Selling your 24 Hour Duty; should you do it, is it wrong to? What's the going rate?

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:42:46 -0500

I wish that I could make it so you could choose multiple options in this survey because this is 2 part. (Hint hint for new feature RP) I want to know if you think it's ok to sell it or not, and I want to know what the going rate is in your Unit.
So I will make the survey for yes or no and 3 amounts. If you choose an amount we will assume your answer to the question is Yes.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 9:52 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 21:52:25 -0500

First, as long as the chain of command knows you're switching that's the only thing, just in case that random "snafu" happens where there's a no show. Second I don't see an ethical dilemma in selling duty; I think of it as a notional incentive to take it. Some will do it for free and that's fine. Others that may be hard up for cash perhaps the timing (i.e. holidays and 4-day weekends.)

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Feb 24 at 2015 10:14 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:14:39 -0500

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 10:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:17:47 -0500

Wow. This is a flashback question. I havent thought of selling duty in years.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Feb 24 at 2015 10:22 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:22:59 -0500

Never seen this, I have heard of folks paying someone to swap after hours on-call.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Feb 24 at 2015 10:29 PM

SSG Leonard Johnson — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:29:48 -0500

I've been serving since 1984, and to this day I still don't know what the issue is with selling your duty. We are in the business of protecting capitalism. So what's wrong with selling your duty? In the eighties I made so much money off this. And while college boys had no money at the clubs for the honeys I did

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 10:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:36:22 -0500

I have at various times and different units, both paid for and been paid for pulling duty. At the time (over 10 years ago), duty typically went for around $30-$40. The other option we used was to do a complete duty swap - someone would pull your duty in return for you pulling theirs.

When I switched over to Special Ops, Staff and CQ were managed by a team of Soldiers who were detailed to that duty for six months. They would pull 8 or 12 on and then off for 16 or 24. The SDNCO only had to check buildings before going home, lock up the Motor Pool, and then open it in the morning - so, there was never a need to pay anyone to pull your duty. If something came up where you couldn't, there were other NCOs that would step in, and you'd eventually just do a swap - the next time their duty came up, you'd pull it instead.

As a senior NCO, I didn't care who pulled the duty, or what agreement was made, as long as the duty was pulled.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Feb 24 at 2015 10:47 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:47:30 -0500

As long as the duty is covered, who cares who ass is sitting in that seat...as long as you inform the correct folks and update the roster PRIOR to the day of the duty. Don't Blue Falcon your buddies...

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 10:48 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 22:48:45 -0500

Been there, done that. Sold a few, bought a few. Bought a christmas day duty for $250. More presents for me.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Feb 24 at 2015 11:08 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 23:08:39 -0500

There are a lot of people who truly believe it is illegal to sell your duty. Does anyone have an argument for this?

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Feb 24 at 2015 11:10 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 23:10:33 -0500

I know some guys who make almost an extra $1k/month pulling duty. That's making way more the drill sergeants and recruiters!

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 24 at 2015 11:40 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 23:40:46 -0500

I've heard of NCOs who would sell duty. I also heard that the price went up significantly for holidays and long weekends. I don't have a problem with it. As long as the duty is covered with someone who is competent, I'm not going to micromanage the duty roster. I'd only have an issue if the person selling duty started having issues performing his normal job due to all of the extra duty he was pulling.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2015 11:42 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 23:42:43 -0500

When I was Active in Germany (1989-1991) I could, and did easily pull $100 for guard or CQ runner during the Christmas, THanksgiving and New Years. Super Bowl was also a good sell.

I once made "the man" on a guard duty I sold my services for. I gave the guy most of his money back because I effectively did not have to pull duty either, other then sitting in during dinner meal and lowering the flag. And I still got the next day off.

I do know that some section sergeants and PSG/squad leaders have a policy that if you volunteer to take a duty, you still have to show up the next day and play soldier..at least part of the day. I was my own section leader (NBC) and pretty much ran my own show anyway.

I miss the old days..*sigh*

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Feb 25 at 2015 12:48 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 00:48:14 -0500

I remember back in the 80's. I did both ends of the spectrum. I pulled duty for a price (depends on weekday or weekend and holiday or not. I also had plans a time or two that interfered with duty and paid for coverage. Leadership did t care as long as duty was covered. If no show, person on roster was overall responsible unless it was reflected on the duty roster in advance.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 3:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 03:35:17 -0500

I do it for the Brazilian grill.

Response by Cpl Clinton Britt made Feb 25 at 2015 8:01 AM

Cpl Clinton Britt — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 08:01:29 -0500

When I was still active in the Corps, I stood many a duty and got paid for it. The way I see it, If you have nothing better to do than sit in the barracks, then let that married Hard Charger pay you for his duty so he can spend it with his family

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 10:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 10:21:17 -0500

However, if there are special circumstances, there should be no issue with switching personnel as long as it gets confirmed by both parties, their leadership, and the memo's signer.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2015 5:27 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 05:27:07 -0500

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2015 11:20 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 11:20:51 -0500

Of course you should be able to sell your staff duty. You always get it at the worst opportune time. Usually the going rate for it always falls on the time [day] pertaining to the shift. If you're 2-3 days out then you're probably going to be coughing up somewhere $150

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2015 4:36 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Mar 2015 16:36:44 -0500

Why not?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2015 1:19 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 May 2015 13:19:35 -0400

I CAN'T STAND staff duty, and personally think it's a force of evil, especially in these modern times with advanced technology. I would pay someone to do it for me every single time if I could.

Response by LCpl David Pike made Oct 5 at 2016 1:05 PM

LCpl David Pike — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 13:05:13 -0400

I sold my night watch, I'm guilty. The more I think about it, it was a common thing

Response by SSG Greg Miech made Feb 14 at 2021 11:39 PM

SSG Greg Miech — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 23:39:34 -0500

Yes it should be allowed as long as the SD runner is there. Works well with married personnel on holidays as well.