How far as a Leader have you gone to help a Soldier?

2016-09-26T20:22:58-04:00

Response by PO3 Steven Stinnett made Sep 26 at 2016 8:28 PM

2016-09-26T20:28:48-04:00

17 years helping convicted veterans..as a Correctional Counselor with the C.D.C. Retired

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2016 8:31 PM

2016-09-26T20:31:54-04:00

Ok to specify. You, as a Leader, how far have you gone to help/assist a Soldier under your care?
I'll start. Being in the NG we don't have the assets readily available as AD to assist Soldiers in case of a Red Cross message i.e.: AER, etc. We were 3 days into our AT, and a Red Cross message came down for one of my Soldiers that his father passed away unexpectedly. Red Cross message came. We could get him back to TN (we were at Camp Shelby, MS.). Problem was Soldiers' father lived in Montana, and the funeral was in 2 days. The "mad pass the hat" began to get him a plane ticket out of MS on short notice ($1200.00 plane ticket). I had collected a little over $400.00 within a matter of a couple of hrs, and had a flight time of 0700 the following AM. I put the entire cost of plane ticket on my credit card, and gave him the $400 for incidentals etc.

Response by PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster made Sep 26 at 2016 9:06 PM

2016-09-26T21:06:12-04:00

I was CQ runner and PFC and one of my guys came in and was with his new son that was crying real bad (baby was squeaking cause his throat hurt)-to find out little one had Strep Throat and was fevered, messed on himself, so I threw the soldier MY room key and told him what to get and I helped get him calm. Baby finally fell asleep in my arms when LT came in and saw me with the baby. Luckily another called ATTENTION a few door away so baby didn't wake up and I didn't get trouble. When the SM explained, the LT understood that I was using what some of the others in my unit called "Grandma Perogative' and a few days later- NOT only was the Battery Quarantined cause the little guy gave me and the LT Strep Throat, but I was getting called 'Grandma' by command and everyone asked if i could help with the babies IF they got upset or sick and the parent needed time away,which was fine by me, and the bigger kids stayed close to me IF someone in Command scared them. Talk about feeling special. After that day, LT and everyone called me MOM and the CSM asked if I had grandkids yet (oldest at the time was 16) and treated me like a diamond when he saw me and they even created a cadence for me.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2016 9:19 PM

2016-09-26T21:19:23-04:00

So, turns out this new to the Army kid had somehow been told by his recruiter and others that he was assigned to my unit. I run a Preventive Medicine unit and this kid was a HR Specialist. I found this out by a convo from one of my actual Soldiers....who just happened to be in the Pocatello Recruiting office. So my Soldier contacts me and tells me this. Bear in mind that this was right after one of our BTA's and we had about 2-3 weeks to go before our next BTA. So, I call the kid and get all kinds of info on him. In the course of the time of when I was told and our next BTA, I made all kinds of calls and emails to our Division, the CSH I fell under, my BDE......pretty much everyone. As it turns out, his recruiter pretty much figured that since he was going to be assigned to 807th down at FT Douglas, and my Soldier being there....a pass the buck situation happened. After my investigations were done, I found out this kid was actually assigned to HHC, 807th MDSC. And yet, even after all my calls and emails, this kid still had not received contact from his unit about schedule, lodging, unit location on base...anything. So, come our next BTA....and luckily his actual unit was there that same weekend....I drove him down, got him hooked up with a room with my Soldier that first met him....and walked him to his actual unit. Even though this kid was Pre-IET and had no obligation to attend BTA....the fact that he wanted to meet his unit and his unit failed him (oh man did that chap my six something fierce), I got him taken care of. Even went as far as apologizing for NCOs in general as his had failed him badly. Pretty bad when a lowly 12 pax downtrace unit has to help square away someone assigned to the HHC of the Big Dog.

Response by SGT Matthew Schenkenfelder made Sep 26 at 2016 9:47 PM

2016-09-26T21:47:21-04:00

When I was a squad leader in the 82nd Airborne Division there was a soldier in another squad who's wife was pregnant and she became preeclampsic. Her blood pressure was spiking and she was having seizures. She had to go into a medically induced coma in order to have an emergency c-section. The baby was dying as soon as she was born.
I'm not sure what the other squad leader, platoon sergeant, or platoon leader had against this guy, but they would not let him go to the hospital and be with his wife and child. Keep in mind that his wife is in a medically induced coma and his premature baby is dying in the hospital. He came to me with tears in his eyes and a cracking voice looking for advice. He explained his situation to me, and I was plumb damn mad. I knew that flying off the handle in an end of day platoon sergeant's would accomplish nothing but putting myself between a rock and a toxic leader. So, I did the only logical thing. I told him to call the hospital and have his wife's doctor put in a Red Cross message. I knew that it would be received by the brigade staff duty and disseminated down to the battalion staff duty. The company 1sg and commander would be informed. When the 1sg got notification of it, he stormed into the PLs office, reamed home out, and stomped over to the platoon office and reamed out the platoon sergeant. I kept the soldier with me that day to assist me with tastings. I got a call from the psg telling me to take the soldier to the 1sg's office immediately. When we got to his office the 1sg said that my platoon sergeant and platoon commander were both lucky he's not going to get the company commander to write them up on a relief for cause and remove them both. He told the soldier to take off and he didn't want to see him for at least 2 weeks.

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Sep 26 at 2016 10:33 PM

2016-09-26T22:33:06-04:00

Given my last dollar away more than once

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Sep 27 at 2016 12:04 AM

2016-09-27T00:04:40-04:00

You as a Leader do anything and everything. You do whatever it takes to care for your SM's.

I just got done writing in another post that I keep $250 in cash in my desk as my "Soldier Care" fund....

But it's more than that. I've taken an oath and have a responsibility.

All the above considered, I feel that I have an obligation to be in the know of as many resources as possible that I can tap into to assist.

Response by PFC Jim Wheeler made Sep 27 at 2016 4:20 AM

2016-09-27T04:20:51-04:00

I was never a leader.

But I once had an E-1 come to the unit right after ABN school who had gotten married at some time after enlisting.

I had a place on post for my wife and I with an extra bed/bath, so I had them stay with us until they found a place.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Sep 27 at 2016 8:37 AM

2016-09-27T08:37:11-04:00

I was never an official leader on paper, but I always saw myself as a leader (I guess). I remember it was 3AM in the morning, and another female troop called me crying because her significant other would not return her phone calls (she believe he broke it off). She said she was ready to jump off the balcony, brought up thoughts of suicide, etc. I quickly got up out of bead and headed towards her dorm room. Sat with her for most of the night, and took her to a close friend of hers house. I informed her friend to look after her and told her about her thoughts.

After leaving her with her friends, I told her friend to keep close contact with me in case anything happened. I informed my leadership about what happened. They told me that since nothing happens and she seems to be in good hands, they won't escalate it. They told me to keep a close watch on her since she trusts me and if I feel that it needs to be escalated bring it back up immediately.

She is now happily married with the man she believe she broke up with. Not sure if I possibly saved a life or was she just shouting threats, but I don't like to take chances.

There is another situation that happened close to when I was separating. There was a constant stream of negative posts on a troops social media, and this troops is also well known to be a downer. I chose to ignore it, and one day, we had a unit roll call. In the roll call, they told us that troops had a suicide attempt and was in the hospital. I wept in tears because I could've helped prevent this.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2016 12:45 PM

2016-09-27T12:45:39-04:00

If you mean outside of my military duties, I once drove five hours (each way) and stayed overnight in a hotel, losing a full day of work so that I could make a special appearance in court on behalf of a soldier who was deployed, in an area of law that I do not practice in.

I also once paid a soldier's government travel card when he couldn't and paid another soldier's rent for a month when he lost his job.

Response by CWO3 Randy Weston made Sep 28 at 2016 12:02 AM

2016-09-28T00:02:32-04:00

Where to begin, I have arraigned child care, bought groceries, arraigned flights, attended a Navy Relief class on leave so I knew more of what was available for my sailors. Point is, as a leader, I am no better than those I lead. The better they do their jobs, the better I can do mine. Growing up in submarines, we take care of our own and it was ingrained me especially when I went through Chief's initiation. My most treasured comment from one of my guys, was I was the fairest division officer they had ever had. This also got me in trouble. When I took over my last division, one of my guys had been busted on an alcohol related incident and was going to Captain's Mast (NJP). I reviewed the case and found that he had actually done nothing wrong, so when it was my turn to speak, I informed the Captain (O6) of the inconsistencies of the charges. You would have thought I had committed an act of treason. The Captain jumped on me and dressed me down like a raw recruit, informing me that I was no one to question his policies. I have always thought it was my primary responsibility to take care of my troops, regardless of what it took.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Sep 30 at 2016 2:39 PM

2016-09-30T14:39:37-04:00

the team and i went to his base housing (he was being ordered out) and got it prepared for exit inspection. have lent money from time-to-time (not much, never expected repayment, but if i got it BONUS!) bailed a few out of jail.

Response by SPC Darren Degouff made Oct 6 at 2016 6:08 PM

2016-10-06T18:08:41-04:00

I once gave an IV to my aquad leader. He was about to go down after a 25 mile march in Saudi Arabia. Combat Lifesaver course taught me how.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 12:38 PM

2016-10-11T12:38:02-04:00

I had a Soldier with 19 years time in service that the ARNG was going to force out without a retirement. He's a great troop, but he had a huge break in service and was turning 60. Making matters more complicated is that the USAR had lost a bunch of his paperwork in the early 90's and he only had 15 "good" years towards retirement. The Soldier in question had apparently brought this issue up on numerous occasions, but his past leadership never pushed the issue.

While I didn't do it alone, I pushed the issue all the way to the National Guard Bureau level. I was downright annoying when I had to be to ensure paperwork went through. In the end we were not only able to get 3 out of the 4 years he was missing credited towards retirement, but also convinced our TAG to sign a two year waiver to allow him to finish his 20.

Next to bringing all of my troops home from Iraq it's probably one of the events I'm most proud of in my career.

Response by SGT Joseph Martin made Oct 11 at 2016 3:21 PM

2016-10-11T15:21:26-04:00

I had a soldier once who PCS'd with his family to Bragg enroute to school to re-class. He had adopted this "ladies" kids and had another with her. He was literally with me for about two days before reporting for school. I fought with housing to get the family in on post housing because at that time it was usually E-6 and above getting first priority for housing (don't ask me why). Then when he got to school finance screwed up and had him down as separating form service so he was getting NPD. He was literally eating ramen noodles 3 times a day and sending the rest of what little money he could get to Bragg for his wife and kids. I bought groceries, loaned pots and pans, tv, got furniture ect for the family because all their stuff was in transit.
At first his wife was talking about how great he was and how he was sacrificing for her and the kids. All of a sudden that changed over night. She met some dude and moved off post with the kids and when he got his back pay, you guessed it she wiped that out too. Well a couple months later she is calling the post CMS office making up a bunch of lies. She then turns around and leaves him voicemails about how she is going to ruin his career and how if that don't work "her boys are gonna take care of him" By this point he is done with school and is back with us. I made him save those VM's and sure enough he got called into the old mans office and I told him to hit play when they didn't want to believe him. She got barred from post.
Then after things calmed down she called him one day telling him his daughter needed diapers, post was closed due to a freaking snow storm and this guy calls me and says " I can't go over there without an NCO escort, will you go with me to get the diapers" He says "I can drive in this stuff because I am from Minnesota." So I say. "If you can drive to my house I will go with you" thinking he wouldn't make it. Well an hour later he is at my house and off we go. The roads wasn't too bad so we were able to get diapers. We go to her house and there she is shacked up with some kid who worked for a dude I went to PLDC with! I had just met a month earlier while visiting my buddy. So I click his heals and made a very strong suggestion that he move out. She gets an attitude and says "I would let your daughter stay with you but you can't have a kid in the barracks, sucks to be you" So I told him that my wife and I would be honored to allow his daughter to use our nursery we had just set up for our son who was to be born in two months and that he could use our guest room. So we allowed them to stay with us over the weekend. I am happy to report that young soldier is now a 1SG married to a good woman and doing great things!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 3:25 PM

2016-10-11T15:25:46-04:00

I had to go get one of my joes from the back of a police cruiser one night before he was going to be put in jail for the night.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 3:32 PM

2016-10-11T15:32:49-04:00

I have been helped and have helped. When I was a new SGT in fort Lewis Wa I came across a soldier from another platoon sitting in the day room in the dark. I was CQ and I asked the troop how was things and what not. He said that things were ok. I sensed that something was bothering him so I told my runner I was gonna be in the platoon office and took the troop in to the office closed the door and straight asked what's up. I let him unload everything to me. Turned out his father had just passed away and he didn't know how he was gonna make it home to Southern California. I called his platoon leadership and got the ball rolling for a emergency leave then I called a friend of mine who I knew was taking leave and going to Sacramento to visit family. In the end the Soldier got leave to attend the funeral, a ride all the way there and back courtesy of a buddy of mine and 300 in cash collected by some of the guys in the barracks

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 6:10 PM

2016-10-11T18:10:45-04:00

I bought groceries for a soldier who didn't belong to me.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2016 6:45 PM

2016-10-11T18:45:53-04:00

Given my time, place to stay, loaned the money for a sibling 's funeral, loaned the car, etc. I have to be more careful now as an officer, but I'll always help where needed.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 5:12 AM

2016-10-12T05:12:39-04:00

Had a private wit ha temp of 102, long story short the ball got dropped and couldn't get him an LOD even though it was a drill weekend, managed to plead with a VA doctor to write it off as some sort of compassionate care if I recall. Stuck with him all day after driving him there at 1am when he showed at my door half conscious. A month later the kid stole money from me, so there's that lol.

Response by SPC Kelly Grindstaff made Mar 23 at 2017 4:13 PM

2017-03-23T16:13:51-04:00

Had a Soldier in another Platoon that was so embarrassed about letters ect. He wouldn't even bring them to his squad members or platoon. I let him bring to them to me and I started reading the mail to him (as I realized how wrong this was I just kept doing it). I would write the letters for him from his comments and read them back to him to make sure we were getting it right. After a Month or so of this I started a huge Stink with the IG. How in the Hell could someone get in the service who could not read and write. Long story short Army got him in school and he reads and writes now. His Recruiter? He caught a whole shit load of charges. I would never when I made acting SGT. I never asked a soldier to do anything I couldn't do and you lead by example in all things. The above was not the only or the first time.

Response by MAJ J Scott made Mar 23 at 2017 5:47 PM

2017-03-23T17:47:31-04:00

I was assigned as the rear-det commander for an AR unit deployed to Iraq for 9 months. I got wind of a scheme to get rid of the Rear-det reservists NCOs so that the group forward could promote their buddies into the soon to be vacant E-6 to E-8 slots and pay them more money for a few months.

All of the nondeployables had medical, legal, or family issues that prevented then from deploying this time, and many had over 15-19 yrs of reserve service. Many were good guys that the Army had used for multiple deployments, but that didn't matter. I was told "to get rid of them", and the command actually sent a memo directing transfer or discharge, within 2 weeks. Anybody who knows the reserves knows that nothing happens that fast, especially a forced removal.

Being former enlisted, I engaged help from mentors and allies from the RA community, and eventually the toxic Senior Commander got his hand slapped hard for this blunder, and it held up his promotion to BG. All of the guys were able to finish and get their 20 year letter and retire.

I became the target of this toxic leader and his cronies, which led to bullying, intimidation, bad OERs, GOMOR, and the toxic leader convened an Adm Sep board where he testified as a witness. I ended up being forced out of the Army but some of those guys still call me and thank me for sticking up for them.

Response by SFC Erich Orrick made Mar 24 at 2017 4:23 PM

2017-03-24T16:23:16-04:00

run a charity every day that puts food on the table of troops ive never met and never will, as a volunteer and never have taken a dime. screw the stories of bad leadership, they will always be there, but what are you really doing to make sure joe gets taken care of next time? we need volunteers guys, check out http://www.wishforourheroes.org and tell joe we are here, donate to CFC or think about volunteering to help us make $ to help with. Our ratio is 96% and that 4 pct pays the accountants and legal fees so us troopers don't have to go to jail cause we are better Soldiers than bean counters LOL... Hit me up!!!!!

Home • Wish For Our Heroes

WISH for OUR HEROES is a national 501(c)(3), dedicated to providing resources to the active duty service men and women during and after their deployment.

Response by CPT Peter Gilliland made Mar 24 at 2017 5:12 PM

2017-03-24T17:12:59-04:00

About a million years ago, when "Vietnam" was still in our every-day vocabulary, I had one of the proudest days of my life when, as a O2 Plt Ldr, I stood at attention in front of the Company Commander and told him -- very respectfully -- that he had just given me an illegal order, and I could not obey it.
Had to tell him twice.
He was not happy.
He had ordered me not to look after one of my troopers against whom the Co 1st Sgt had taken a dislike.
(Fortunately, I had already talked to JAG about the situation, so I knew I was standing on good ground.)
Of course, the next 6 weeks until I left Active Duty was a long time, but I never regretted what I did.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2017 5:22 PM

2017-03-24T17:22:14-04:00

I was in ACAP, 90 days or so from retirement and on rear-d. A young SPC, from my last Platoon was in NTC. He called me from NTC to ask to go take care of his wife as their daughter was born two weeks earlier than planned. So I spent two days in the hospital, picked up his mother-in-law from the Airport, brought them al home from the hospital and checked in on them everyday for two weeks until he came home.

Response by PO1 William Mims made Mar 24 at 2017 11:31 PM

2017-03-24T23:31:29-04:00

We had a new AZ1 check in to the command with literally the clothes on his back. Everything his family owned was under water in New Orleans...the CO passed the hat to get him and his kids clothes, my wife and I ponied up some spare furniture and HHG, along with everything else the messes chipped in, so that they could at least have a furnished home to come to. He was the odd duck for a bit, the only SM who was at duty wearing civvies for a while! (Navy squadron on aN MCAS)

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 27 at 2017 12:37 AM

2017-03-27T00:37:41-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I have done whatever is needed... no matter what.

Response by CH (CPT)(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2017 12:24 PM

2017-04-02T12:24:28-04:00

As a Chaplain I have seen many more examples of leaders not assisting soldiers when they can. It's one of the reasons I became a chaplain.

The reason I say that is because these stories show its possible to help soldiers and their families. When leaders do this, they not only help that soldier, but show everyone in their chain what type of leader they are. Soldiers become loyal to leaders like this.

Every leader should always try to assist when it doesn't take away from the mission. It will increase moral, teamwork, and a happier unit that will fight for the person next to them.

But ignore the chance to help soldiers? Don't wonder why you have a unit with bad moral and poor soldiers.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Apr 8 at 2017 8:13 PM

2017-04-08T20:13:43-04:00

It wasn't even my soldier. I was on Army leave in Germany (45 too many leave days on my LES) and was just kinda wandering around Europe. I had arrived in NAVSTA Rota, Spain and got a room at the Monterrey Costa in Chipiona as a place to stay as I 'toured' the surrounding countryside (read as bars) sights. I still had four days of seven to go but decided to check if there were any flights going to Greece at the end of the week. There were and I put my name down for stand-by on it.
As I left I noticed a young 19-ish sailor and his dependents. She was obviously pregnant and had another toddler in hand. She was crying and saying she couldn't stay another night at the terminal. He was trying to explain that their flight had been held up until Saturday and they didn't have enough money for a room.
I said, "Ahhh shit" to myself and went over. I read his nametag (from his bag handle) and asked, "Are you Seaman Yadi-yadi?" He answered yes and I told him to get their stuff together and follow me. I took him out got a taxi, taking him and his family down to my hotel. I told them to wait in the lobby while I checked on their room. I quickly went up and threw my things into an AWOL Bag, went downstairs and hid it behind the check-in desk. I then went out into the hobby, found them and gave them the keys to my room.
I introduced them at the check-in desk to the manager then asked the clerk for the #2 envelope that I had placed in the hotel safe. I took it containing $200 I had set-aside for my stay in Rota (leaving another $500 and my traveler’s checks in the safe) and gave it to the sailor. The staff assisted them up to their new room that looked out over the beach. I then explained to the manager that the sailor and his family would be staying in my paid-for room till Saturday. I gave him $20 so the hotel would wake them up on time and transport them to the Rota Air Station for their flight home.
I collected my bag and the other envelope. I stayed in the terminal that night and catching a different stand-by to Naples in the morning. Two days later I made it to Greece on the same flight I would have flown on out of Rota when it did a stopover in Naples. Naples was also a nice place with lots of scenic bars too. :D

Response by 1SG Billye Jackson made Apr 10 at 2017 11:56 AM

2017-04-10T11:56:42-04:00

On a Brighter note, when I was a HHB First Sgt. with 223 Assigned the Commander and I had a thing where over Thanksgiving and Christmas no Troop were in the Billets alone. All Married Accompanied Officers and Sgts. along with lower EM took some one to their Quarter's for the Day. My Old Troopers ,who I have keep in contact with remember those days, to this Day, 30 years Later. As for Day to Day Taking care of my People well just to many to Mention. To Me taking Care of my Troopers was #1 I always believed if I did that then what ever Mission we had would be Taken Care of. So Mission and Care of Troops where Hand in Hand.

Response by LTJG Edward Bangor Jr made Aug 3 at 2017 2:06 PM

2017-08-03T14:06:32-04:00

Not as significant as what many of you have posted, but I thought I'd share this. The wife of one of my sailors went into labor at 1AM Monday morning. The command got their panties in a bunch because I didn't tellt he guy to leave the delivery room and come to the ship because it would have been a 72-hour liberty. I had him send me a photo of the birth certificate, got the ball rolling on his paternity leave paperwork so he wouldn't have to worry about bringing anything to the ship, and took the tongue lashing from the CO and XO about overstepping my place as a lowly division officer. They eventually relented after I showed them the birth certificate on my phone. It was worth it; there is no reason that someone should miss the birth of their child while your in the damn shipyard.