Posted on Oct 3, 2019
SPC Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Operations Specialist
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I'm a SPC (74D) in charge of the orderly room. I worked as the battalion commander's driver/assistant when I first arrived here and in S3 as the schools/training NCO. My 1SG said he wanted me in the orderly room to be in charge of soldiers and get ready for the next rank. I don't know if this is connected but he said it right after I asked him for a recommendation letter because I want to apply for CID. Now I'm not even promotable. My first board appearance is not for another 2 weeks. There are 4 people that I am in charge of for accountability purposes. A PFC who is the 42A here, a SPC and SGT who works down in the supply room and a SGT(P) 92A who works in the orderly room with me (we're a small organization). The NCO has made it very clear that I am not in charge of her and would not give me her phone number for accountability even though my counseling explicitly says its my responsibility to do so. She has also made it very clear that she is not doing anything to maintain the day to day functions of the orderly room. She's only doing the maintenance portion. Doesn't help at all. But is always telling us how the orderly room should be maintained (whether it be appearance or the way paperwork is handled). When I question it 1SG says she's an NCO you have to listen to her. I have told my 1SG multiple times that I welcome the responsibility to prepare for the next rank but if this how things are going to go then she should be NCOIC because its not really my orderly room. Its really difficult when I have a way I want to handle something and then she throws a wrench in that, especially when she does nothing to maintain daily functions and is barley here to begin with. He says I'm staying in charge because he wants me to grow.

Anyway today I got fed up. We are going through company clean sweep and there are boxes everywhere because we're sorting through/ cleaning out paperwork getting ready for COC and COR. 1SG and Commander has walked in numerous times and have said nothing about the boxes. I have an appointment to get the paperwork shredded (way too much paper for the office shredder). Both are aware of the appointment. She told me I need to move the boxes somewhere else because of the clutter. I told her "no this is my orderly room and I'm handling it, the appointment is in a couple days". Long story short I got yelled at by 1SG and he told us to figure it out (this isn't our first disagreement).

Can someone please give me advice or guidance on how I should move forward since we're both going to be here for a while. I think if she's going to work here and give orders, naturally she should be orderly room NCOIC. If not, I don't think I should be told how to run this orderly room. My 1SG tells me I'm in charge and he trusts me to handle it, while at the same time saying I must obey everything she says.

ps. She has passed the board and ALC. She is just waiting for points to dropped to get promoted. I really don't understand why I'm in charge of this orderly room.
Posted in these groups: College advice Advice
Edited 5 y ago
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Responses: 13
SFC Retention Operations Nco
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As far as I can tell, this is your Orderly Room. Your job is not to take directions from another NCO, it's to take care of the orderly room. In any company training room higher ranking NCO's from different sections are going to pass through your office. As long as you are accomplishing your mission, it is not any other NCO's business how you run your office. I'm going to let you in on a little secret, E6 is the hardest rank for 92A's to make. There is a very good chance that the two of you will be the same rank very soon. You might even be outranking her very soon. I have seen very squared away 92A's spend 5 years as an E5.
As for the 1SG, he just wants you two to stop fighting. You'll probably take a few more ass-chewings until either you get promoted or you two come to a cease-fire. One of the most important things to learn in the Army is that after 10-15 years, everyone you work with is nearly the same rank and you have to learn to work together because no one outranks anyone. I would suggest a talk that goes something like, "I will run my training room and you run your section". You might not get much buy-in from her until you are an NCO, but this is part of the learning to work with other people lesson.
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SSgt Geospatial Intelligence
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SPC (Join to see) I couldn't agree w/ SFC (Join to see) more. This is YOUR Orderly Room. When people are in said room, they must follow your rules. You still remain respectful of their rank and all the normal customs & courtesies, but they must be aware that you are in charge of the room.
I equate this to when I ran the armory at Minot. I was a lowly E3, but it was MY armory. I was respectful of rank, but made sure I was not walked over due to my rank, either.
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SSgt Geospatial Intelligence
SSgt (Join to see)
5 y
1SG John Faircloth - Agreed, but I ran it as if it were MY armory because I was the only one back there from my side of the Security Forces branches (91SW & 5BW were the two branches on Minot). My rules were the same as the COs. Therefore I ran the armory under CO's rules. Was just easier explaining it to people that way.
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SSgt Geospatial Intelligence
SSgt (Join to see)
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1SG John Faircloth - Boom!
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SSgt Geospatial Intelligence
SSgt (Join to see)
5 y
1SG John Faircloth - I did have one MSgt that liked to push the envelope. He had hit his ceiling and seemed to be taking it out on everyone. What one would consider the definition of Toxic Leadership today.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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Man, you are in a tough spot. What I am wondering is if the 1SG has let everyone else know in the Orderly Room that you were put in charge?

Basically, what needs to happen.....or should happen....is that the 1SG sits down with ALL OF YOU and explain that you are the one in charge of folks for accountability and everything else, explaining everyone's Left/Right boundaries. Because until that happens, the problems you are having will continue to happen.

In the meantime, you need to carry out your duties to the best of your abilities and conduct yourself in the proper military manner.
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