What is the best way to deal with NCO's who are the same rank as you but you are placed in a higher position within your platoon?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 18:26:39 -0400

I am currently serving as a platoon sergeant position. I have been having issues with some of soldiers in my platoon and one of the nco who falls under me. generally my leader ship style is approach the issue "man to man", talk about what the issue is and try and fix it there. I have done this a couple times with the SM who is the same rank as myself however still refuse to understand that I am currently serving in a higher position and I am his boss regardless of the fact that we are the same rank. I am having issues of disrepect and insubordiantion. I am wondering what your thoughts are on how to go about addressing this issue? I have spoken with senior leadership on this issue and some say to just let SM know we have to work as a team. Others say put it on paper.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2018 7:09 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 19:09:42 -0400

Counsel your Soldier. Keep all your DA 4856's. On the spot counseling for specific issues and quarterly counsellings for more general performance expectations but make sure you follow up.
You can also remind them to complete their NCOER support form in EES. This should be a subtlety reminder that you will be rating their performance.

Response by Capt David Bays made Apr 17 at 2018 7:23 PM

Capt David Bays — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 19:23:09 -0400

It sounds like he thinks he should be a PS rather than working for you, but is not looking at the big picture. If he cannot follow his PS's orders, whatever the PS's rank, and instead is disrespectful and insubordinate, he may not ever get the chance to be a PS...He has an opportunity to act like an NCO right now demonstrate to everyone else that their job is to do their job, but he isn't doing it. You tried talking to him. It did not work. Your job is to fix the problem, which from the other comments appears to be to write him up.

Response by 1SG Cj Grisham made Apr 17 at 2018 9:04 PM

1SG Cj Grisham — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 21:04:06 -0400

You need to conduct a specific counseling making him aware of the fact that you are the platoon sergeant. As such you expect every NCO in the platoon to do what you say in follow lawful orders.

Response by 1SG Cj Grisham made Apr 17 at 2018 9:05 PM

1SG Cj Grisham — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 21:05:45 -0400

Okay, for some reason my entire comment did not post. Bottom line up front, make it clear to him that you will not tolerate insubordination from him any more than you would tolerate it from a private. If he has a problem with this, you can both take it up with the first sergeant. Treat him as a peer to the extent that you share the same rank, but you outrank him and he needs to know that.

Response by 1SG Cj Grisham made Apr 17 at 2018 9:08 PM

1SG Cj Grisham — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 21:08:15 -0400

True story. When I was a platoon sergeant back in the day at the 11th armored Cavalry Regiment, I fired an incompetent Sergeant E-5. In his place I put a specialist as the squad leader. I was very clear to this sergeant, who shouldn't have been a sergeant to begin with, that the specialist was in charge of the squad and that he will obey his Squad leader's orders as dictated to him by his chain of command and NCO support Channel. I also made clear to the specialist that he is to respect the rank of Sergeant in issuing those orders. The sergeant complained to the first sergeant who told him that I was the platoon sergeant and he would have done the same thing.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Apr 17 at 2018 11:33 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 23:33:24 -0400

Well it seems you've answered your own question. As an NCO, you are doing the right thing to try and address the issue one on one instead of embarrassing him in front of the rest of the platoon. Then you took the next correct step by trying to get senior leadership involved. If this hasn't solved the issue, then this leaves you one final course of action... document it in paperwork. If he doesn't want to act like an NCO, then after enough paperwork, he'll just be stripped of his rank and your problem is solved.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2018 11:39 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 23:39:11 -0400

First you should sit down and talk try to work together and be a team player. Issues that can be worked out you should sit down and work threw them as a team. Use the other SGT's in the PLT as well you are one team you win and lose as a team. It sounds like you may have already done that if that is the case you have talked to your leadership the only thing left is to put it on paper. You should also be working very hard to get promoted that may help take some of the friction out of this situation.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 17 at 2018 11:40 PM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 23:40:17 -0400

Do what you are told... that is honor the designated chain of command SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez made Apr 18 at 2018 6:52 AM

SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 06:52:04 -0400

SGT D G,
I had a similar issue but it was the other way around, on a deployment. This SSG was put on leadership position because he held a clearance, and I did not at the time because mine was still in process. He was basically the team chief of the mission, and I agreed to go because I do/did care about the mission accomplishment. My platoon sergeant pulled me to the side right before we left and asked if I was ok working under him, especially when he never been on a leadership position on that stage.
Basically, we worked or were part of the Information Operations cell or IO, where we had, MISO/PSYOPS, Civil Affairs, Public Affairs, Combat Camera which was us. We were pretty much the lowest ranking personnel in the entire cell and this individual was our rep. I was sent as an adviser to help him because as I said, he never done this type of work before. Now, the SSG and me had a talk on our way over and we had an agreement. Halfway through the deployment things started to happen where certain tasks were not performed by him, and Officers in the cell were not happy. So, I was approached by one of the CPT's from the MISO/PSYOPS section who gave me a bogus task for our Soldiers in the field. Well, I got it done the very next morning. The CPT told me that was just a test and he wanted to see who was suppose to be on that seat. He asked me why. I told him my clearance was been reviewed and that's why I had to step out when the daily meetings took place. He told me all kinds of negative things about the SSG, blah blah blah.
It was a really uncomfortable situation for me due to the position where I was. Even though I went out and did missions, that was the first time I fell so out of place and had no control of the situation because of a stupid clearance. I actually had a talk with him, and all he could say was "well, I'm the one charge Hernandez, I'm going to do what I think is best". I had to bite my tongue and said, "Roger that".
There not many people I would be willing to work for again, but I will be always about the mission and the reputation of my unit. As long we can meet there and have a mutual agreement, I'm good, I won't bother you, I won't make waves. But this individual was something else, he was only there because of the clearance and had done that mission as an cameraman, not staff work. Two different ballgames buddy. So, what do you do in a situation like that? I didn't say anything to our leadership back home because sooner or later words get around, but I did have a talk with him. It was not a pleasant conversation, but I let my feelings known to him about his professionalism and leadership. "You have a lot to learn brother".

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 18 at 2018 9:59 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 21:59:18 -0400

Remind Idiot that you will be his rater!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2018 2:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 14:25:22 -0500

I've been there. As an E5 I was acting platoon SGT because the E6 that was actually the platoon SGT was nonexistent. You've got to remind them from time to time that its position over rank. But do your job the best you can and you'll earn their respect. Most of the time people will comply if not, there's always a way to make jobs happen.

Response by CPT William Jones made Dec 1 at 2019 12:27 PM

CPT William Jones — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 12:27:30 -0500

you said you spoke to in senior leadership? Maybe you have to try this again however if you are the same rank but placed incharge of this sm he needs to have it explained that it makes no difference if he is the same number of pay grade as you. is really not uncommon to have same rank people subordinate to another in the work force.. sometimes it is for special reasons and sometime it is because of a surplus in unit of like rank people like squad leaders in an infantry unit. give him a chance to have a little more input in private but pull the same load as the other members under you.