Posted on May 26, 2016
MSG Student
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Lately I've noticed several two types of posts from lower enlisted people. The first they are asking very simple questions that should be answered by their leadership. The second type, is someone complaining about their leadership. I think the two types are connected, they don't go to leadership with questions and then complain how they are being failed. At what point do we tell these guys to ask their own leaders to force them to do their jobs? Are the lower enlisted just being lazy and not doing their own research?
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Capt Retired
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I think there are several reasons why things are brought to RP instead of the chain of command.

In most cases it is just a convenience. In some it may be that the SM does not want to burden his superiors. Perhaps in some the SM feels his lack of knowledge would be looked upon as a deficiency.

In the cases of complaining about the chain of command I suspect some have found that is is not a good practice,
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SPC Training Room Nco
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Some questions that I ask, as a lower-enlisted, have already been directed to my leadership, but never answered. Sadly, the NCO Corps has deteriorated. It is not what it used to be. You can disagree with me, if you choose, but I know more useless NCOs than genuine leaders. In the last three years, I have met 4 legitimate LEADERS that wore NCO stripes. Most others are Rank-WEARERS, and not Rank-BEARERS. Which is why about two months back, I posed the question to RallyPoint, asking for Mentorship and Guidance on how to be a better leader and future NCO. Because the "leaders" I have here, are far from it. They care more about lifting weights in the gym and getting trashed at home after work than taking the time to lead and mentor their Joes.
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MSG Student
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While I don't disagree with your assessment, 3 years isn't really enough time for a "not what it used to be" assessment. Asking how to be a better leader is a great question for RP because while there are a ton of book answers there are a lot of tricks you wont find elsewhere floating peoples brains. My comment is directed at questions that should be answered by Team Leaders before they get thrown on some website, such as, how to read an LES, or how to get a spouse in DEERS.
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SPC Training Room Nco
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In the matter of simple questions like how to read an LES or enroll someone in DEERS, you're right. That should be posed to the leadership. In response to my "not what it used to be" assessment, that comes from knowing and being around NCOs for the last 22 years. I come from an Army-heavy family. NCOs and officers have been a part of my life for all my life
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SGT(P) Intelligence Sergeant
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I see your point and partily agree. When I was a young Spc I would use the internet as a research tool. Many of the forums did not exsit. So this is a form of research. The question is did they use this as research and then go to the command. Many times I was told wroung informationand I think this is because many people get promoted to fast and have no idea what they are talking about. But they can recite the NCO Creed which i guess makes them amazing and competent NCOs.
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SSG(P) Ncoic
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What would be the point of RallyPoint if you were not able to ask people of different MOS's and experience, what would they do to formulate an opinion or plan/course of action? This is a discussion forum I thought?
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MSG Student
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I've got no problem with discussions or mentorship. My complaint is when it's something that should be answered by their leadership. Two post that have been here recently were a packing list for jrtc, that should come from leadership. The second was asking what debt meant on an les, did the PFC not feel comfortable asking his team leader? It indicates a larger problem if they are running straight to RP to solve all their problems.
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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I think you have to look at the generation of the people asking questions. For nearly all of the junior enlisted the Internet IS where you go for information. As a father of three with the youngest about to graduate from high school I can tell you it's what they are taught to do. EVERYTHING is done online now- homework, job applications, work schedules, social activity. It's not necessarily that the leadership isn't there or not doing its job, it's that for the current youngest service members (including new officers) this is the natural method of finding out what you want to know.
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SSG Trevor S.
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Before I retired, the Army was pushing a mentorship program. I personally think many of these Junior ( MSG (Join to see). They are Junior Enlisted, not "lower". They are not "lower" than you, they are junior in rank to you. If you do not get the distinction you might be part of the problem you are seeing.) Service Members are using a medium of research we, as an older generation, were not used to growing up. I would like to think that Rally Point is a good place for Junior Service Members to reach out to mentors that can help them with self development.
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SSG Trevor S.
SSG Trevor S.
9 y
MSG Pat Colby - awwww your world went and changed on you. Need a tissue?
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MSG Pat Colby
MSG Pat Colby
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SSG Trevor S. - Keep the tissue, if you roll it up add a string to it, you could make some use of it yourself. I wonder if they process more hurt feelings reports these days. What with all the feelings and shit flying around.
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MSG Student
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It's a bad habit from when we were called lower enlisted. Not sure how we ever survived those dark times of such political incorrectness. Wait, yes I do, we had resiliency that was self taught from not living life in front of a tv.
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SSG Trevor S.
SSG Trevor S.
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MSG (Join to see) - I agree, it's a bad habit.
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SSG Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
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Gathering data from specialists in the field is research. I applaud junior enlisted for using this forum to begin their research.
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MSG Student
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A lot of people on here just give them the free chicken though. So the lower enlisted still don't know where to find the answer or how to read the regulations. It's not research if they have the answer given to them without working for it, that's how we ended up with this entitled generation.
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SSG Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer
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9 y
I see your point. So instead of answering your question further I will just refer you to ADP 6-23 and you can figure out the right answer on your own. ;P
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SSG Security Specialist
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Edited 9 y ago
While i would hope that Soldier would have someone in their chain they can talk to. The current generation is more used to Social Media and it truly is their community. Also in some cases Social Media may be the only way to bring a problem to light if it continues to be ignored or the SM is in a Unit with Toxic Leadership.
The Day You Stop Hearing SM Complain Is The Day You Need To Really Start Worrying!
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SGT Shawn Schweinberg
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It also depends on the leaderships effectiveness. Your right that soldiers should go through the proper channels when an issue comes up. With that said I've seen leadership that was actually toxic to unit moral and affectiveness. Sometimes it helps to get advice from other military personnel. Granted that advice shouldn't be intended to cause a service member harm.

Most responses I've seen are helpful and in courage soldiers to speak with their leadership.
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MSG Military Police
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I believe it's an issue with those personnel in "leadership" roles that are not doing their job and perhaps do not have the answers or simply don't know how to research themselves. Junior Soldiers have a right to ask questions and in today's age their form of initial research is asking through social meadia. That's why most senior leaders here respond with correct and doctrinal references and publications for those soldiers to read and start somewhere. But you are right junior soldiers need to be more involved and take some initiative and not wait for "hand me downs"
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