Posted on May 17, 2021
Is it okay to request to be moved to a different platoon due to absent leadership?
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I recently switched from active duty to reserves and have had issues with the lack of leadership and guidance from my platoon sergeant. As an E5 I look for guidance from my first line leader (my platoon sergeant) as we don’t have any E6’s.
My platoon sergeant however is never around or present during trainings. Coming from active duty, I saw how good NCO’s lead from the front and were active participants in training both their soldiers and the NCO’s under them. I feel like this lack of guidance and absence during training is hurting not only the junior enlisted but the junior NCOs as well.
Should I request to be transferred to a new platoon?
My platoon sergeant however is never around or present during trainings. Coming from active duty, I saw how good NCO’s lead from the front and were active participants in training both their soldiers and the NCO’s under them. I feel like this lack of guidance and absence during training is hurting not only the junior enlisted but the junior NCOs as well.
Should I request to be transferred to a new platoon?
Platoon Sergeant
Toxic Leadership
Army Reserve Elements
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 16
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Nature abhors a vaccuum. Fill it.
If your leader isn't leading - YOU lead. If you need guidance, find it. You can get guidance from any number of sources - to include RP to whom you have addressed this request for guidance.
You have a 1SG, you have peers, you have other PSGs.
Instead of worrying about what *you* don't have, find a way to fill the needs of what your Soldiers don't have. Trust me - if you are always seeking to find ways to take care of your Soldiers, and never quitting in the effort to help them out, you will find the guidance you need. It may take you longer than it should. It may be harder than it has to be. But you will find it.
If your leader isn't leading - YOU lead. If you need guidance, find it. You can get guidance from any number of sources - to include RP to whom you have addressed this request for guidance.
You have a 1SG, you have peers, you have other PSGs.
Instead of worrying about what *you* don't have, find a way to fill the needs of what your Soldiers don't have. Trust me - if you are always seeking to find ways to take care of your Soldiers, and never quitting in the effort to help them out, you will find the guidance you need. It may take you longer than it should. It may be harder than it has to be. But you will find it.
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You can always ask, however it will likely lead to rubbing him/her the wrong way. From what I've heard, reserve/guard are more buddy buddy and good ol boys club, so rubbing someone who's been there a while the wrong way may just make your life hell.
The other approach is to step up and be that leader or support another NCO who is stepping up. It sucks for you and your professional growth, no way around that. But when I look back on it, all my years of active duty the break down of how I learned to be a NCO comes into 50% learning on my own, 15% from good leaders on what to do and 35% of bad leaders on what NOT to do.
I think this is a garbage situation no matter how you slice it. We all know what the right answer is, but the reality is that sometimes the right answer hurts just a little too much so we have to find the next best answer.
The other approach is to step up and be that leader or support another NCO who is stepping up. It sucks for you and your professional growth, no way around that. But when I look back on it, all my years of active duty the break down of how I learned to be a NCO comes into 50% learning on my own, 15% from good leaders on what to do and 35% of bad leaders on what NOT to do.
I think this is a garbage situation no matter how you slice it. We all know what the right answer is, but the reality is that sometimes the right answer hurts just a little too much so we have to find the next best answer.
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As someone who spent some time in the Reserves, the first question would be, why is your PSG gone so much?
Is he/she in some type of training? Being forced to drill on opposite dates due to commitments? Or is he/she just a dud that plays Houdini?
I had a section chief that I never saw for nearly a year because he was in BNOC, it took every drill weekend and an A/T for him to complete. His school was at another location so for a year, he was a ghost. His name came up, but no one ever saw him.
Remember, the Reserve's and NG year is 38 days, try to keep that prospective. If you've drilled 6 times since you left A/D, it's 6 months on the calendar, but only 12 training days in the reserve's.
Is he/she in some type of training? Being forced to drill on opposite dates due to commitments? Or is he/she just a dud that plays Houdini?
I had a section chief that I never saw for nearly a year because he was in BNOC, it took every drill weekend and an A/T for him to complete. His school was at another location so for a year, he was a ghost. His name came up, but no one ever saw him.
Remember, the Reserve's and NG year is 38 days, try to keep that prospective. If you've drilled 6 times since you left A/D, it's 6 months on the calendar, but only 12 training days in the reserve's.
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SSG Dave Johnston
My transition from AD Army to the Reserves was in '92 after Desert Storm... at issue was myself as an E-5 with more than a few years of AD under my belt as compared to some whose, well, never mind... 9/11 happened and when our GSU was mobilized, more than one NCO all of sudden looked as lost as a PFC on their first Overseas PCS move...
Worse yet, I had to explain to an AD NCO that we "Weekend Warriors" only had 48 hours to do what he did in 21 day
Worse yet, I had to explain to an AD NCO that we "Weekend Warriors" only had 48 hours to do what he did in 21 day
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