Leader development scenario - bad check - Soldier pays for NCOs pizza, what would YOU do?

100% the Soldiers fault. If they didn't have the money they shouldn't have wrote the check for the pizza.

It seems hard to do anything with the NCO, besides simply calling him rude. It was the Soldier's choice to buy that pizza for the NCO, there was no direct order or request for it. As far as the Soldier is concerned, all I can think for him is send him to a financial class or counsel him on finances. Even if you're doing something for someone, that doesn't mean you should ignore whether you're able to pay for it or not. You can't expect a reward for a random act of kindness. Thinking back on it, I suppose the NCO was actually wrong in accepting the pizza without offering anything, and his leadership fails in that regard, but I'm still not sure what could be done or said about it.

I don't see how the NCO did anything wrong. He accepted an offer given without obvious strings attached.

The soldier was evidently trying to gain points with the NCO, but he was the one that chose to buy the pizza that he didn't have funds to cover. Bad judgment on both counts.

I think it's OK for junior soldiers to get their NCOs things like that. An nco should always offer compensation, though. When I was down range and on bagram for a few weeks at a time or so, I'd grab my ncoic her favorite coffee if I knew she had no time because of a meeting. But when she had time, she'd go get us both coffee to make up the difference. If that junior soldier didn't eat any pizza, than the nco should have paid him back in full. If the junior soldier did eat some of it, the nco still should have offered to pay his share. One needs a counseling on managing finances, and the other a strict lesson in duties and authorities of an nco (or the nco creed).

Well, here's my stance.
First, as the Soldier, if there is even a QUESTION that you might not be able to afford something, then don't buy it. Or, be REALLY smart, and don't use checks. Debit cards are easier to track.
Second, as the NCO, given that the Soldier bought the food prior to the NCO's knowledge, he should have compensated the Soldier for what he had consumed, if not for the meal in total.
Third, that Soldier insinuating that the NCO wanted food, but had to wait until he was finished with Barracks Checks, made him a Blue Falcon. he should have simply left it at, "we were hungry, I bought food, and overlooked my finances." They don't need all that extra crap about "oh, well SGT so-and-so said..." That's immaterial. Own your mistake of not being financially responsible, take your counseling and shut your mouth.

As a matter of manners this NCO should have offered money if he took more than one piece of pizza. As a matter of leadership, he should've offered money to the lower ranking individual either way. He/she knows the pay rates and knows the lower ranking makes no money. The lower enlisted person was wrong for ever having bounce the check. That's a matter of being an adult.

The pizza was bought without the NCOs knowledge or preapproval and apparently offered without clarification or request for reimbursement so the NCO is cleared. The soldier is solely responsible for his financial predicament. Who was doing the counseling and how did the issue come to their attention so quickly? It seems that there is something missing here.

Well, the soldier used poor judgement, or does not understand the use of banks. If he offered the NCO the pizza because he was just trying to help him out, the the NCO essentially did nothing wrong. Offering to pay for the slices would be appropriate but not essential. This is a coachable moment for both of them. One, financial education for the soldier, and two, discussing what appropriate behavior is with the both of them independently. The NCO then learns he needs to be available to further supervise the young soldier on his financial dealings. Was this an accident, or an ongoing event? Did the bank screw up? Was the pizza any good?

1. the junior enlisted soldier took it upon him self to order pizza (for whatever reason, sounds like sucking up).
2. The junior enlisted soldier is responsible for his financial situation. If he didn't have the money, he shouldn't have written the check. Even if the NCO had given him some money for the pizza, it wouldn't have stopped the check from bouncing.
3. The NCO didn't technically do anything wrong. I probably wouldn't have accepted the pizza simply because of perceptions, but we're not talking about me here.
4. If the junior enlisted soldier expected payment for the pizza, he should have said something.

So, yes. Counsel the junior enlisted soldier for bouncing the check. Maybe have a talk with the NCO about not accepting pizza from his soldiers anymore... But I don't see a reason to counsel the NCO.

Nothing wrong on the NCO's part. However if I were the NCO and took several slices I would have kicked some money back to the soldier. For the soldier to place blame on the NCO, I would have asked the soldier if he assumed the NCO wanted him to buy pizza. Either way the soldier is ultimately responsible for his financial situation, and whether or not the NCO wanted him to purchase the pizza, he should have declined. As an NCO I would never ask or hint to a subordinate to buy me anything. Basically the soldier experienced a "butt kissing backfire!"