What has been the most challenging obstacle for you to overcome as a leader and why?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 09:51:18 -0400

Explain the most challenging obstacle you as a leader have faced and why. This is for any rank because we all know at some point we have all lead.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2014 9:57 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 09:57:00 -0400

For me as a Professional NCO I have a problem with my language. I continue to use vulgarity a bit to much. Being a Senior Drill Sergeant here at Fort Jackson we have had to closely watch what we say and how we address our privates. I know that for some people cursing isn't a bad thing but for me its something I know I need to work on especially being a future Senior-NCO. I want people to look at me as someone who holds themselves to a higher standard and is that be know and do NCO.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jun 8 at 2014 12:21 PM

MAJ Ron Peery — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 12:21:19 -0400

Greatest personal challenge? Without question, being caregiver for my parents as they suffered from dementia. I am not, by nature, a patient man. So dealing with the progressive decay of their mental faculties and memories was a real challenge. Like all others jobs I have had, I probably could have done that better. But I did the best I could. Shortly before she died, in one of her very rare moments of lucidity, mom said "thank you for taking care of us." So I suppose that worked out.

The greatest obstacle I encountered in my military career was being an embedded trainer with the ANA. My ability to learn new languages has always been limited. Maybe just lazy. So working with the Afghan troops and contractors was slow and painful sometimes. In spite of that, we worked successfully together, had some very successful missions, and I think we left them better trained than we found them.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Jun 8 at 2014 12:31 PM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 12:31:16 -0400

I once had someone on my crew that would do nothing to better his chances for promotion. And then he'd complain incessantly about not getting promoted.

Most challenging thing? Helping those that refuse to help themselves.

Response by SSgt James Howerton made Jun 8 at 2014 7:44 PM

SSgt James Howerton — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 19:44:40 -0400

(WARNING: THIS IS A LONG POST AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT) For me, the greatest personal challenge was also my greatest military challenge. When I was a kid in boot camp, I injured my back. The doctor said I had strained some muscles but I had strained a few muscles before playing sports and this felt nothing like those. He gave me some aspirin and 2 days of bed (rack) rest. Anyway, one of my D.I.s said that if I took any rack time other than the normal lights-out time that he would recycle me, meaning I would have to start boot camp all over again. This was about a month into a 3 month tour, so I took no rack time and was, in fact, out running with my platoon that evening. Over the next few years I re-injured my back twice. They took x-rays (MRIs and Cat Scans were not yet around) both times and both times the doc repeated that I had strained some muscles in my lower back. After my first 4 year tour was up I got out and was promoted to PFC (Proud F**king Civilian). I ended up re-enlisting after a nice 1 year vacation, mainly because I decided to get married (well, somebody decided). To make a very long story short(er), about the 7th or 8th time I re-injured my back again they ordered another x-ray and discovered I possibly had bulged disks in the L4-L5 region. The doc said it was hard to read soft tissue-type x-rays but they had an x-ray specialist read them and that was his conclusion. I think for the first time it dawned on a Navy Doctor that I wasn't faking an injury. They game me some more powerful pain relief and a week's bed rest. It seemed to get better so I thought, no big deal. The next time I had a recurrence, they followed the same protocol but with less success. I couldn't stand up straight so I kept going back the hospital, and they kept giving me bed rest and medication. After about a 4-6 weeks of this they sent me to Bremerton, WA (I was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, WA at the time) and the Surgical Spine Specialist said he would hospitalize me that afternoon and take some more pictures and exam me further the next day. That night I had to tap a kidney but when I went to the head I couldn't void my bladder. Since I was only 28, that really scared me so I called the Nurse and told her. I was in surgery within the hour and they performed a discectomy/laminectomy on the L4-L5 area of my spine. At first, after rehab, everything seemed fine and I actually went back on full duty in 4 months instead of the 6 months they allotted me. Then, about 8 or 9 months later I was out running and right leg went completely numb. I immediately knew I was in deep kimchee, so I went to the hospital straight-away. After more prodding, pulling, bending and photo taking over the next week, the Doctor called me to the hospital and said, "You have some scar tissue build-up around and against your sciatic nerve. This condition will get worse over time. Since you're a Marine and you can no longer run, we'll have to board you out." I didn't understand what he was saying and I told him so. He said, "We're going to medically board you out of the Marines." I was, to put it mildly, floored. I had my whole career, plus my second career, all planned out. At that time, except for my back, I was in the best condition I had ever been in, consistently running 3-5 miles M-F and anywhere from 5-20 miles a day on the weekends. I had even run 3 marathons, a few Volkslaufs (mud runs, spelling is probably wrong), and a bunch of 10Ks. My job was in Aviation Operations and I worked mostly as the Training NCO (really the Training Officer because my boss was a Captain whose MOS was Supply). I was responsible for weighing Marines in when they reported in and scheduling a PFT if they were due. Since we Marine Aviation Training and Supply Group (MATSG), most of the guys that reported in were just coming off their first leave after having completed their MOS school. A few were out of condition and a few suffered from Dunlop disease (their bellies done lopped over their belts). So, I ran them every morning at 0500. Then we did either weight training, calisthenics or some form of activity to make 'em sweat. Since I worked straight through to 1300 w/o a lunch chow break, I was usually allowed to leave at 1300 and had the rest of the day to do whatever I felt like doing, which was usually fishing. If it was raining or cold out, sometimes I'd go swimming in the base indoor pool or play in a pick-up game of basketball. It was great duty but didn't match the beautiful weather of MCAF Camp Pendleton, MCAS El Toro or even the beaches of NAS Cherry Point. The Navy tried to board me out with a payoff of about $35,000 and a disability rating of like, 20%. It took over a year of second, third and fourth opinion requests and appointments before I was convinced they were ending my career and the only thing left for me to do was make sure I was retired because $35,000 doesn't last a family of 4 long. So I appealed their (The Naval Medical Board) rating decision and, thanks to some outstanding Marines and others (my C.O. who was a full bird Colonel (and one of the best leaders I served with), my SgtMaj who was a poster-board Marine, my OIC, the Gunny I worked with, etc. and neighbors, friends and family plus an outstanding Navy Lt who represented me at the hearing), I was medically retired with an 80% rating. Since this was a short novel, I'll end this post (which, if anyone stayed around long enough to read, probably wasn't worth it) by saying, I have missed serving with Marines everyday since I left Whidbey Island. Semper Fi, Brothers and thanks for your service!

Response by SSgt James Howerton made Jun 8 at 2014 8:44 PM

SSgt James Howerton — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 20:44:06 -0400

I'd say for me as far as military leadership I never really encountered a real tough obstacle. I think that's probably because I was taught leadership by men who led by example so that's the same way I did it. Leadership by example, for me, is the best way to learn, teach and lead. Men respond to it because you can't fake troops out. If you're acting, they'll figure that out. Especially nowadays, when men and women are as educated and smart as they are. I'm just glad I had those leaders, most of whom were bosses, that I did. When you see a Major working until 11 PM at the office or in the field, for me, that always motivated me. I didn't want to disappoint the men I worked for, like that Major, or the men I worked with, some of who were lower in rank than I.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2014 5:33 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 17:33:45 -0400

I had a young man, who was never raised properly by his parents. The hardest thing I had to learn, was no matter how much time and effort I spent on him, I was not going to be able to undo 20 years of bad influence. I mentored, counseled, smoked him and tried every motivational technique I ever heard of, but without him wanting to change, I had to accept I was not going to change him. For a guy who likes to get things done, that was the hardest lesson for me to learn.

Response by CPL Timothy Coffey made Feb 28 at 2016 10:05 PM

CPL Timothy Coffey — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 22:05:00 -0500

Answer to that question is contained in many other questions on this site. That is that friend, or soldier who is your age, maybe a close friend, or someone with same experiences, and you must now tell them what to do. Jealousy is a human emotion, so just be upfront and honest with each other, and make sure lines are drawn clearly. I would recommend someone changing to another company if it is to much to overcome.