Posted on Nov 17, 2020
CPL(P) Assistant Gunner
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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.
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 14
MAJ Javier Rivera
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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!
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CPL(P) Assistant Gunner
CPL(P) (Join to see)
>1 y
My first line leader has always been supportive of me as he is going through the same issues. We both went to the RNCO and basically stated our issues. The thing now as my first line leader and I have discussed is to wait and see if things do change.
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1px xxx
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>1 y
I understand your comment sir, but at the same time I have yet to see that actually work. Most the time it is the CO/1SG that is the issue. And even going to the BC has never worked. My old battalion used to have "sensing sessions" talking about leadership. I got kicked out from one for telling them how myself and my Soldiers felt.
The open door policy to many of us is a joke if I must be honest.
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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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
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GySgt Gary Cordeiro
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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.
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Sara Lucas
Sara Lucas
>1 y
Great positive advice..thank you
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