How can leaders combat those "walking EO complaint" Soldiers?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:11:20 -0400

Ill be specific: how do you beat an African American woman at her own game of screaming "EO" every time she's faced with so much as a counseling? She is a fellow SFC and is pretty useles (doesn't show up, overweight, can't complete tastings, horrible Soldier in general). She has the COC petrified of her. How can I defeat this behavior?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2017 3:21 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:21:03 -0400

I would say to take all of the already written documentation, visit the EO office and get their opinion. If they state they do not see an EO violation, then you are in the clear and move forward. If this is possible, that is.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jul 28 at 2017 8:02 PM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 20:02:21 -0400

Document, Document. Document - 1SG and CO can counsel her, CO can have a tape test at his discretion, NCOER's can be written in a way the truth is known. She is late for formation, that is failure to report, She fails or shirks tasks, that is incompetence or negligence. Just because she is a SFC does not mean her rank shields her from regulations or consequences. If you do things by the regs, then there is absolutely no EO complaint. Just make sure that if others are doing what she is doing, then they as well get documented.

Response by SGT David T. made Jul 31 at 2017 8:13 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 08:13:55 -0400

I ran into this with a subordinate, never a peer. The Soldier was late for formation so as I always did I counseled them. They ran to 1SG saying I was singling them out based on race. I had a feeling this was going to happen so when I went to see 1SG about it, I brought a counseling I gave to a Caucasian Soldier for the same exact thing a week prior. I also showed the 1SG in the initial counseling where I outlined every step I would take for discipline infractions. I made sure never to deviate from that. Needless to say it saved my butt on more than one occasion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2017 12:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 12:00:35 -0400

Not to echo the other posts on the documentation portion, sounds like at least one thing that can be managed is the overweight piece. Without being targetted, the commander could require a 100% height/weight, and of course those that doesn't do well will need appropriate actions taken afterwards. Similarly PT tests can be given without discrimination. If your 1SG and/or command team are not willing to deal with the issue, may need to go see the CSM.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2017 2:13 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:13:57 -0400

I view a walking EO complaint as someone who blatantly violates EO. In fact, that's what the BN EO rep was when I was at my first unit. He should have never been the EO rep at any capacity. Luckily he got removed and someone new put in but I think only because he was retiring. The things he said, the way he acted...

Now if you're talking about someone who uses EO as a crutch to get out of being punished that's different. Your chain of command needs to grow a pair and counsel her if she's violating standards or regulations. Let her threaten to go to EO. I'll tell you want I heard a base EO advisor tell us once: "If your soldiers threaten you with EO tell them "I'll go ahead and drive you over there if you want." Let them go to EO because most of the time the EO office will show that it's not a violation.

You can defeat the behavior by stepping up and being a NCO. Call her out when she's wrong. Take it up to the command. If they don't, take it higher. I'm sorry but I get so irritated when I see people post "Oh you can't correct females or you'll get a SHARP complaint" or "don't correct a black female she will pull EO on you." Let her. Dare her to because as long as you or your leadership can point to the regulation and prove that it has nothing to do with her skin color or her gender she's going to look like an idiot. Your chain should know better because she's setting a poor example for her soldiers. I would bet that soldiers have said "Well SFC so and so doesn't show up why should I?" Or "She doesn't follow regulations why should I?"

I hope I can run into a NCO or junior enlisted soldier like this someday because I will put them in their place so fast.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2017 2:27 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 14:27:47 -0400

Tell her to bring it.
Have your ducks in a row regarding standards violated and failures to report on time and let her show up with EO in trail thinking she will nail you to the wall. It will go poorly.
The better question is why is your commander cowering in fear of the EO? It is a commander's program, after all. He needs to own it.