What topics should a military leader shy away from discussing with or around subordinates? Why?

2018-08-16T21:40:42-04:00

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Aug 16 at 2018 9:45 PM

2018-08-16T21:45:06-04:00

Race, Religion, Nationality, Sexual Status, Ethnicity, Family Troubles, Feelings
and that other thing we don’t talk about – because we don’t talk about it.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Aug 16 at 2018 9:47 PM

2018-08-16T21:47:08-04:00

Gossip in general and anything about senior officers or NCO. Politcs, religion, race, sex

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Aug 16 at 2018 9:57 PM

2018-08-16T21:57:33-04:00

Religion, transsexuals, and Trump.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2018 10:07 PM

2018-08-16T22:07:36-04:00

Superiors and any issues they may have.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Aug 16 at 2018 10:35 PM

2018-08-16T22:35:41-04:00

Politics, religion, sexuality, financial recommendations with the following exceptions:
- you have the right to vote and the military has voting assistance to help you. What ever you do politically, it shall not be in uniform or otherwise representing the service. You do so as a private citizen. When in doubt ask your leadership.
- in the place or with the being you go to when you are cold, wet, tired, and hungry to gain strength, you have the right to worship (or not) as you see fit and have Chaplains to help you when you need it. Crom does not laugh at your Four Winds.
- you are responsible for your personal choices, reproductive decisions, and the consequences. Choose carefully as they can impact your career as a soldier, your health, and your life for the next 18-26 years. If you want help with these issues, we have a plethora of people in multiple health, spiritual, legal, and social vocations that can help you before and afterward depending on your moral, ethical, And spiritual beliefs. During is on your own moral compass.
- if you are sexually assaulted, there is help for you and that will be the focus of the unit Command team. You may report it formally or informally, just ensure you report informally to those that are designated so that you can access services with out a law enforcement investigation or Command knowledge. Understand that the Command team is a formal report that will be pursued through law enforcement to its logical conclusion.
- if you care about your career and financial future, learn about spending, saving, retirement, and financial security. We have people at ACS that can teach you, to include the viability of the financial products you are being offered. Look before you leap and run the numbers.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 17 at 2018 12:23 AM

2018-08-17T00:23:40-04:00

Once in awhile on here, I do find thought provoking topics...hat is clearly one...I haven't a clue as to what to suggest, however, nevertheless, it is certainly thought provoking, notwithstanding, certainly...I've gtta give that one a good deal of thought...I read a good deal of what was sent in here...beyond that, for the moment at least, aside from all those topics already !mentioned, I quite honestly don't have a clue, to be candid...as I'd said, lemme give of some thought....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2018 12:37 AM

2018-08-17T00:37:09-04:00

Only the things that you want to see become issues.
Not talking about something is a sure way to turn them into an issue.
Don't talk about family? Prepare to see divorces.
Don't want to talk about race or religion? Watch your people clash over them.
Don't want to talk about feelings? Start planning the funerals of your subordinates suicides.
One of my best leaders said leadership is relationships. You need to be in people's lives asking personal questions. It's good advice.

Response by SSG James Bloodworth made Aug 17 at 2018 1:44 AM

2018-08-17T01:44:34-04:00

Politics, especially toward executive branches, when leaders speak poorly of the executive branches or the lower command structure it sends a message that its ok to be disloyal, and it is outside of the military professionalism required to perform the mission. Also it could lead your subordinates into a legal situation with UCMJ.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 17 at 2018 7:11 AM

2018-08-17T07:11:09-04:00

A leader should be willing to discuss almost anything with their charges. That said, the SCOPE of that should be limited by a lot of factors.
I hear a lot of people mention religion. If a troop asks a question or wants to discuss moral or ethical implications of religion of military decisions, we can direct them to SMEs like the chaplain, or point them to the applicable regulations. We just have to remember that "personal opinions and professional opinions don't always coincide."
That's the real conflict. We are trying to maintain a professional working environment, therefore we should MINIMIZE (it's nearly impossible to eliminate) distractions. Religion & Politics are the two classic examples, because they are about "belief" systems. We generally can't change people's minds with logic or arguments (at least in the short term), therefore it is better to just avoid them.
The other ideal is the Private vs Public divide. Whatever you put out in public becomes public forever, therefore it is a good idea to retain some semblance of control on your personal information, regardless of what it is. The military and the CoC already has LOTS (possibly more than you would like) access to your private life. Do you really want to give them more? That goes up and down the chain.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2018 8:43 AM

2018-08-17T08:43:09-04:00

A lot of this depends on the situation. If it's a group conversation I will be more reserved in offering personal feelings on some topics. But if one of my soldiers comes to me for one-on-one advice, I'll go a lot deeper into my own personal/political/religious beliefs. This isn't an attempt to convert them or anything like that but the notion that humans can separate themselves from who they really are is absurd. Who I am and what I believe shapes the advice I give (as it does with everyone).

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Aug 17 at 2018 11:10 AM

2018-08-17T11:10:45-04:00

I would assume that you shouldn't talk about the leadership, politics, sex, or religion. Obviously there are exceptions like reporting sexual assault, the obligatory safe sex safety briefing, and informing soldiers that they have access to voter assistance if they'd like. Talking about the unit leadership is almost always bad. Essentially, if it's not pertaining to work and you probably shouldn't discuss it with subordinates.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Aug 17 at 2018 2:18 PM

2018-08-17T14:18:53-04:00

Leaders should not discuss politics, religion or their sex life around subordinates. Familiarity breeds contempt.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Aug 17 at 2018 4:27 PM

2018-08-17T16:27:57-04:00

Politics, religion, sex.