DA-6 might be the way to go in the age of hurt feelings, self-awareness, politically correct, cage-free, soy bean goodness. I never saw the big deal of New Years. Then again, I am posting a response to this thread on New Years Eve so I'm a nerd any way.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2014 9:56 PM

2014-12-31T21:56:02-05:00

LOL I have duty tomorrow 01JAN... I was also on duty on Christmas and Thanksgiving as well.....Who did I piss off?!?!?

Response by SFC Steven Steingiesser made Dec 31 at 2014 10:26 PM

2014-12-31T22:26:17-05:00

This isn't a cut and dry leadership failure or just the Soldier complaining. It is both. Should the leadership stepped up to take care of the Soldier? Of course, but what did the Soldier do to help fix the situation? From the sound of the post, there is a lot of "Them, Them, Them" attitude, where he is blaming everyone for his situation without looking to see where he is at fault. If he doesn't communicate with his leadership how he feeling, they can't do anything to address it. He seems to expect them to know how he feeling. As I tell my Soldiers, I don't know there is a problem unless you tell me there is a problem. If you don't tell me anything, you are just as at fault when you complain about the issue.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 2:39 AM

2015-01-01T02:39:37-05:00

You need to bite the bullet and do your duty. Once it has been completed, a visit to your 1SG is in order. There may well be a very good explanation that just wasn't communicated.

If a Soldier needed to be somewhere due to an emergency or something important, it would've been my honor to pull the duty myself, even if I had other options. There are times when we as leaders get an opportunity to take care of Soldiers and set an example, and this is an excellent example.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 3:17 AM

2015-01-01T03:17:58-05:00

I would say that there are some issues here that would need some more explaining. If his name got dropped for the last minute duty and he is being told about it is already too late. I would have hoped someone would have advocated for him seeing how he was deployed. Once he was given the duty at the last minute a valid reason why. When an NCO gives an order some are to be followed without question. This is not one of them. A courtesy of explaining why is being given to him at the last minute to save him some grief.

I am not a fan of the "Suck it up butter cup" when it comes to something like this. If it was raining in the patrol base and you are getting wet then you just need to "Suck it up" but something that not only affects the soldiers but his family as well should not be treated in such a way.

I wonder if his unit casts him as an outsider as they may have not integrated him back into it. In a fashion they wanted to take care of their buddies and he was that guy that just got back so lets put that guy we really don't know on duty.

On top of all of this he is going to complain. If he didn't I would really be concerned about his state of mind. It is natural to complain about something like this.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 5:01 AM

2015-01-01T05:01:05-05:00

I would resent the person I was pulling duty for, but would suck it up. I'd probably tell the person I was covering, that he owes me, and leave it at that. Then go home and hopefully not clean up vomit.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jul 23 at 2015 5:44 PM

2015-07-23T17:44:05-04:00

Look at the DA-Form 6 first, then go from there. The soldier didn't do himself any favors by not asking for what he was owed. More so as he was transferred to his new unit. Blue Falcon's happen, some soldier can get out of stuff faster than a hiding SPC when work detail comes up.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2016 6:12 PM

2016-12-31T18:12:05-05:00

Why not him?

Response by SN Scott Myers made Dec 31 at 2016 6:15 PM

2016-12-31T18:15:03-05:00

ITS WHAT WE DO FOR OUR COUNTRY!! STAND THE FUCK UP MR. KAPERNIK!!!

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Dec 31 at 2016 7:04 PM

2016-12-31T19:04:13-05:00

Over reacting? No.

He shouldn't have had to ask I'm sure his whole unit knew what was what. If his leadership had any sense or compassion they would have taken care of him. This is what the company Gunny is for or whatever the Army equivalent is, leadership fail.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2016 7:31 PM

2016-12-31T19:31:57-05:00

If the CQ roster was based off a DA-Form 6 there is not much he can do. But if the CQ roster wasn't put together that way, they the soldier has a very good complaint. By regulation, soldiers are to pull Duty based off a DA-Form 6. In alphabetical order and by rank. If he is being mistreated, he should go straight to IG. There is no need to go through the chain, and you don't have to go through the chain of command. IG has a job and it's to handle situations like this. If I was his first line I would have done his duty. My MSG who was my NCOIC took a CQ shift during Christmas when one of our NCOs had it. I will always admire him for that. That's what leading from the front means.

Response by SPC Roger Giffen made Dec 31 at 2016 7:41 PM

2016-12-31T19:41:40-05:00

Do your job!!!!!!

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Dec 31 at 2016 8:39 PM

2016-12-31T20:39:04-05:00

As his SNCOIC I would've stood his duty for him. Leadership by example point blank. Somewhere down the line, this guy got the shaft- I would take care of him first, investigate the matter, and run it up the chain myself. BTW, God help the jerk who did this, I can be the sweetest, kindest person or the coldest bitch whoever walked this planet. You decide who you deal with.

Response by LCpl Jaime N. made Dec 31 at 2016 10:30 PM

2016-12-31T22:30:25-05:00

It's one night. It's part of your commitment. What I find ridiculous is that this is being aired online. Shit like this should be kept in-house and not for the world to hear. Yes, everyone gets the big green weenie sometimes....like i said, it all comes with enlistment.

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Jan 1 at 2017 7:11 AM

2017-01-01T07:11:37-05:00

If the unit followed the DA 6, there should be no complaint. He still should have submitted for block leave and see if the leave was turned down.

Response by SSgt William Norvell made Jan 1 at 2017 11:53 AM

2017-01-01T11:53:50-05:00

Sounds like his NCO's do not care about this soldier. And it looks like they are going to have this man getting out and not reenlisting. I know if I were treated like that I would be looking for either a transfer, or counting down my days left in the military. I am glad I did not have NCO's that treated us like this, and that we had people that would stand up and take duty when they had no family around.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2017 2:24 PM

2017-01-01T14:24:47-05:00

Needs more info. Very one sided; However, if true, sounds like the chain of command is failing this soldier.

Response by TSgt John Hotelling made Jan 2 at 2017 12:33 PM

2017-01-02T12:33:08-05:00

My thoughts based on my career. Why do you even need a cq. Are they not all supposed to be an adults? Thankfully my career in fire protection made it so I never had to deal with baby sitting,
By regulation. Sounds like something needs a change to remove antiquated details.

Response by LTC James Washington made Dec 13 at 2018 11:10 AM

2018-12-13T11:10:26-05:00

No he’s not overreacting based on his being the only one in his new unit with a deployment & should have reasonable consideration & provision for an effective decompression.

Response by Sgt Don Baca made Dec 13 at 2018 11:42 AM

2018-12-13T11:42:58-05:00

That’s the military for you.

Response by SPC Benjamin Vaillancourt made Dec 13 at 2018 12:38 PM

2018-12-13T12:38:57-05:00

Pay someone to take/cover your duty.

Response by CPL David Thompson made Dec 13 at 2018 4:06 PM

2018-12-13T16:06:25-05:00

Sucks that he wound up with New Year's Eve duty, but just suck it up. He got some leave a little while back and has Christmas (a family holiday) off. No one said being a Spartan is all rainbows and bunnies.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Hopkins made Dec 13 at 2018 6:44 PM

2018-12-13T18:44:17-05:00

Did twenty one years in the AF law enforcement. When it came to Xmas and New Years
We would either choose to be off Xmas ar New Years. Never heard a bitch from any of the troops..
Yes, sometimes I worked both holidays. Wasn't pleased but did it without moaning?

Response by PO2 Lance Pofahl made Dec 13 at 2018 7:22 PM

2018-12-13T19:22:45-05:00

Suck it up Buttercup! This happens in the military. I had ZERO holidays off for 4 years straight, and deployed several times TAD to other ships, getting back just before the holidays (and then worked into the duty section covering the holidays). The difference is, I didn't even have time to put in for leave over the holidays (got back from deployments AFTER the leave deadline), so I didn't even have an opportunity at holiday leave. Now, stop crying about life not being fair, and go do your duty and job!

Response by SSG Grant Hansen made Dec 14 at 2018 12:49 AM

2018-12-14T00:49:22-05:00

I was deployed to Iraq with my Guard unit for 12 months not counting 3 months Mobilization and a 2 week AT before that. That makes about 16 months of duty. I had 2 weeks leave in early November which counted as both my Thanksgiving and Christmas.

When I got back, we had a welcome home ceremony and were released from duty. That night I went out with my family for dinner and the next morning I got up and went back to my civilian job. I still work long hours and often work weekends to this day. Sometimes I miss holidays and family events because I'm working.

My point is that sometimes work sucks and you just have to deal with it. If you weren't pulling CQ, someone else would be.

Response by SPC Chris Flohaug made Dec 14 at 2018 12:59 AM

2018-12-14T00:59:46-05:00

Personally I feel his unit probably failed him and lower level NCO’s may have intimidated him into not raising this up the CoC. His peers also failed him for not seeing how leadership were putting the screws to him and allowing it to happen. When I was single and in the barracks during the Holidays, leadership assigned a Soldier who just welcomed twins from a complicated delivery CQ on both Thanksgiving and Christmas, claiming he had to suck it up like everyone else. When I saw his name on the Christmas roster, I jumped in and took his spot. It was mentioned before that they felt because he had been deployed, that leadership felt he was an outsider.

Response by TSgt William Meyer made Dec 14 at 2018 1:28 AM

2018-12-14T01:28:16-05:00

When I was in the military and even when I was in Law Enforcement, the general rule was the single guys/ girls worked Christmas and the married ones worked New Years, it ended up fair for everyone. The other school of thought is, you don’t have to like it you just have to do it. Just sayin.

Response by CW4 Brian Haas made Dec 14 at 2018 2:13 AM

2018-12-14T02:13:00-05:00

1) Feeling he wasn’t in position to ask for days off. That’s a mistake. Nobody is going to care for you or your career...so you BETTER be the one that does.

2) There’s a chain of command. If it was his NCOs saying no, use that CoC.

Response by PO2 Patrick Dwyer made Dec 14 at 2018 8:23 AM

2018-12-14T08:23:17-05:00

The Military is not a Democracy Nor is it fair. Pull your duty. I was in 4 years before I made it home for Christmas. The next two same thing. New Years duty calls.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2018 8:29 AM

2018-12-14T08:29:28-05:00

It looks like a leadership failure to me. Telling a soldier he can not take leave because he or she just took it. I would of said put it in. Also the NCO should of had a reason why CQ was changed. If the soldier thinks he was wronged he could always hit up IG

Response by SSG Joseph VanDyck made Dec 14 at 2018 8:52 AM

2018-12-14T08:52:41-05:00

This SM is a soldier. Needs of the US Army. It isn't a "9 to 5" type job. Does it suck? Yes. Don't like it, then ETS.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2018 9:25 AM

2018-12-14T09:25:48-05:00

Read a bunch of these comments and generally speaking, Senior Leaders are sayin he got shafted and has cause for concern while the junior leaders are saying suck it up or the like....

Very interesting.

Response by LCpl Christopher Pickett made Dec 14 at 2018 12:18 PM

2018-12-14T12:18:29-05:00

It sucks especially after a 12 month deployment, but maybe I read this wrong, but didnt he get Christmas off? When I was in, I never got a holiday off, and would definitely be denied after just getting a recent Holiday. I got stuck with Duty NCO for Christmas and New Years, and Easter my first year in. He also just got block leave recently according to your post, so unfortunately he either failed to ask ahead of time, or was told no because of recent block leave and Christmas. Either way, it sucks, but you should ask next time ahead of time (as long as you dont get deployed).

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Dec 14 at 2018 4:29 PM

2018-12-14T16:29:00-05:00

There's more to the story. There always is.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2018 8:32 PM

2018-12-14T20:32:31-05:00

Took 29 days in october....

Response by SGT Donovan Leeds made Dec 14 at 2018 8:48 PM

2018-12-14T20:48:01-05:00

I went 5 years w/o a holiday off to include during the 18 months beyond my ETS while waiting for a med board. The only time during my military service I was in a unit where it felt like there was any esprit-de-corps or unit support was during my time in Korea when we were all in the same boat (so to speak).

My first duty station had me on CQ on my daughter’s first birthday (Oct), Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. I managed to trade with another soldier so I could spend Christmas with my family.

Response by TSgt Mike Graham made Dec 14 at 2018 10:16 PM

2018-12-14T22:16:24-05:00

Whoever is responsible is a total piece of garbage as a human being!!

Response by Sgt Wesley Bennett made Dec 14 at 2018 11:09 PM

2018-12-14T23:09:39-05:00

It’s called the military. As a Marine I’ve had to stand posts that made me change my schedule and forced me to cancel plane tickets. The truth is, if he doesn’t like it, just EAS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2018 11:39 PM

2018-12-14T23:39:25-05:00

Without going to in depth, last minute changes to the DA6 ARE A LEADERSHIP FAILURE!

It means that your CMD is unaware of what their Soldiers are doing.

Also last minute changes on a DA6 specifically lookalike favoritism, and probably warrants an IG complaint...

But you guys do you...!

Soldiers is right.

Response by CPL Earl Kochis made Dec 15 at 2018 9:53 AM

2018-12-15T09:53:31-05:00

From what I’m reading he got back 3 months ago went straight back to work. Well that doesn’t make sense that would mean he got back in OCT but he was on block leave for 29 days in Oct. which means he immediately went on leave as soon as he got back right? So he got to spend 29 days with his family then Thanksgiving and Christmas. So he is complaining why?

Response by PV2 Wayne Carmichael made Dec 15 at 2018 2:10 PM

2018-12-15T14:10:53-05:00

Leadership could have had a little more consideration but, You are in the service.
Part of being a soldier...

Response by CPL Michael Carr made Dec 15 at 2018 4:18 PM

2018-12-15T16:18:06-05:00

That is some bullshit

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Dec 15 at 2018 4:43 PM

2018-12-15T16:43:31-05:00

If he did not put in for leave, then his name stays on the DA 6 for duty. Even if he was told by someone that his leave "probably would be denied", he still could have put in for it. He also could have just asked for a pass if the leave was denied.

Response by SSG Mark Matteson made Dec 15 at 2018 11:32 PM

2018-12-15T23:32:19-05:00

Pretty piss poor of his command but thats the service.

Response by Cpl Eric Young made Dec 16 at 2018 10:33 AM

2018-12-16T10:33:36-05:00

Mission accomplishment is paramount..... but when you can put troop welfare up there with that, like in this case, impretty sure that in a battalion of soldiers who haven’t deployed, they can find one to take the NY CQ. Seems like this command fucked him.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2018 10:48 AM

2018-12-16T10:48:54-05:00

The NCO in charge of the “roster” is the 1SG. Did he talk to his 1SG? He’d been back 90 days. Was he put through the redeployment reintegration training, which by the way is mandatory.
Sounds like no.
Still, I wish had a dime for every “important day” I missed over the last three decades.
He had been in leave recently, for nearly a month, and he’s getting Christmas off. Sounds like he’s had plenty of time off. And I’m going to say it...suck it up.

Response by SGT Jeffery Moore made Dec 16 at 2018 11:12 AM

2018-12-16T11:12:02-05:00

Stop complaining! Your a soldier and you have duty! Sorry you can’t have things your way. Perform your duty and drive on!

Response by LCpl Darrell J. Farley Jr. made Dec 16 at 2018 7:03 PM

2018-12-16T19:03:42-05:00

Sounds like a case of testicular deficiency! Was he Voluntold to deploy? Or, did he volunteer? Is he deploying again after the New Year or will he be in the rear back home? Not enough info given. I’ve missed several Christmas’s and New Years from Government Service (Military and Civil Service)

Response by CPT Derial Bivens made Dec 16 at 2018 7:33 PM

2018-12-16T19:33:33-05:00

Suck it up, Buttercup! In 23 years, the best deal I ever got over the holidays was the afternoon off every other day from Christmas Eve to New Year's. Worked EVERY SINGLE Christmas. When I was enlisted, every unit I was in had a "10% policy", where no more than 10% of the unit could be away at any given time. I was in a low-density MOS, in small, monolithic units (everyone in the unit was the same MOS) of 17-23 personnel. Needless to say, only one, sometimes, albeit rarely, two were allowed to be away for the holidays. My number never came up and I finally quit asking. After i was commissioned, in the units to which I was assigned, it was considered "poor form" for officers to request holiday leave. Holiday leave was for junior enlisted.

Response by PO1 Jim Hoffman made Dec 17 at 2018 4:21 AM

2018-12-17T04:21:38-05:00

He took 29 days leave in Oct. Quit being a little B**ch. The holiday leave periods were probably already fleshed and full by the time he got back. As for the duty thing he was probably the alternate/standby and something happened with the other person. Pull up your panties and soldier on.

Response by MAJ Bob Firth made Dec 17 at 2018 9:03 AM

2018-12-17T09:03:12-05:00

Is he "asking for a friend"? If so I suggest you suck it up and not whine to us. Didn't you say you had Christmas off and 29 days leave when you rotated home?

Response by CPT Bobby Johnson made Dec 18 at 2018 4:31 AM

2018-12-18T04:31:35-05:00

OMG I cared so little after reading this I passed out!!!