Posted on Mar 22, 2017
I received an article 15 during AIT for being drunk during pass. I talk to the BN Commander next week or after. What do I say to help myself?
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I have orders to bragg and need to make sure I go there. Iv tried everything in my power to go. I was a
92R and broke my leg at airborne school, they reclosed me and made me a Culinary Specialist. I had orders as a 92R to bragg to begin with, when I broke my leg I lost all hope. so me getting bragg was very important to me. My orders have been "suspended" from what I have been told and I don't even have a report date and am flagged. I blew a .212 at the MP station, I take full overship of what I did, now its just the right words to say it when I speak to the BN commander. What should I say?
92R and broke my leg at airborne school, they reclosed me and made me a Culinary Specialist. I had orders as a 92R to bragg to begin with, when I broke my leg I lost all hope. so me getting bragg was very important to me. My orders have been "suspended" from what I have been told and I don't even have a report date and am flagged. I blew a .212 at the MP station, I take full overship of what I did, now its just the right words to say it when I speak to the BN commander. What should I say?
Advice
Career Advice
Battalion Commander
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 34
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PV2 (Join to see) key buzz words: no excuse, I accept full responsibility and any consequences you deem necessary, will not happen again (and ensure that you are not lying and do not ever did it again).
DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT....say my bad, but....or however,....nobody ever likes to hear someone say it is my fault but.. keep it to the truth and short. If the BC yells let them yell and take it. Do not try to argue. I have seen people take yellings like a champ and survive and I have seen some people go in for minor offensives and start blaming others or get mouthy and end just with worse punishments than they were going to have before they went in the office. I would avoid asking about orders or anything else and just go with what the BC wants to focus on and leave. There will be time later to talk about orders etc.
And the other thing is make sure you properly report and leave the office. It make seem like common sense for some and small to others, but if you look and act squared away it goes further than if you start off just strolling into the office.
DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT....say my bad, but....or however,....nobody ever likes to hear someone say it is my fault but.. keep it to the truth and short. If the BC yells let them yell and take it. Do not try to argue. I have seen people take yellings like a champ and survive and I have seen some people go in for minor offensives and start blaming others or get mouthy and end just with worse punishments than they were going to have before they went in the office. I would avoid asking about orders or anything else and just go with what the BC wants to focus on and leave. There will be time later to talk about orders etc.
And the other thing is make sure you properly report and leave the office. It make seem like common sense for some and small to others, but if you look and act squared away it goes further than if you start off just strolling into the office.
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1LT William Clardy
Take it from somebody who's made that march more than once, PV2 (Join to see).: LTC (Join to see) pretty much nailed it
Go in as squared away as if you were reporting to Drill Instructor R. Lee Ermey on a bad day.
Speak and act crisply.
Do **not** flinch, mumble, squirm, or even hint at an excuse. **DO** listen to everything that is said to you and your chain of command.
Do not shy away from owning the facts and owning your own responsibility. It takes moral courage to look the commander squarely in the eye while admitting you made a mistake and pre-accepting his decision -- and that is the only way you will garner any respect from a commander when you're reporting for disciplinary action.
Last, accepting your commander's decision just as unflinchingly and being just as crisp and respectful on your way out is also important, especially if you want to have any hope of that commander seeing you as a good troop who is worth looking out for in the future. It can make a difference. The same squadron commander who took my sergeant's stripes also made sure I got them back after cooling my heels as a specialist for a couple of months -- after first hauling me (and my new chain of command) back into his office one evening and asking me if I was ready to be a sergeant again.
Go in as squared away as if you were reporting to Drill Instructor R. Lee Ermey on a bad day.
Speak and act crisply.
Do **not** flinch, mumble, squirm, or even hint at an excuse. **DO** listen to everything that is said to you and your chain of command.
Do not shy away from owning the facts and owning your own responsibility. It takes moral courage to look the commander squarely in the eye while admitting you made a mistake and pre-accepting his decision -- and that is the only way you will garner any respect from a commander when you're reporting for disciplinary action.
Last, accepting your commander's decision just as unflinchingly and being just as crisp and respectful on your way out is also important, especially if you want to have any hope of that commander seeing you as a good troop who is worth looking out for in the future. It can make a difference. The same squadron commander who took my sergeant's stripes also made sure I got them back after cooling my heels as a specialist for a couple of months -- after first hauling me (and my new chain of command) back into his office one evening and asking me if I was ready to be a sergeant again.
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CMSgt Tim Garland
As important as what the Maj has said...make sure you're uniform and hair, etc. is squared away. I hate seeing personnel come in for action looking like they pulled their clothes out of the laundry basket and their hair looking like they just woke up and out of reg.
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PV2 (Join to see) How many times have you been drunk? The BN Commander will not take excuses and will have some hard questions that you need to answer to the best of your ability. I would tell him/her that you realize you made a very bad lapse in judgement and take full responsibility for your actions. I would say that you have learned from your mistake and it will not happen again. Whatever the punishment, take it like a soldier, and clean up your act. If you want to turn over a new leaf, you can start by revising your profile picture to show yourself in the uniform of the day and upright. You are a soldier in the Army. Good luck.
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PV2 (Join to see), the short answer to what can you say to help yourself is.... "Probably not much".
A few things might work for or against you here. Are you underage? Driving (DUI)? Public Intoxication charge? Violation of policy/regulation/rule about use of alcohol in a training status? All of these things and more will be considered. Regardless of how things turn out, don't hinge your whole career on trying to get one specific base. I tried for 21 years to get Arnold AFB or Pope AFB because they were the closest to my family. I never did get either one but the other assignments around the world gave me experiences and friendships I wouldn't trade for anything.
We all fall down now and then. Just do your best to learn from the mistake and don't repeat it again. Best of luck to you!
A few things might work for or against you here. Are you underage? Driving (DUI)? Public Intoxication charge? Violation of policy/regulation/rule about use of alcohol in a training status? All of these things and more will be considered. Regardless of how things turn out, don't hinge your whole career on trying to get one specific base. I tried for 21 years to get Arnold AFB or Pope AFB because they were the closest to my family. I never did get either one but the other assignments around the world gave me experiences and friendships I wouldn't trade for anything.
We all fall down now and then. Just do your best to learn from the mistake and don't repeat it again. Best of luck to you!
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GySgt Kenneth Pepper
I have seen where being stationed close to home was a career killer. They just never fully assimilate into the military culture and it ends badly. I'm glad I had the experience of being away from home for 21 years because it made returning all the better.
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MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
Can't disagree with that GySgt Kenneth Pepper. Looking back, had I gotten either of those bases early in my career would probably have been detrimental. Most likely I'd have never stayed until retirement and would have missed out on some of the best memories I have.
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