Posted on Aug 24, 2015
If the commander asked for feedback would you give it to him/her?
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Recently my commander released Staff Sergeant promotion results in a different manner than we normally do. Many airman near me were talking about how they disliked this new way. I myself had the same sentiments and for good cause. During the release, the commander asked us to let him know if we liked doing promotions this way. I took two days to type up a simple, yet respectful email explaining my opinion and giving three alternate solutions to achieve what he stated his goals were for his approach. The next week I was talking to another airman about this and he was adamant that I shouldn't have done that. When I asked why he response was "you just don't do that". My email was in no way disrespectful or full of complaining. I received a reply from my commander that stated "Understood. Thank you for your honest feedback." Would you have told the commander your opinion or would you have kept silent? Was I wrong to be honest?
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Evaluations Commander
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 119
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It also depends a lot on who your CO is. I was in a unit in Panama that received an "Academy Grad" newly ranked Capt. who had implemented a "Cheers & Jeers" box around the unit. I respectfully floated a jeer, describing a specific problem and I offered several credible solutions. Needless to say, this did not sit well with the Capt. and I was given a Letter of Reprimand. After several months of legal wrangling and official redress, the LOR was removed from my record and the Capt. had to apologize to me in front of the squadron. Although it was corrected, I would not wish that experience on any Airman. My only advice to you, instead of going straight to your CO, would be to run the suggestions up the chain-of-command or through your 1st Sgt first, that way you cover your six.
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MSgt Marty Hogan
I'm guessing he thought that he would only receive "Cheers" and did not appreciate the "Jeer."
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Well if he asked, it'd be kind of a dick move to get upset about it, unless you were disrespectful, which you weren't. So yeah, if asked, I would have done the same.
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My Battalion Commander once asked me for feedback. As an E-7 SFC, I was Company NCOIC and acting as a Company Commander at the time. While he didn't like the way I told him he was micro-managing the unit, he did respect me. A couple months later he choose me to go to Afghanistan on a fact finding mission, because he knew I was the only NCO that would tell him what he needed to hear, not what he wanted to hear.
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Everything depends on how you look at it. You were asked and even provided alternate solutions, which shows that you aren't just complaining. However, provided your rank, it wouldn't shock me if some took it a certain way.
As you received a response from the commander, it seems as though you are likely in the clear but being wary of who you are talking to always has to be in the front of your mind.
I do commend you on actually providing alternatives. Too often I hear Airmen complain and then when asked what could be done to fix it, I am met with a blank stare. I believe your commander likely sees more of a "go-getter" attitude from you than a complainer.
As you received a response from the commander, it seems as though you are likely in the clear but being wary of who you are talking to always has to be in the front of your mind.
I do commend you on actually providing alternatives. Too often I hear Airmen complain and then when asked what could be done to fix it, I am met with a blank stare. I believe your commander likely sees more of a "go-getter" attitude from you than a complainer.
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If asked and as you stated you did it respectfully and gave the email plenty of thought then there is nothing wrong with doing it. I used to give my opinion a lot, maybe that's part of the reason I got stuck at E-6, but as long as its respectfully given, and in this case was asked for then nothing wrong.
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If the boss asks for feedback you give it. The hard part is understanding how to provide it. Some bosses are not looking for honest feedback and some are. You are young (rank wise) you have more to risk by providing honest feedback directly to the boss. It's the SNCOs who should be giving the hard truths directly to the boss. However, this isn't a perfect world and sometimes the way things are "supposed" to work...don't. So I guess what I'm saying is, what is the climate of your unit?
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TSgt Melissa Post
Well I have noticed that this is the second thing that he has asked for our opinion on how he has done a couple things. But I think it is because he just recently took over command of our squadron and wants to be effective.
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I personally would never e-mail a commander because I feel that my chain of command upon hearing it, even if it was good feedback, would get on my case for e-mailing the commander. I do participate in the anonymous surveys that they run from time to time though, nice to say what's on one's mind without fear of reprisal.
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TSgt Melissa Post
I appreciate your reply as a fellow SrA. I think this is perhaps where the other airman was coming from. We did have an A1C a couple years ago, email the wing commander telling him why he believed he should be STEPP promoted. Needless to say that did not end well for him. I think it all depends on time, place, presentation, and reason. That is why I posted this question. I wanted to see what all ranks would have done and their take on the situation. Thanks again brother for your reply. :)
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Well depends on the environment, like in a sensing session maybe if the senior NCOs arent around, but in a one on one probably not.
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TSgt Melissa Post
MSgt (Join to see) - And that is what others were saying all. They even didn't like doing it when that was how they found out they had made MSgt.
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TSgt Melissa Post
MSgt Aaron Brite - HAHAHA thank you. I think a lot of that was kinda what I was trying to say. I understand tradition and I love tradition. I cherished each punch I got for sewing on senior airman, but not all traditions should stay around. Thank you for putting better wording to my thoughts.
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MSgt (Join to see)
TSgt Melissa Post Don't get me wrong I am not one for doing something just because it's "how we've always done it." But think about the other side, I'm old and crotchety enough to see a few different methods. The year I made E-5 leadership decided not to do anything...at all. Granted this was before the AF Portal. so no one knew who made it and it gave the impression that no one cared either.
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Maj (Join to see)
Here is how I pinned on SrA.... My boss came up to me and said, "How long have you been an A1C?" I told him and then he left the room. Later on he came back and said, "I just called the Orderly Room and they said you should have pinned on SrA 2 weeks ago. Make sure you have the right rank on tomorrow." Then he left the room again.
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