Posted on May 18, 2015
Should Soldiers be acknowledged when leaving a unit?
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I worked at the 4-100th BN for 2 1/2 years, and my last drill weekend was this past weekend. Not once was I acknowledged in formation that it was my last drill. What do you think about that? We had a brand new Soldier attending Drill and he was brought to the front of formation. If you were me, how would you have felt?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
SFC (Join to see)
That is regrettable, and would never happen on my watch.
What would happen:
I would acknowledge you in formation, say a few words about your contributions and wishing you well in your future endeavors, and invite you to say something to the group, if you'd like.
I would also invite you and any others who would like to partake to the local watering hole to swap stories and toast to your success.
If feasible, you would receive an appropriate award for your service on your last day.
It is disappointing to me that we can let a Soldier go with so little fanfare.
That is regrettable, and would never happen on my watch.
What would happen:
I would acknowledge you in formation, say a few words about your contributions and wishing you well in your future endeavors, and invite you to say something to the group, if you'd like.
I would also invite you and any others who would like to partake to the local watering hole to swap stories and toast to your success.
If feasible, you would receive an appropriate award for your service on your last day.
It is disappointing to me that we can let a Soldier go with so little fanfare.
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WO1 (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) SFC (Join to see)
Acknowledging the Soldier, and affording them the opportunity to speak is the usually the minimum done when a Soldier leaves the unit, even if the Soldier wasn't part of the unit long. If you were part of the unit for over a year, especially if you actively participated by coming on orders, or deploying the Soldier usually got a letter or an award. Good luck at your future unit.
Acknowledging the Soldier, and affording them the opportunity to speak is the usually the minimum done when a Soldier leaves the unit, even if the Soldier wasn't part of the unit long. If you were part of the unit for over a year, especially if you actively participated by coming on orders, or deploying the Soldier usually got a letter or an award. Good luck at your future unit.
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SFC (Join to see)
The unit itself may not recognize your contributions upon leaving their ranks, but if you know you did your job and did it well then IMO you should be proud of what you have done. I would much rather have a few friends offer to buy me a round than to have an entire unit have to stand there gawking at me while some well meaning officer rambles on about me. After all, how well does your COC know you personally? Just my opinion.
The unit itself may not recognize your contributions upon leaving their ranks, but if you know you did your job and did it well then IMO you should be proud of what you have done. I would much rather have a few friends offer to buy me a round than to have an entire unit have to stand there gawking at me while some well meaning officer rambles on about me. After all, how well does your COC know you personally? Just my opinion.
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I know how you feel. This happened to me when I left my first unit. The CoC that I had previously worked with while deployed had already left, my PCS award did not happen because the new BN CDR felt that my AAM from deployment was sufficient enough. I was a SPC when all this happened. I hate to say it, but it was really shitty of my unit to do that to me. Like my situation, your situation is due to poor leadership.
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