Posted on Feb 10, 2022
How do you help a financially irresponsible soldier?
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I'm trying my best to juggle personal tasks and my soldiers but it's been tough being able to focus on both. It seems I'm always missing something. I currently have three soldiers and one of them is damn near broke a week after payday. He's E-4, makes around $930 after taxes/TSP every two weeks. We've been through a company finance class, in-office class and the SM has had a visit with the finance CTR in our unit all within the past six months. Somehow he ends up with no money before his next paycheck... I have counseled him on managing his finances and to write a report on what he spends once a week but I somehow feel he's not telling me the truth. That he's lying about what he's really buying or paying for.
Being a fresh NCO, I'm still not sure of my limits when it comes to finances nor am I the type to get into one's financial privacy thus why I trusted him to write me an accurate weekly report. However, something isn't adding up and I would like to get to the bottom of it. If it's really necessary I don't mind taking a look at his bank statements and view his credit card statements over the past few months so that I can come to my own conclusion. Is that allowed or stepping over the line?
He only told me of his balance when I asked the other day, during his monthly counseling beginning of the month he was fine. No expensive car, no major purchases that I've seen...
Being a fresh NCO, I'm still not sure of my limits when it comes to finances nor am I the type to get into one's financial privacy thus why I trusted him to write me an accurate weekly report. However, something isn't adding up and I would like to get to the bottom of it. If it's really necessary I don't mind taking a look at his bank statements and view his credit card statements over the past few months so that I can come to my own conclusion. Is that allowed or stepping over the line?
He only told me of his balance when I asked the other day, during his monthly counseling beginning of the month he was fine. No expensive car, no major purchases that I've seen...
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Career Counselor
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 13
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I'm doubtful of you being able to by order look at his personal bank statements, as the Army already has issue with personal belongings and orders. That said the Army does have regulations on financial responsibilities.
I would try and key your SSG and PSG in if this issue continues and show that you have attempted to aid the Soldier via counseling and suggestions. Another step might be to have the Soldiers signed up for additional finance classes, though whether they listen or not is up to them.
Another option is to eat with your Soldiers as a group at the DFAC. Forces the individual to eat at a place already being provided for less expense, and of course give you the opportunity to talk as a group and build the NCO relationship. I suspect, and I have been guilty of this myself, that your Soldier is nickel and diming his paycheck away by eating out and visiting the shoppette instead of meal planning, etc. It does more hurt on your wallet than you realize.
It's impossible to be there 100% of the time, you have additional responsibilities and of course your own time needed to de-stress, but if the issue becomes worse you want to show that you did what you could with what you know.
I would try and key your SSG and PSG in if this issue continues and show that you have attempted to aid the Soldier via counseling and suggestions. Another step might be to have the Soldiers signed up for additional finance classes, though whether they listen or not is up to them.
Another option is to eat with your Soldiers as a group at the DFAC. Forces the individual to eat at a place already being provided for less expense, and of course give you the opportunity to talk as a group and build the NCO relationship. I suspect, and I have been guilty of this myself, that your Soldier is nickel and diming his paycheck away by eating out and visiting the shoppette instead of meal planning, etc. It does more hurt on your wallet than you realize.
It's impossible to be there 100% of the time, you have additional responsibilities and of course your own time needed to de-stress, but if the issue becomes worse you want to show that you did what you could with what you know.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
Unless things have changed, a NCO would not be eating with the lower enlisted. NCO would be in back of the mess hall at the NCO tables, either eating family style or with the DROs serving them.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams - Things have definitely changed, while there is obvious separation between junior enlisted, NCO's, and officers it is not uncommon for the leaders of Soldiers whether officer or NCO to eat with their lowers from time to time especially if it serves a purpose.
For example I have eaten with my BC and CSM, with my CO and 1SG, with my company XO and battalion XO, with my PSG's and OIC's, my Section NCO's and my TL's and SL's both deployed and at home. Is it an everyday thing? No. Does it happen? Yes. Why? Some leaders like to try and get to meet with their troops in an informal setting, sometimes because something might be wrong, sometimes just to put a face to a position.
Even sat down with a two star and ate with him because he wanted to go out meeting with the joes, is what it is. The reason I think some of them do it is they can get a better feel of who a Soldier is in a relaxed setting rather than pulling rank and toeing the line or on mandatory "fun" days. All you learn then is if they can fake it because someone has a shiny or heavy stripes.
For example I have eaten with my BC and CSM, with my CO and 1SG, with my company XO and battalion XO, with my PSG's and OIC's, my Section NCO's and my TL's and SL's both deployed and at home. Is it an everyday thing? No. Does it happen? Yes. Why? Some leaders like to try and get to meet with their troops in an informal setting, sometimes because something might be wrong, sometimes just to put a face to a position.
Even sat down with a two star and ate with him because he wanted to go out meeting with the joes, is what it is. The reason I think some of them do it is they can get a better feel of who a Soldier is in a relaxed setting rather than pulling rank and toeing the line or on mandatory "fun" days. All you learn then is if they can fake it because someone has a shiny or heavy stripes.
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That was my room mate back in the day, completely upside down with a massive alcohol problem. A SSGT took him under his wing, straightened him out , he was basically forced to re-enlist because he needed the bonus money to get himself above water. I had great Sr NCOs, everyone one of them imo walked on water and would do anything legal to help a younger Marine in need. Great Marines, but Greater men.
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Is there any debt or is this just a simple task of a mismanagaed pay check?
The money is going somewhere. Whether it’s the strip club, girlfriend, liquor store, gambling, child support or something else the money is going somewhere. If it becomes a large issue it could result in them losing their clearance. I had a similar issue where a Marine of mine was taking advantage of people and loaning money and never paying them back. He evidently had 3 cars with only one of them working. Tried to get him to reduce his costs but there was always an excuse. It got to the point where people were calling the office wanting money. Even a retiree loaned him $350 at the hobby shop on base trying to help a Marine out.
The kid refused to manage his money so he ended up losing his clearance and was transferred out of the section as he couldn’t work there anymore.
The Command asked me why he shouldn’t have a clearance and I said if a guy rolled up with a lunchbox full of 20’s and offered to make a trade for intel I didn’t have enough confidence that he would do the right thing.
Do what you can to work out direct deposits to pay his bills on time but eventually he has to make the decision to grow up or he won’t.
The money is going somewhere. Whether it’s the strip club, girlfriend, liquor store, gambling, child support or something else the money is going somewhere. If it becomes a large issue it could result in them losing their clearance. I had a similar issue where a Marine of mine was taking advantage of people and loaning money and never paying them back. He evidently had 3 cars with only one of them working. Tried to get him to reduce his costs but there was always an excuse. It got to the point where people were calling the office wanting money. Even a retiree loaned him $350 at the hobby shop on base trying to help a Marine out.
The kid refused to manage his money so he ended up losing his clearance and was transferred out of the section as he couldn’t work there anymore.
The Command asked me why he shouldn’t have a clearance and I said if a guy rolled up with a lunchbox full of 20’s and offered to make a trade for intel I didn’t have enough confidence that he would do the right thing.
Do what you can to work out direct deposits to pay his bills on time but eventually he has to make the decision to grow up or he won’t.
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