If the commander asked for feedback would you give it to him/her?

Ok, it's fiction but, when Robin (soon to be surnamed Hood) answered King Richard honestly, he ended up in the stocks. ;-)

Yes, I have always told my CO's the truth. Even if it wasn't what they wanted to hear. As you did, I also gave examples of others ways it could have been done or another way I have completed something in the past that has worked better, for the unit and the soldiers.

Just my humble opinion: he asked, you answered respectfully. If he is deserving of respect, then he should be glad he was provided with that feedback, particularly since it was offered respectfully. I'm afraid I had a tendency to tell it like I saw it, and sometimes, that was NOT received well.

My response to the Commanders questions were always..."Do you want the TRUTH, or do you want me to lie about it? Don't ask me to lie!" If they really wanted an honest answer, they would tell me to go ahead.

I believe it's a grave mistake for any leader not to listen to their subordinates. It's those people who carrying out the mission. They know the intricacies of the process or policies and therefore are better able to help focus the discussion on improvements. It is also those folks who could cause a leader to fail. I generally had a great communication relationship with my supervisors (except those when I worked in high school). They would engage in constructive discussion and many times, enabled me to proceed with my thoughts. And for those times that I could not convince them that my way was better, I supported his/her decision because they listened. I wasn't one to walk out of his/her office and say, just do it the boss said so. I would support the boss' by saying something like, "let's try it and see what happens." As the manager, I would always welcome my staff come to me, preferably after trying to convince their supervisor. Many times, the supervisor would bounce the idea off of me before proceeding. I would generally ask what they thought and try to come to some common ground or understanding. I wanted them to make the decision and if successful get the credit, if they failed, then learn how to improve. This would motivate them feeling they had a say so in the mission's outcome.

I think you did the right thing the right way.

Personal integrity requires us to provide feedback if we have something to say.

Over my career, I was often ask for feed back/opinion. I almost always gave as straight up truthful statements as possible, this of coarse hurt more than helped a few times(lol). One of the top 5 complements in my career was by a senior NCO, who said if we went to war I would his first pick, but on peace time day to day basis I was a royal pain the a**! To late I learned the many ways was to tell someone they were fubar and leave them smiling!

It's your job as a SNCO to give honest feedback to the commander when required, requested, and sometimes even when not requested.

Now as an Airman....if I was being asked I would provide it ...otherwise I would funnel up the chain of command.....just my two cents.

In my day Melissa I would say absolutely. Nowadays, I am out of touch, but am around a few field grades who I don't think are very receptive to honesty and candor. I certainly had no issue with going to a CO with an issue, particularly when it involved soldier's issues. However, some days you eat the bear and some days it eats you. But it is a lot different going up to a commander as a Warrant than it is a Senior Airman. Always! Stand up for what is right, and always do the hard right and not the easy wrong!