Do MWR civilians have the authority to boss around soldiers and NCOs?

2016-08-09T15:45:36-04:00

So I got placed on a detail at the base gym filling in for an NCO that just had a baby..anyways the manager and other MWR staff are quite rude to the soldiers and treat us as if we are employees of the MWR and they are our first line supervisor. My question is, do they really have rhe authority to do this, boss us around and so on. I was talking to my boss and was told that "it's time to assist and clean" by the manager. They bark orders at us and I'm about to rip into this manager.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 9 at 2016 3:48 PM

2016-08-09T15:48:57-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member IMHO, I would take it up with the NCO support channel/COC. There is a right way and a wrong way to conduct business. Use tact and be the better person. Communication is the key!

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Aug 9 at 2016 4:06 PM

2016-08-09T16:06:01-04:00

Assuming it is an official BMM tasking though the Post G3, assuming the duties required are part of the BMM commitment approved by the post commander, and then yes, they have the authority to direct you to complete appropriate tasks.
They should be polite, professional, and speak to you in a reasonable manner. Unless they would like to have the BMM tasking canceled by post and then fend for themselves on completing those duties they will conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. As the G3 SGM I pulled more than a few of our Sm from BMM tasking’s when the SM were not being taken care of, abused, or otherwise were placed in an unprofessional predicament. (Tasked to MWR for grounds maintenance, transported to the Senior NCO BMM quarters and cut their lawn, Tasked to general duties as needed, made to wash the civilian managers trailer and truck, tasked as a lifeguard, put to work in the main building as a cashier, so the civ cashier could take off each Friday for a three day weekend.)

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Aug 9 at 2016 4:37 PM

2016-08-09T16:37:08-04:00

As a SGT, the tasking should be befitting of your rank. If you are senior in a group of Soldiers tasked to the gym, your job is to supervise your Soldiers in the individual tasks given by the gym manager. If the tasking is assigned to an NCO (SGT) because of the level of responsibility, then you should not be performing duties outside that scope. Are you the only Soldier in the tasking, or are you part of a group?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 4:45 PM

2016-08-09T16:45:16-04:00

So I just found out this is a red cycle tasking so we have to do what the tell us to do which is fine, I'll play the game, it's the way we are being treated and talked to is what rubs me the wrong way.

Response by CSM Halford Dudley made Aug 9 at 2016 6:02 PM

2016-08-09T18:02:10-04:00

The answer is certainly YES - given that you are on detail to the MWR facility. I would hope that the MWR folks are mature enough to treat soldiers like they would want to be treated but know there are many that are not. Some MWR employees are former soldiers that figure they can take their frustrations from being a soldier out on the detail folks they are assigned. I would hope that the unit CSM would have a quiet talk with the employee supervisor and that would stop the abuse. Failing that a talk with the MWR Director might be next.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 8:45 PM

2016-08-09T20:45:40-04:00

Some civilians take it too far... And yes, a lot of them are very rude...

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Aug 9 at 2016 9:00 PM

2016-08-09T21:00:59-04:00

Over my military career I've found that some but not all civilians like to assert what little authority they have against military members when they feel they can get away with it!!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2016 10:45 PM

2016-08-09T22:45:59-04:00

Execute their "orders" to the best of your ability, then report any abuse or misuse by the staff at the gym to your Chain-of-command.
I assure you that I would look into it and find out the real deal.
If you read the civvies the Riot Act and refuse to do the work they ask you to do, you invite shenanigans. On the spot, discretion is the better part of valor.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 10 at 2016 8:21 AM

2016-08-10T08:21:42-04:00

It is your duty to follow the order of those you are assigned to support under these conditions, having said that they must treat you with respect. If youbarebtalking NCO, they must assign you work commensurate with your grade. The assignment of BMM does not warrant an elevation in the staffs status it simply augments them. Take this to you COC.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Aug 11 at 2016 4:44 PM

2016-08-11T16:44:45-04:00

I worked with MWR at two bases when I was enlisted. Yes, you can be put under the authority of a civilian as far as day to day tasks, but there is always a military superior who is in charge of the service personnel attached to MWR. My Senior Chief told me I worked with them, but I was not Mrs. X's stooge. I had a job to do and if anything odd was being asked or I had a problem, I went to him over it.