What should I do if I am being asked to do counselings for my soldiers while on convalescent leave?

2019-10-08T16:29:56-04:00

Okay, so I’m on con leave for the next 60 days. I just had a cyst removed off my tail bone. I’m in a team leader slot, but squad leader just was on con leave in the begging march this past year till the ending of June. He never answered his phone once for us, texts or anything like so. Now he’s telling me that just cause I’m on con leave, I still have to do my counselings for my guys and get all these papers together. I’m just one day out of surgery. So my question is what should I do? My hardest thing is my hard slot e6 didn’t do shit while he was on con leave such as, not respond to us or text or anything. But expects myself to do all these. I just don’t understand.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2019 4:32 PM

2019-10-08T16:32:25-04:00

Do the same brother you need to focus on your health and recovery fuck them they can find another team leader or someone else to fo that shit

Response by SGT Javier Silva made Oct 8 at 2019 5:05 PM

2019-10-08T17:05:54-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member What exactly are you asking? You want to know if you shouldn't answer your phone like your E6 did? A leader does focus on themselves when recovering from surgery, but knows when it is the right time respond to inquiries.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2019 6:30 PM

2019-10-08T18:30:20-04:00

Emulate and be the leader you want to be. If you're just doing the counseling to complete the required paperwork, maybe who ever fills in for you will do it or backdate it when you return. If your are trying to train and guide your soldiers it may be something you want to do. It is convalescence leave so focus on your recovery, but remember do you want your soldiers saying this about you when you return.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Oct 9 at 2019 7:21 AM

2019-10-09T07:21:15-04:00

You didn't mention what malady your Squad leader had which would indicate whether he had the ability to function, but let's talk about you. What does your sense of duty tell you? What will the impact be if you totally absent yourself from your team? Could your team members gather their own papers together and bring them to you? Do you want your team to harbor the same resentment about you that you have for your squad leader? Would your doing nothing for 60 days have an adverse effect upon any of your team? Can you perform counseling without adversely affecting your convalescence? Since no one else seems available to step in during your absence, do you want to allow your administrative duties to pile up during your absence to be there when you return?

Response by CSM William Everroad made Oct 9 at 2019 8:42 AM

2019-10-09T08:42:54-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member, are you asking if you 'have' to do them or if you 'should' do them?
I would be careful conflating your Squad Leader's performance with what you are obligated or compelled to do. You have no idea why the Squad Leader was unable to perform any additional duties while on conleave, and you do not know if they actually knocked out any paperwork to due outs from the PSG.
You are on conclave, an authorized absence from duty. So the easy answer is no, you don't 'have' too. Additionally, if you are a SPC, I would say don't do it, don't answer the phone and don't check your email.
However, you are in a leadership position and as you mentioned to SGT Javier Silva that you have eyes on the stripes of an NCO. Leaders are never off the clock. What if one of your Soldiers is suicidal? Would your perception of your leave status change? Counseling are an integral part of your Soldiers' development. I am not suggesting that you do them because I am pressuring you to be the NCO that I envision. I am merely suggesting what SSgt Private RallyPoint Member highlighted, be what you think is a leader.
No one wants to do your job for you, you tried, and you keep going back to your Squad Leader's performance of their duty. If you want to be like them, go for it. The regulation has your back. But I guarantee your Soldiers will view you just like you view the Squad Leader.
Like I said, this is a question for your gut, as a leader, we have to do the right thing, even when we don't 'have' to. I don't agree with SPC Private RallyPoint Member, even though he is correct. There have been times I told Soldiers to make sure they take care of themselves, but that type of selfishness only grows in you as you pin on more rank and responsibility and eventually you end up a garbage leader or worse.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2019 11:10 AM

2019-10-09T11:10:22-04:00

You tell him that you can't effectively counsel Soldier who you haven't seen. It would be a disservice to them.

Don't compare yourself to people you don't want to be like, that's a slippery slope into Shitbag Creek. Be the kind of leader you want to be, preferably one who takes care fo their Soldiers. However, you can't do that fairly without being their to evaluate their performance. Respond that to the Squad Leader and let it rest. If he has an issue with it he can hoot and holler and threaten, but he can't actually do anything. Squad leaders can't give article 15s and you are on a Commander authorized leave of absence. Until he out ranks the commander, your job is to stay away from work.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 9 at 2019 6:33 PM

2019-10-09T18:33:47-04:00

It does not matter whether your squad leader did the right thing or not. His bad example doesn't give you license to follow. Do the right thing.

Response by SGT David Petree made Oct 10 at 2019 11:59 AM

2019-10-10T11:59:03-04:00

#1 don't brake your orders !!! #2 stay in contact with your troops as much as posable . find out as much as you can about what is going on. with out getting off your ASS ! #3 do your counseling at home after duty hr. . 1 a night would work . ya you got to have the troop at your home . you wont be able to cover everything, but some is better than nothing .
in a time before PC`s where a pipe dream , I a sr E4 got the hole truck plt. for 30+ days . I was not ready for that . #4 fallow your orders . good luck

Response by Sgt Crusty Buck made Jan 13 at 2020 3:38 AM

2020-01-13T03:38:09-05:00

Depends, do you see a bright future for the one needing the counsel? Or are they a bag of shit? Either way, are you like Sgt No Phone or are you a cut above? Handle it how you feel is best, but this is the one time you need to adhere to that selfless part of it. Ifnit can get the troop on the right path to do big things they’re capable of, lend them that insight. Or on the flipskde, if it’s a sack of crap that’s sucking up tax payers money, get that appropriate rating on paper, have your peers and stand in divulge the important bits and reply with what your plan of action (you think) should / would be (had you not be on leave) how committed is this young troop? How committed are you? Is the future of importance to you? Leave t better than you found it? Or just want to finish out and collect va/pension?

Response by MSgt Nathan Krawitz made Sep 27 at 2020 4:31 PM

2020-09-27T16:31:25-04:00

I had that same cyst cut out AND hemorrhoid surgery, was only recommended 3 weeks leave and was lucky to get 10 days, which was not nearly enough. Griping aside, leave is needed for you to have a break. Your chain of command should auomatically skip you while you're out. Someone else should already be handling your routine tasks.

What happens if you're dead? What happens if you transfer on short notice? Someone's going to figure it out. My suggestion is to tell them to either let it wait until you're back or let whoever is filling in your shoes to cover you.

Response by 1SG Michael Brooks made Oct 11 at 2020 9:49 AM

2020-10-11T09:49:16-04:00

One solution. Send note to all soldiers and supervisor. You are on conv. leave, and counseling will be completed. You will do it a pace the your recovery allows. Counseling will happen by telephone. Plan 15 minutes without interruptions. Counseled soldiers will prepare before call with three bullets points of were they are excelling, and three areas they need improvement. Calls will scheduled one day in advance. This is an easy way to get the counseling knocked out, and not interfere with the leader who is doing your job during your convalescence.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Oct 17 at 2020 10:25 PM

2020-10-17T22:25:11-04:00

Dumb and Dumber are at it again. What is your superiors [sic! I use that work loosely] doing? Can't they drop the paper on the "mal-content"?

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Feb 21 at 2022 4:05 PM

2022-02-21T16:05:18-05:00

I'm of two minds on this.
1. Are you unable and would the counselings cover the period immediately prior to you convalescent leave? If so and it would not cause further injury to yourself then I would be okay doing for my soldiers.
2. If otherwise or it was after another leader had already counseled or another leader/SPC could (within reason) counsel them then I would say no - heavily drugged leaders shouldn't counsel soldiers as it might lead to some really intense (Ah Shit! He wrote THAT!) counseling sessions.