What advice and mentorship can you provide to someone considering getting out due to poor leadership and its negative impact on my soldiers?

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 01:12:17 -0500

Definitely finding myself stuck between whether re-enlisting is the best option or leaving the Army whom I have dedicated almost 7 years so far. This last weekend definitely made me ask myself a series of questions as to whether I should leave as it left a bad taste in my mouth. Not to say that passion isn’t still there, it is. I still care about my fellow soldiers. However, I’m tired and burnt out seeing my soldiers denied promotions when I presented the company staff with their promotion letters after printing them out on IPERMS only to be told that they have to verify it. What is there to verify when the letter is right in front of them? It is not easy to go back and tell the soldiers that they are not getting promoted. I put in a soldier for an award for his hard work and dedication this last AT. However, the SL who is also the admin NCO who I gave the paperwork to just blew me off as if it didn't matter to him when I asked whether he passed the paperwork to the battalion. That same soldier who I put the paperwork in for then told me that he probably isn’t reenlisting too because this is one of too many times that leadership has failed him. Lastly, I have been asking the TNCO this last year one time after another if he is going to send me to BLC, it has been a year now. It had to take the new RNCO to tell me why just recently, when I have been waiting for an answer when I have done everything right going through my chain of command requesting for it. I have never been more angry this last drill and my peers saw it. They saw how specific leaders is causing good soldiers to not reenlist when the company needs them most. The issue is not a bad CO or 1SG, both have done an excellent job with many soldiers praising their leadership. The issue is TNCO and ANCO not doing their job.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Nov 17 at 2020 1:16 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 01:16:15 -0500

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member its a tough decision and it’s yours to make.

Response by GySgt Gary Cordeiro made Nov 17 at 2020 1:26 AM

GySgt Gary Cordeiro — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 01:26:07 -0500

Look at all the positives of your career. Look at all the relationships that have developed. Look at all the people that you have raised up.
Do you want to do more? Then re-enlist as an officer or WO. If you stay enlisted, in your MOS your past will follow you. Rise above the Holocaust like a Phoenix and fix what is broken. Granted, there are senior officers who got there by knew or blew standards, just as the enlisted ranks.
I have broken it down the best I can. The choice is yours to make. Let me know what you think or decide to do.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 1:39 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 01:39:59 -0500

Come to the USAR. I'm not saying it will solve your problems, but it is better designed to trudge through schools and promotions. We have our own problems, but hounding soldiers to go to advancement schools and submit promotion packets is no where near the top of our problems.

The entirety of the USAR administrative culture dwarfs any individual state's NG admin culture. You can easily be lost in a sea of statistics. So if you can navigate the system you can get to where you eventually want to be. Don't get flagged, pass PT, and go to your promotion schools they constantly hound you to take.

I was at a cross roads myself, and told myself I have 2 more years regardless, and if I can't figure it out in that time then I'm done. Well, I think I have figured it out (for now).

The only way to take advantage of the system is to be in the system.

What I'm saying is it sounds like you are in an administratively bad area for you to find success. I'm not promising the USAR gives you that success right out of the bat, but it is larger and provides more chances to find success, and in the event you don't land in a good area it is easier to move to another unit (within limits) to try again.

You have to become technically proficient in your own administrative needs to advance in the Army. S1's will fail you. Many are over worked. At the end of the day, no one cares more about your success than yourself.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 2:28 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 02:28:15 -0500

Isn’t there such a thing in the Army as talking to the admin NCO’s supervisor? Everyone’s got a supervisor. Keep going up the chain of command until you get your problem resolved. Do not give up. You say that your senior enlisted and CO care and are good leaders. If the issue needs to get all the way to them then so be it.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Nov 17 at 2020 5:17 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:17:33 -0500

Have you tried the CO / 1SG open door policy and expose your case? If your first line supervisor becomes annoyed about it you can remind him the policy is direct from AR 600-20, Army Command Policy; trumps his feelings!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 9:30 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:30:28 -0500

Sometimes a change of scenery (or in this case units) may benefit you. If the TNCO isn't moving anytime soon, then I suggest you move. As you said, it's not everyone or even the duty that has given you negative feelings. Being in your window to re-enlist gives you options - another unit or even the reserves.
The 1SG and CO should be made aware that your paperwork is not being properly routed and that Soldiers are not receiving answers to inquiries. The TNCO and ANCO have a job to do and if they are not doing it the supervisor should be notified. Unfortunately, this does not guarantee a change to your situation.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 10:45 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 10:45:47 -0500

My advise is that if poor leadership has negatively affected your Soldiers, it's going to affect them worse without you. When you promote you will be in a better position to take care of your Soldiers. I never wanted to get promoted, I was a very happy SPC, but there was a real POS NCO in my medic platoon that keptessing withy guys and so I made it a point to get promoted past him so that he could never mess with my guys again

Response by LTC Barry Hull made Nov 17 at 2020 1:10 PM

LTC Barry Hull — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:10:55 -0500

First, you are a SPC 4. Not a Commander, not a 1SG. The TNCO nor the PAC NCO work for you. Promotions and awards go through Command Channels. Not SPC to clerks. Talk to your COC. Guessing you at Guard?

Response by SSgt William Quinn made Nov 17 at 2020 1:18 PM

SSgt William Quinn — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:18:37 -0500

Do you think bad leadership is just confined to the military? It's everywhere. Learning to deal with it and succeed is a key on the civilian and military life. If you believe in your career choice and mission, then find a way to succeed in spite of. I have had bad bosses on both sides and staying the course in both, I have seen success.

Response by SSG Leonard Cartwright made Nov 17 at 2020 2:09 PM

SSG Leonard Cartwright — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 14:09:39 -0500

Davis I'm going to tell you what was told to me when I was in you shoes. if you fill you can do a better job than your supervisor start working on becoming and NCO and fix you problems, as and E-5 you call the shots for you squad to complete each mission given to you. This might be your motivation to move forward in Leadership. Good Luck.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 4:34 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 16:34:05 -0500

Your soldiers? Right? So you think running out on them shows leadership. I will tell you what my E-7 would have told me.
Your Solders.
Your problem.
Now go fix that problem. Now make sure you have a solution/s in hand to solve the problem. Walking in with a complaint and no solution will get you nowhere. Now go fix that problem.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Nov 18 at 2020 10:51 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 10:51:51 -0500

Leadership varies from unit to unit. It sounds as though you are trying your best to resolve the problems, but sometimes you end up losing despite your best efforts. Your next unit may be the best ever, but giving up seven years of your 20 isn't the answer if you're inclined to make a career of the service.

Response by SGT Tiik Taaka made Nov 19 at 2020 6:33 AM

SGT Tiik Taaka — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 06:33:59 -0500

From one Davis to another, get through it the best way you can. Nothing lasts forever and throwing away your time spent for a bad apple, from your perspective, is not a good idea. Make them spend millions of dollars trying to get you to give up your bright future to save your mind. In other words, give this to god and pray on it. If praying is not your thing, then fall-back on your training.
Lead from the front. Be outstanding in all you do because it leaves no reason or justification for poor leadership. Cope and work around the leadership style or lack of and do not give up.
You are leading other lives, your decision will affect them? You are the buffer, the shield, the guardian, the leader, and your troop deserves your leadership. Do not become what you despise.
STAY IN AND MOVE UP!

Response by SPC Tony James made Dec 21 at 2020 9:21 AM

SPC Tony James — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 09:21:47 -0500

Come back and work from home in this opportunity
https://ls-info.com/d/RFSF2m

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