I need help from Congress - do you think this email will pass muster?

1SG Michael Blount — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:10:14 -0400

I'm thinking of sending this to my Senator. Editing comments welcome. Comments on content - no so much.
Dear Senator Kaine:

I am a First Sergeant in an Army Reserve drill sergeant unit. We were repeatedly told by our Brigade leadership (COL Brelia), that Professional Military Education (PME) was our priority target for 2015. Brigade went so far as to say that Drill Sergeants would not be allowed to report to Ft Jackson and train Initial Entry Soldiers until PME was completed. In addition, PME was to count as Annual Training for this year.

I submitted the paperwork for the Commander's Course/First Sergeant's Course (CCFSC) at Ft Knox, beginning 22 March. I am just now finding out my parent command, 98th Division, is not going to fund it. Since this was supposed to count as my Annual Training for this year, it too is in jeopardy. I'm not the only one in this situation. Many of my subordinates and many in sister units are in the same boat.

Ordinarily, I would not jump eschelons in the chain of command. However, the inmates have taken over the asylum. We were told to attend these schools in lieu of AT. Now, there's no money to send people to these schools (though there is for full timers to attend "conferences" in Florida), and their statutorily required ATs are being jeopardized as well. I have two years left in the Army Reserve. I've deployed four times - twice each to Iraq and Afghanistan. My career is drawing to a close. Those Soldiers behind me are being screwed - please pardon my language.

I'm not sure what your office can do to unclog 98th Division's ossified arteries, but the Soldiers are paying an unjust and unfair price. I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't say something. I'm hoping your office can help.

r,
Michael E. Blount
First Sergeant
C Co 2d Bn 317th Rgt 3d Bde 98th Div (IET)
mobile | [login to see]

Invite others to respond by typing @name

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 1:28 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:28:00 -0400

My only thought is you need to finish what I thinks should be respectfully before you name at the end.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 1:31 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:31:30 -0400

1SG Michael Blount, I hope you went through the IG first. Congress isn't in the chain of command, but a congressional is the nuclear option for dealing with command issues. I would urge anyone thinking about filing a congressional to consider whether they might need to cross that bridge again before nuking it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 1:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:31:51 -0400

FIRE FOR EFFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I appreciate you bringing that through RP.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 2:55 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 14:55:15 -0400

I thought PME and AT funds comes from a different pot of money.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 4:33 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:33:14 -0400

Quick question 1SG...if COL Brelia directed you all to do PME this year, and the Division isn't funding PME, what does COL Brelia have to say about it?

Response by CW4 Louis Foote made Mar 13 at 2015 5:19 PM

CW4 Louis Foote — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:19:55 -0400

1SG, I think those recommending further action on your part are more in line with the appropriate type of action that should be taken. Don't allow emotions to drive a quick reaction here. If I were you I would go to the source of the problem and discuss it prior to going around them. Sometimes things change that don't allow the Command to go through with what they promise. I doubt that he doesn't want to do what he stated. There have been many issues with sequestration and that does effect budgets.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 5:28 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:28:56 -0400

You are doing what a diligent First Sgt should do. Your actions, hopefully, will have long term beneficial impacts up the line. However, you will likely be not well thought of by those who are immediately affected.
I think that echelon is the correct spelling.
Good luck, Top.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Mar 13 at 2015 5:52 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 17:52:09 -0400

1SG Michael Blount imho, if you send this email to Congress, you may as well put in your retirement papers.

To bypass the Chain Of Command and "air the dirty laundry" like this will result in your destruction as a soldier. Your command will find a way to relieve you for cause, if not send you to Art. 15 or Art. 32.

In the end, it doesn't matter whether you are right or not. It matters how you "play the game". So you have to decide what the purpose of your action is.

If it is for your benefit, you will loose much more than you gain. If it's for the benefit of your trainees, it is remotely possible it will benefit them, but a much more likely scenario is that things in your command will get much worse, besides your destruction.

It is interesting to me that save a Capt and a Maj, there are no other officers weighing in here. I know we'd all love to be able to fire off salvos against those whom we think are incompetent or corrupt. Just remember what field you are playing in.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

Also, the closing "respectfully" even when spelled out, is for people junior to you. For people senior to you in the military is should be "very respectfully" (at least in the Navy). For Congress, who are civilians, "sincerely" - the standard business greeting is appropriate.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 10:43 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 22:43:52 -0400

I guess my question is whether this is considered PME in accordance with the career progression. PME usually WLC, ALC, SLC, SGM Academy. Don't know if this counts.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2015 11:31 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 23:31:57 -0400

1SG,
The schools budget took a huge hit this year, I don't remember the exact number, but it was big, 40% rings a bell. Funding is certainly an issue across the USAR and DOD as whole. . "Conference" or TDY travel are entirely different from AT training dollars. So, lets not talk apples and oranges, your AT days are not in jeopardy, they are congressionally mandated and funded. You are authorized 14 days of AT, your unit has the money and obligation to let your perform AT.

I don't think I would fire off that letter just yet, I would suggest that you talk to your CSM, or at least step back from the laptop, cool off, and think it thru before your fire that round down range. Just my thoughts.............

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Mar 14 at 2015 12:27 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 12:27:18 -0400

As it turns out, last night, I found out one of my other soldiers filed a Congressional inquiry and got his school. Assuming the 98th Divisional leadership has finally woken up, we'll see some action. As a result, I never sent the subject email.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I now KNOW how, when and why to ask for Congressional help. Now, THAT's a worthwhile block of instruction.

r,
1SG Blount