Should company grade officers, specifically platoon leaders and executive officers route their leave and pass forms through the 1SG?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 09:05:52 -0400

Completely neutral question - just seeking input across the Army.

Response by SGT Daniel H. made Nov 7 at 2014 2:17 AM

SGT Daniel H. — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 02:17:51 -0500

The 1SG (in support of the Company Commander) and Company Commanders are expected to maintain 100% accountability of all company personnel. When I was on Brigade staff, even the Brigade Commander still turned in his leave and pass forms to the HHC 1SG, even though it was obviously just a rubber-stamp action, but there is still the accountability issue and the administrative considerations of daily strength reporting IAW AR 600-8-6, para 1-19. If not the 1SG, who would you rather turn your leave and pass forms into?

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_6.pdf

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Nov 7 at 2014 2:33 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 02:33:03 -0500

The 1SG handles the DA-6. The CDR is the supervisor that is required to sign the leaves for his Officers, but they will still be routed through the 1SG upon signing.
Still, when you stop to think about it, there are some situations that seem patently ridiculous, like the BN CDR getting his 2 week leave request signed by his supervisor, the BDE CDR, before turning it over to the HHC CDR for final approval before going to the Company 1SG to take to the BN S-1...

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Dec 2 at 2014 12:12 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 12:12:15 -0500

For me ...the commander / 1SG relationships I had the answer is yes.
With us it was a division of duties, and managing personal was my duty.

Not to say I was "approving" an officer's leave .... but when a given officer could take leave was already discussed, announced and the requirements for that to happen known.

As that was all known beforehand, my "approval" on a DA31 was just an acknowledgment that the commander and I had seen, tracked, approved the event and the officer was in compliance with the ground rules for taking leave (NCOER/OERs on track, Awards, PCS, UCMJ actions on track, Country brief complete is needed, property accountability done and transferred as needed..ecte ct ect.

Other 1SG/Commanders may divide duties on other ways... leaving officer personnel a sole and direct responsibility to the senior officer.

As long as it is discussed, established and known to all .. there is no right or wrong for this question... IMHO

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 27 at 2015 3:41 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 15:41:57 -0500

I would say it depends on the SOP. Many times the 1SG will screen documents the CO signs.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Mar 7 at 2017 12:44 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 00:44:44 -0500

They do for accountability reports that the 1SG or training NCO sends up daily to BN. I haven't worked with or spoken to any company grade officers that opposed the way leave and pass forms were done.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2019 12:33 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 12:33:35 -0400

Having been on both the enlisted and officer side I would say no.

There are times, when as a leader, you have to disagree with the 1SG or make a decision that contradicts him/her in regards to your Soldiers. This can be used as leverage against junior officers. If the CO sees a need to ask the 1SG for his opinion he/she will.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Jun 2 at 2019 5:37 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 17:37:26 -0400

Not in my experience. Officer's submitted their leave requests to their immediate senior who then passed the request on to the approving officer after voicing their approval or reservations to the requesting officer. Of course, it is incumbent upon the platoon leader or executive officer to make his immediate subordinates and others who depend upon him to accomplish their work aware of his impending absence. The approving officer will also advise those he or she considers appropropriate. OOps, missed your Army criteria,

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2021 7:52 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 19:52:08 -0400

All leaves forms regardless of rank to include the BDE CDR's leave came through my office for review. Luckily for my Commander and I, the BDE Commander had been an HHC commander and knew the challenges that came with it and immediately set up an appointment with the HHC Commander to go over his family care plan upon taking BDE Command.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 24 at 2021 9:03 PM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 21:03:46 -0400

Everybody, including me (the Company CO) turned in leave requests (not including emergency leave) to the Company clerk. The clerk compiled a projected strength chart that showed impact if all were approved. The projected strength chart showed availability after known work parties, school assignments, scheduled appointments etc. etc. The 1stSgt then came to me with recommendations on approval/disapproval and whether or not we needed to adjust training requirements and logistic requests.

Someone who gets their knickers in a twist because of imagined status, well... too bad.