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?
40.9K
216
108
7
7
0
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
2
2
0
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!
(2)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
I said this elsewhere on this thread..when I was AC in Germany I made bank pulling holiday duties. Being single and nothing better to do, might as well get some money.
(1)
(0)
SGT Roland McHoes
Same at Fort Drum, there was always someone around that wasn't doing anything anyway. I don't think I know anyone that did it for profit, but maybe a trade for a Thursday duty.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
2) There’s a chain of command. If it was his NCOs saying no, use that CoC.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
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.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
(1)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
He went to his CoC (company NCOIC and BN Rear D NCOIC) explaining the situation, to see if there was anything that could be done but got told no by both NCO's. Also asked a couple soldiers that were there but also got told no. Other than that, I don't know what else could have been done.
(1)
(0)
SFC Steven Steingiesser
Going to them after there is a big problem dealing with the last minute detail isn't going to them. Did he go to them while he was deployed and having no contact with them? Presumably the individuals above him moved, but not their office numbers. How hard would it have been to call their office and introduce himself. How often did he say something while upset that he wasn't getting time off after redeploying? From the post, he didn't. To suddenly complain about this when a bad detail comes down last minute puts some fault on the Soldier. A Soldier can't complain about something from 3 months ago, when it wasn't important enough to complain about then. Yes, I do see that it adds up, and the NYE CQ shift was the straw that broke the camel's back; however, if the Soldier was unwilling to admit the weight he was bearing is too much,meh is just as at fault as those placing the burden on him.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
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.
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.
(1)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
I get what you are saying SSG. He's not a barracks soldier that goes out and gets drunk. He wanted to spend new years eve with his wife and 2 children.
(0)
(0)
1SG (Join to see)
Ok...I am tired and grumpy and did not read it well. I agree with some of what the major said. But to be honest there's not much he can do now. When I was CQ we are allowed, on occasion, to have visitors. Maybe he can do that. ? He should be glad he's not on gate guard.
When I was in Germany, I made money taking these shifts for soldiers.
When I was in Germany, I made money taking these shifts for soldiers.
(1)
(0)
CMSgt James Nolan
SGT (Join to see) Of course you could cover for the troop!
Not sure why, but sounds a bit shady. That being said, If I go to a troop to cover for a last minute something that I know is going to cause "questions" I tend to be transparent. "I need you to do X because of Y". Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. When troops come in to get out of something, I make sure that there is no fast one being pulled. Not to say never fooled, but there was pain for the foolery. Don't mess with the Gorilla in the Monkey House!
I loved the response by SGT Carlos Stinson who advocated finding somebody who would be there anyway and making it worthwhile.
Not sure why, but sounds a bit shady. That being said, If I go to a troop to cover for a last minute something that I know is going to cause "questions" I tend to be transparent. "I need you to do X because of Y". Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. When troops come in to get out of something, I make sure that there is no fast one being pulled. Not to say never fooled, but there was pain for the foolery. Don't mess with the Gorilla in the Monkey House!
I loved the response by SGT Carlos Stinson who advocated finding somebody who would be there anyway and making it worthwhile.
(2)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google