Unexpected Responsibilities!

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 15:51:07 -0500

Thoughts on this AF COL?

https://www.facebook.com/MalmstromAirForceBase/photos/a [login to see] 52753.75 [login to see] 05137281/ [login to see] 54462/?type=1

As a single dad of 2, having a leader who 'understands' and sets realistic expectations is nice, but what would others think?

Timeline Photos - Malmstrom Air Force Base (Official) | Facebook

#Wing1...meet #Ace2. This is Col. Marné Deranger, your Vice Wing Commander. She is a key leader of America's ICBM forces in protecting you! This is her...

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 5:24 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:24:04 -0500

I agree that it's a nice photo and a good example of servant leadership, SFC Private RallyPoint Member, but I am - for some reason - "put off" by this picture. Could COL Deranger maybe have found someone to watch the child? It's warm and fuzzy, that's for sure.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 5:23 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:23:02 -0500

Possibly could have delegated the responsibilities to someone else, and sent the parent/Airmen home.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 5:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:24:20 -0500

Btw I got an email saying I'm 'eligible' for blue ribbon. I see you have one, and are admin. What needs to happen to get me that ribbon? :-)

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 5:37 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:37:07 -0500

As my unit was preparing to deploy in just days, one of my NCOs was really the BN anchor, not just my section. I carried his 4 month old daughter Zoey on my hip everywhere I went because he needed to be lifting tough boxes and the like, and his wife was running around with legal papers, etc. They had a plan: her mother lived about an hour away. I traded having him for the 2 hours of commuting time, vs. the inconvenience of helping out with the kid.

I think the pivotal issue is whether or not the care plans seem to always fall through and the child is basically an excuse, or if it is a one time event that happened because of a mix of odd circumstances. Every parent experiences that "perfect storm" event where the spouse is out of town, the sitter has the flu, the neighbor's kids got sent home with lice, and you have a work emergency. Flexing around that is what compassionate leadership and taking care of Military Families is all about.

On the other hand, if your commander *is* your child care plan, that's a huge red flag. This is not the impression I got from the photo and article. But I did get the impression from the photo that the AF has too large of a furniture budget. I sit staring at cloth-covered plastic/aluminum flim-flam all day.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Nov 21 at 2014 5:42 PM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 17:42:22 -0500

Even though this a warm a fuzzy picture
I also am "put off" by this picture.
I think the Col should have sent the airman home or found someone else to watch the child.
The reason I say this is the situation could set up expectations from the other airman

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 6:13 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 18:13:10 -0500

Look at it for what it is...a commander who is helping one of her own. Don't judge. I would rather have a commander that truly cares for their subordinates and shows it via actions rather than just giving lip service. Furthermore, she is multitasking. And who cares about the furniture. I have seen pretty decked out commanders offices in every branch.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Nov 21 at 2014 6:24 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 18:24:03 -0500

We can all "Monday Morning Quarterback" until the sun shines over 1st Platoon's OP, but that doesn't change the image that this picture portraits. To me, and this is just my opinion, this is a Commander who would "walk the walk" with regards to mission accomplishment and taking care of Soldiers. If she demonstrates a balance in her own foxhole, that resonates throughout her unit.

I've had my kids at my desk when I was a 1SG due to conflicting requirements. Drive on ma'am...

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Nov 21 at 2014 6:52 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 18:52:28 -0500

Simply Awesome.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 7:27 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:27:27 -0500

I see a couple of people talking about sending the service member home. That is not always the best option, nor is the highest ranking person necessarily the most essential to an operation.

I will never forget a conversation stuck in a Humvee at a checkpoint as a 2LT about what would happen if we encountered chem...who would remove their mask first to make sure we were clear. Chief says, "I'm signed for the COMSEC and am the only one that can guide the installation." SFC says, "Those are my installers, besides, two man integrity and SPC-tavious Rex (our Specialist) only has a Secret." SPC: "Well, I'm driving and I am the only one licensed for this vehicle." Chief: "So, ma'am, you're it." And I was. Truly. I had planned the mission and these were my guys, but at this point, they knew what to do and I was essentially expendable.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do as a leader is make sure your guys can Charlie Mike* without you.

Not saying that this situation is as dire, but I am not so central to what needs to happen that I cannot watch a kid for a few hours while a Soldier who is essential does his/her job. Again, the real question is if it is a one time glitch or a pattern of behavior where the Soldier is unprepared to cope with all of his/her responsibilities.

*Continue Mission - don't know if that's an Army-ism.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Nov 21 at 2014 10:38 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 22:38:57 -0500

I dont have a problem with this at all. The Airmen had to pick up the child from day care the airmen could of been a single parent and had to finish up some work and day care was closing since we know they dont have 24 hour daycare on base. They came back to finish work and the Col. took her time to help out the Airmen so the work could be completed. So im guessing this was after hours not impacting anyone else but the few involved. Could it create a problem yes if the Col. started to show favor towards the Airmen but if she was just helping her troop out so the troop could finish then to be this Col. is one heck of a leader.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 2:02 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 02:02:08 -0500

Don't see a problem with it. Maybe the problem is those that try to find a problem. IMHO

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 22 at 2014 8:03 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 08:03:55 -0500

Sometimes a little act of kindness goes along way with our SMs. We all have those unexpected issues that come up and need a hand with. I've picked up and dropped off troops to and from drill if they had car troubles, fed them out of my pocket on occasion, etc. CPT Private RallyPoint Member is right on it!

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Nov 22 at 2014 10:02 AM

Maj Walter Kilar — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 10:02:34 -0500

Originally I was put off by this picture. I saw what I wanted to see, and what I wanted to see was more showboating by the Air Force public affairs machine trying to tell me that the Air Force is great and we are all part of a happy go lucky team of Warrior Airman. Warrior ethos and whatnot. Before flying off the handle with what would have been a rant, I decided to read a bit more on the story. To say the least, I felt like a total jack@$$ for even thinking all that. MSgt Private RallyPoint Member stated it correctly. If you have a problem with this picture, the fact that you have a problem is more of a reflection of you, not Col Deranger and this picture. Truth be told, I think I do have a problem. My problem is that I do not have a Col Deranger.

Response by CSM Tony Bowen made Nov 22 at 2014 12:53 PM

CSM Tony Bowen — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 12:53:05 -0500

It's happened to the best of us. Throughout my career (28 years Infantry), not only have I had to pick up a sick child but most of my Soldiers found themselves in the same situation. I don't think anybody considers a Unit a day care but situations arise. Pretty sure Risk Assessments were completed and they came back Negligible Low Risk. Not like she's replacing the engine on a Tank with her child in her arms.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 1:17 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 13:17:56 -0500

As a 1SG I totally understand this topic. I have single parents in my formation and for unseen reasons things happen and when they to I either tell those soldiers to go home with their soldiers or pack some color crayons. Unseen issues happen daily so I think I am an understanding leader and can trust my single parents can complete the mission even if their child has to be on site. Just my thoughts.

V/r

1SG Haro

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2014 8:29 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:29:27 -0500

Love the picture, I think it says a lot about the Col. However, what was the pressing need to work and could the Col have absorbed that work and sent the Airman home? If there is a reoccurring need for an Airman to work afterhours with their child then the Col needs to focus on extending child care, increasing manning or ensure that those under her are as productive as possible. Not sure what was more important the comments for a Chaplains retirement or whatever the Airman had to do at work so late. Again, the sentiment is awesome and thinking about a boss holding my child so that I can finish work sounds great but I would much rather have all the tools (think training, experience, manpower) to finish my job in a timely manner and spend time with my child at home.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jan 14 at 2015 9:29 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 21:29:30 -0500

Yea yea yea, that baby is sleeping. Show me this picture with a screaming 2 year old monster terrorist and I'll be impressed. Bet she'd send her home then!

Response by SGT Raquel Zornes made Jan 14 at 2015 9:36 PM

SGT Raquel Zornes — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 21:36:22 -0500

Just awesome! That's not just leading the way... It's being human. I would have stayed in if there were more like her.