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

A bounced check should never even come to the attention of the command unless all attempts to collect on it have failed and legal action has been required. It is illegal in most cases to contact an employer (the command) in an attempt to collect a debt by federal law.

The NCO did not put out and invitation to buy him pizza. Nor did the NCO, intend on eating until after his duties were done.

This ambitious young soldier took it upon himself to order pizza. The soldier used a temp check, indicating the SM either had a new account or had ran out of non-temporary checks.

The real interesting part is whether we can determine if the service member who ordered the pizza knew, at the time, he did not have sufficient funds. An action where the SM would writes a check knowing he doesn't have the funds available, or writes a check intending to use the available funds before the check can clear is demonstrating a complete disregard for the law and is also acting so as to discredit the US Army. As a civilian he could be charged with check fraud.

Moreover, inviting his NCO to a slice or two of pizza without asking for any monetary contribution is indicative of a few things.

One, the SM is smart enough to manipulate information so as to create a situation that in his mind could earn him favor. Why else would it be important to the SM what the NCOs "favorite" food is.

Two, the SM did not expect any monetary compensation. The NCO knows that pizza costs money. However, the NCO was invited to a slice by the SM without an open or direct ask for payment. This is important because it speaks to a meeting of the minds, which apparently does not happen in this scenario.

Three, and finally, by taking these actions and ordering food when he knows he doesn't have any money the SM is proving that he is smart enough to understand why his actions were questionable.

The NCO in good faith takes pizza, assuming that it had been properly paid for and that it is being offered freely and without conditions. This would likely be the stance of an NCO being questioned in that scenario.

However, the timing of this exchange is suspicious. Why would an NCO take anything offered by a soldier, or a contractor, or any interested party, during an inspection?

In this context taking anything from a SM or any other interested party could color the judgement of an NCO; effectively creating a situation uncondusive to equity and justice as required by federal and military standards. In some cases taking even pizza, may even be illegal.

If I was in charge of both, the SM would be recommended for field grade article 15, I would recommend at least 45/45 with no pay penalties. I would the company commander if the company has space in the training calander for some financial responsibility and personal finances and management training.

If not I would make sure I set some for my platoon on our own time.

I would formally counsel the NCO for taking pizza during an inspection. I would point out to the NCO that this type of action could be characterized as taking a bribe or as behavior that detracts from a just and equitable training environment. I would let him know that his actions here will impact any upcoming reviews.

If I can legally have this NCO supervise the SM on weekends I will.

You don't take stuff from your troops, it sets a bad example. I have bought Pizzas for my troops while they were cleaning weapons and ate a single slice to be sociable and to prove I didn't poison it :). The troop is an ass hat for writing a bad check on an account with insufficient funds. The NCO that ate several slices is also an ass hat and set a very bad example. Besides not taking food, money or property from your troops , leaders also have to be wary of payback from the troops. After seeing a 2LT eat a SPECIAL tootsie roll lollypop as a Private I never took anything from my buddies :) As an NCO I would never put myself in that position, as a SP4 I once received the stamped ID card of "NO CHECK WRITING PRIVILEGES" between my Squad Leader and the 1SG's daily reminders I never did that crap again.

The soldier should be counseled due to they know better then that. Bouncing a Check is is a crime no mattet how you slice it. As a soldier we all know this is an integrity Check and the somdier failed at his level. On the other hand the NCO also failed even though it was not there doing but that soldier evidentally needed more guidance on how to be more conscious of money matters.

The child needs to be counseled, and his misconduct documented as he obviously has impulse control issues that had previously gone unnoticed, and which need to be addressed right away. I would have also counseled the young soldier, never to feed the bears.

Totally on the enlisted man NCO did nothing wrong

As an NCO I don't take food from my lower enlisted soldiers in my section/platoon. If the soldiers in my section want to get pizza on the weekend when we have duty then I will buy my own while they pitch in to buy theirs. If I can I will pitch in as well to help them out and then we will eat together in the spirit of camaraderie. One of my favorite lines from Band of Brothers is when MAJ Winters says "Never put yourself in a position to take from your men".

NCO should have offered to pay for the pizza he ate, the solider should not have paid with a temp check. I would have talked to both.

First he took pizza without giving money which sends wrong message to troop. Second you are responsible for your actions. Soldier should oen mistake and not try to weasel out.

I think the NCO doing the inspection should told the soldier to dump the pizza, and remind him this is a common inspection,and he is suppose to be standing for his common inspection, the NCO should have been giving a good ass chewing for eating the some of the soldiers pizza during the walk through