Posted on Jul 19, 2016
SSG Battalion Operations Sergeant
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Posted in these groups: Toxic leadership logo Toxic Leadership154c3c29 CorruptionIG
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MSgt James Mullis
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Edited >1 y ago
Your question is a little muddled because Toxic Leadership and outright Corruption (which is a crime) rarely go hand in hand. It's also hard to give advice when you don't have any details, so I'll give you some general advice.

First, you better know what you want and be honest with yourself. If you want a continued career in the Army, then the best advice may be to just keep your head down, do what you're told, to the best of your abilities, while putting in for a change of station, so you can get out of there ASAP.

If you are looking for "Justice", start by analyzing the situation as calmly and clearly as possible. There are always two sides to every situation. Ask yourself are getting both sides of the story? or are emotions and friendships swaying you toward one side while ignoring the valid points of the other.

When someone makes such a broad statement as "the majority of the COC up to the local IG office is corrupt?" I tend to think its probably a vast overstatement. Corruption is hard work and most people are just too lazy for it. While one or two people can be corrupt its just not likely that an entire Chain of Command is. However, such things as Institutional momentum, strict compliance with regulation, or even the privileges that come with greater rank can easily be confused with corruption.

All that said, if a crime is being committed tell the cops and let them sort it out. If you are actually just having a disagreement with management styles or management decisions...guess what, all you can do is deal with it, take care of your troops and try to be a better leader by not making the same mistakes you are seeing now.
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SSG Battalion Operations Sergeant
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That's sound advice MSgt, and definitely something worth thinking about. I am, however, unable to go into too many details because I don't know who is watching and am not ready to get into an altercation for my gathering information. In regards to the COC and IG bit that I said. One of the main person of whom I am referring to, has often bragged about having very close ties with members of the local IG office, reducing my confidence in the ability of that office to do what is right, which seems to be such a hard concept now a days. And anything about the BDE level gets pushed off as not worth the time or effort to, at the very least, listen to issues that are going on.
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SSG Battalion Operations Sergeant
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MAJ Carl Ballinger - Yes sir, I am aware. I understand that they are a kmowledge based service. I personally have never needed to visit them, however.
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1SG Signal Support Systems Specialist
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Can you elaborate at all? I don't have enough information to offer any sound advice.
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SSG Battalion Operations Sergeant
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1SG, the most I can elaborate on is that there are 2 seniors NCO's that run rampant and create an environment that is beyond stressful and uninhabitable. Then there is a command team that turns a blind eye to the goings on, which I chalk up as their inability to handle what's going on, or their desire to not get involved due to the hostile nature of the seniors. then at the battalion level, the senior most advisor has short timers and is more worried about their exit strategy and the other side of that fence downplays what's going one. anything beyond that would give even the most novice of sleuths the ability to pinpoint the COC that I am talking about.
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SSG Aviation Operations Specialist
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SSG (Join to see) - I'm sorry to tell you this but that sounds like a lot of units these days. You might want to look at yourself and evaluate what you can do to help yourself in the situation. Are you given tasks you feel you don't understand? Are you missing traing to allow you to accomplish your mission? Have you used your time to the best of your ability? Taken care of personal business on your own time so it doesn't interfer with the duty day? Making sure your prepared with what you need every day? Decided what schools you want to ask for to better your career?
Unfortunately there is not much you can do about an entire Batt. Your best bet is to square yourself away and ride it out. Fortunately bad assignments don't last forever.
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1SG Bn Ssa
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I would recommend taking a step back and ask yourself is the leadership really toxic or are my expectations unrealistic? A lot (not all) Soldiers that complain about toxic leadership are usually because the Soldier is sub standard and just whining because they don't get there way. Its kind of hard to believe that an entire chain from Company all the way to IG can be so corrupt. But if this is indeed true then its in the Soldier's best interest to just keep there head down and just do their job. Do their time and then move on to another command. Without hard evidence there isn't anything you can do. If it becomes a real threat to Soldiers health and welfare then you can possible initiate a Congressional complaint. But the Soldier had better be sure he is right before it gets to that level because by bypassing the command it will create a whirl wind that they'd better be prepared for.
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SFC Finance Nco, Platoon Sergeant
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Sorry SFC Molina, but I must disagree. If the command is truly corrupt and toxic, then do not sit idly by and let it continue. That is the problem today, everyone scared to actually fix problems. There are ways outside of the chain to fix the issues. But the first thing that needs to be done is to talk to the FLL. Let them know what you see. Then take it up the chain. Once nothing is done, go above the chain. But do it right. If you do not feel the chain will listen and the IG is not an option go to the higher IG. But do not go with simple stupid stuff that can be fixed at your level. Make sure this is an actual problem. If you have Soldiers under your care, make sure you do everything you can to take care of them and do not give them the feeling of toxic leadership.

Doing nothing only keeps the wrong happening. Fix the problem. Find a way. It can be done.

Plus, it helps retain Soldiers if you take care of yours, because they will see that someone cares.

So again, I am sorry, but your logic does not seem to fit a senior NCO.
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1SG Bn Ssa
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SFC (Join to see) - You have a right to your opinion. My intent was to get the SM to actually get an outside look and see if it is juts him complaining or if there truly is a problem. If there truly was a problem then they need to have significant proof to make anything happen. Probably 70% of IG complaints get tossed out because all they have is one Soldiers story with actionable evidence of any wrong doing. So that was my overall intent, not to tell the Soldier don't do anything.
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CW3 (Join to see) - Gotta take my union breaks Chief. You know how us Mil-techs roll...lol
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SFC Finance Nco, Platoon Sergeant
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SFC Molina, your statement of, "But if this is indeed true then its in the Soldier's best interest to just keep there head down and just do their job. Do their time and then move on to another command." That is the point I am trying to make. If it is indeed true, then do what needs to be done to correct. Things like this are what gives the military a bad name. If we continue to sit around and do nothing to fix the actual problems then we are part of the problem.
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