Posted on Dec 31, 2014
CQ on New Years Eve after last minute change and after no holiday leave; suck it up or would you complain?
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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?
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?
Posted in these groups: 
Leadership
Leadership
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 61
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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?
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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).
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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.
Very interesting.
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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.
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