What would you do if your Sergeant didn't know how to load a magazine?

If she did not have the knowledge necessary is not a reflection on her but on whoever trained her. Repetition is where knowledge is passed on. The more we sweat in Peace the less we bleed in war.

As usual, I would pull him aside and show him how to do it correctly. If he gave me attitude, I would then leave it to him to unf—- himself. I even had to help fix a brigade or battalion commander a couple of times during an open ranks inspection. I don’t know if those following them ever caught on, or even if the guys left, right front or back noticed. I will say that all three commanders subtly cleaned the shaving cream off their faces. I will always wonder, how the senior NCOs would let him in front of the troops that way...at least three different times in different units. Knowing he was going to give an inspection, you would think would inspect the commander.

CPT Pedre,

I would understand your frustration but if you were the commander of the soldier and trying to demote him or her for her lack of knowledge at a E5 or E6 level I can tell you that would be above your grade and the shit storm you would cause for yourself for lack of supervising and ensuring that your safety office and Safety NCO did their job to ensure that the lane safeties knew their jobs. I would guess you would be getting a good ole ass chewing for the job you Didn't do. Granted if this was a NCO he or she should have brought up the fact that he or she is not familiar with that weapon. All in all it would have been your fault for this situation.

So you would reduce her in rank because of your failure to ensure proper training? What a screwed up leader you are. YOu do your best to ensure Esp de Corp. not especially demote. Junior leaders such as you capt. are why good soldiers leave the military.

Video doesn't exist, where is the video?

Please don't ask me what I would do....

Inexcusable. C'mon, Army.

Send her ads to the rear, and write for being unsafe on the line.

The problem is rampant. Years ago the Army took away specialist ranks and gave everyone “hard stripes”. This led to “you better know what your job is” but didn’t help teach anyone how. Ineffective leaders say “you should already know this based on your rank”. How? Through osmosis? The Army opened up this can of worms to save money and unfortunately not everyone’s career path teaches them to be a leader. Reservists have a total of 76 days of duty (after their initial entry training) and they’re eligible for sergeant. (2 years consisting of one weekend per month and 2 weeks summer). The system is screwed up and everyone likes to be self righteous rather than honest. Now let’s talk about the joke that’s the counseling system. Let me come inspect your counseling checklists and see if they’re initialed like they’re supposed to be. Those who do are the one percenters. The horse shit about writing your own ncoer is alive and well throughout the reserves. Once a year we all sit down and have an ncoer party. Guess what happens when you ask for your counseling? You’re told “so you want to play hardball”. God help if an nco tries to ask the IG for help if their chain violates the counseling regs. The IG doesn’t deal with that particular violation because there is a “built in” redress process. It’s a bunch of selectively enforced toilet paper. So if a sergeant can’t load a magazine it damn sure isn’t their fault. They’re actually a spec 5 and can’t help it the Army said “you better do it or else because we overtasked you in the name of other duties as assigned”.

I think I know how she got promoted, durning Speical favors to her Command