What might the path for Inspector General (in the USAR) be like?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Dec 2023 16:59:28 -0500

It has been recommended to me by more than one peer and mentor to pursue a position as a Command IG. I'm in my 50's now and I don't have a lot more things I'm going to be able to do before MRD, and IG seems more appetizing to me than an OC/T. I know the obvious thing would be to just simply call the # on the vacancy list for any given position (which I'll do), but if there are any USAR IG's out there with a story to share I'm all ears.

Response by COL Randall C. made Dec 3 at 2023 7:24 AM

COL Randall C. — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 07:24:16 -0500

The USAR IG has a SharePoint* site (CAC restricted) about becoming an IG, but bottom line is you can't just apply to a vacant spot, you have to be placed there. IG positions are nominative position and a potential IG has to be vetted and approved by the Army Inspector General's office before they can be assigned to a position.

For you (USAR TPU officer), the recommendation to be an IG would come through your career manager* or it would be a local recommendation (included in your application packet) from your unit senior leadership (CG) or Command's IG.

The one person that comes to mind if you want experiences of an IG from a USAR side is LTC Stephen C..
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* USAR IG Sharepoint - https://armyeitaas.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/USAR-USARC-IG/SitePages/How-to-become-an-IG.aspx
* https://ig.army.mil/Become-an-Army-IG/Join-the-Army-Inspector-General-Team/
* USAR Career manager - https://www.usar.army.mil/ARCG/ARCG-CMO/

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 3 at 2023 2:01 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 14:01:09 -0500

I served as a detailed inspector general in two commands, CPT Private RallyPoint Member. As COL Randall C. has mentioned, IG positions are nominative, meaning that you must be nominated (endorsed) by the commanding general. Assuming your packet goes forward to TIG, it will include EVERY OER you've ever received since your commissioning. That's why most detailed IGs come from within the command, in that they are a known individual. Ultimately, and from my perspective, approval of TIG is like the Army version of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. Few know that, and even fewer care.

Training is conducted at Fort Belvoir and it's excellent. It's now a three week course although when I went, the course was only a week long. We were billeted at the Oakwood Apartments in Arlington, VA.

If you serve as a detailed IG, just know that you will quickly and quietly become a pariah. I can remember that when at chow, if my fellow IG and I sat down with some of our friends to eat, the conversation would become noticeably more quiet, and as people finished and left, no others would join and we'd ultimately be left alone. If we were sitting by ourselves first, no one would join us.

It's a tenured position in that usually the max time served in the position is three years (in the USAR). It's generally considered that this time limit is imposed to prevent supposed usurpation of power. However, my conclusion was that the Army recognized that IGs "see behind the curtain", and that detailed IGs see the worst of the worst in the Army routinely, and may become jaundiced to the various situations placed in front of them. The Army always seeks the root cause of the complaint, and I believe that it wishes the root cause to be systemic and that pushing a different button or changing an AR will rectify the situation. In my experience, the problem was almost always an individual soldier not doing his job properly.

Power usurpation is a paper tiger. The IG simply presents findings to the CG and the CG takes action...or not. Unless a finding is absolutely illegal, the CG does not have to do a thing. A wise CG usually acts IAW IG findings, but the CG may have other factors to consider when reaching a decision. I've actually seen our IG (O6) present findings to the CG, and then be dismissed with, "Thank you colonel, I'll take this under advisement." Nothing happened.

I know a lot of this sounds negative, but it's the job. However, I'm glad I served as a detailed IG. I learned a lot about what makes the Army tick that others simply will not have the chance to learn, and saw how the IG could help make the Army function more effectively and smoothly.