Why does leadership always want people go to the field, regardless?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:42:57 -0500

So i'm about a month out and they are scheduling me to go to an 2 week long training. I'm not getting off it that's for sure, but i just want to know what is with the leaders want every single person regardless of the circumstances to be in every field exercise. If they are only profile, they can't do anything in the field, and if they are ETSing, what's the point of training them anyway?

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Jan 10 at 2019 6:48 PM

SGT Christopher Hayden — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 18:48:13 -0500

E5+ get a bonus every month for number of people they take out to the field from the Field Problem Authority Bureau.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jan 10 at 2019 7:06 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 19:06:58 -0500

Numbers is part of it. Misery loves company is another.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 7:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 19:58:10 -0500

I’m the movie Infinity War, Loki tells Thanos that, “... experience is experience.” As in, even if YOU don’t think you’ll get something out of it, there might still be something for you, or for you to contribute.

I ETSd before- and I was DONE! But looking back on it, especially with buddies, I feel bad when I don’t remember “the suck” or wasn’t a part of a shared experience.

I’m not justifying it, or even assuming that’s why... just some thoughts. Good luck on the other side SPC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 8:00 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:00:10 -0500

Numbers are the reality in the Army. I was taken to a field exercise and taken to a brigade board with less than 3 months on my contract.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 10 at 2019 8:01 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:01:02 -0500

Every person missing makes the job just a little harder for every other person present.

Every person present makes the job just a little easier for everyone else, even if that person is on a profile and isn't able to perform at 100%. You can "reallocate" resources (manpower is a resource) based on personnel present, but you cannot reallocate if personnel are not present.

As an example, let's say you have someone on a profile. They can't do much, but they can sit and cover a radio, or possibly stand firewatch/sentry duty at night, or do burn pit duty, or whatever other duties "as required."

Additionally, it shows that "our watch ends when properly relieved, and not before." Just because we are getting out "soon" doesn't mean our effort should diminish. We are still responsible for a variety of tasks including training our replacements and communicating essential information back up the chain. In the case of an Infantryman this might be new TTP that was developed over the previous deployment that the oncoming leadership is not aware of but the institutional followership e.g. this is the way we do things here because we have this specific equipment and these specific taskers.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jan 10 at 2019 8:30 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:30:54 -0500

As long as you're under contract, you should expect do your job to the best of your ability.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 10 at 2019 8:36 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 20:36:13 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member because once you start cutting exceptions it will be the Commander and the 1SG in a blinking contest in a GP Small huddled around a jetboil. I get it, other things to do. I've walked in those shoes. I've also been among those forced out to the field. Making our customers go to the field with DS maintenance work. I've cleared the installation from the field. I've gone to the field with my personal field gear.

You need all the people you can, especially if you are being evaluated. Perimeters, guard rosters, obstacles, ECPs, command posts, and crew served weapons won't man themselves...that's just to sustain yourself, never mind perform your METL.

I am sure they stayed up late at night planning and scheming for weeks on this field exercise just to monkey pump you personally in your last thirty days. Check with TISA to see if they cutoff your favorite UGR-As and MRES in advance. Speaking of weeks, this has been on a the training calendar at least 6 weeks. Unless this was a HHQ directed no notice roll out. Someone somewhere would have had to fight at the TRM to get the training area months out.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jan 10 at 2019 9:17 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:17:52 -0500

Personnel are expensive, many little ‘things’ can be done by profilers. They cannot get in trouble with the main body.

As said earlier, misery lives company. There is plenty to go around, 1SGs delight in allowing discomfort to be shared. I certainly did!

Response by 1SG Jason Rose made Jan 10 at 2019 9:19 PM

1SG Jason Rose — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:19:34 -0500

Because you still get a paycheck on the first and the 15th. Because you still wear a uniform and are apart of the greatest fighting force in the world. Because you are still apart of a team. Because you still can contribute in some way shape or fashion to your units readiness in getting after training.
You are almost out. One last suck it up for the team, and you can enjoy fort living room. I hope you have planned for life after the Army. Good luck to you and thanks for serving!

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 10 at 2019 9:28 PM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 21:28:29 -0500

Where in your paper work does it say you shouldn't be bothered to do your duty "about a month out?" What should you be doing instead?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2019 10:27 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 22:27:49 -0500

It’s a numbers game

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2019 4:04 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 04:04:35 -0500

I always wonder why Soldiers will come up with any reason possible to not go to the field, deploy, etc. It makes it harder for everyone that does go to training. The more that do not go the field, the less that are pulling guard, putting up tents/camo nets, securing the perimeter, etc.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Jan 11 at 2019 4:21 AM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 04:21:52 -0500

Thier's no reason to stay back. CP ain't gonna do it self. And the mayor cell can always use more trash collectors and buffalo fillers...

Response by SPC Robert Patrick made Jan 11 at 2019 9:28 AM

SPC Robert Patrick — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 09:28:51 -0500

Have you cleared medical yet? If not there are no real loop holes for ya. If yes then if you get injured during the field exercise your command team has some explaining to do because if they break ya the got to fix ya.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2019 12:09 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 12:09:40 -0500

It builds espirit de corps and it gives you something to complain about. Plus, putting on miles gear and scavenging items out of a MRE box is great stuff! Let's not forget its a great opportunity to practice with the fantastic SINCGAR radio. In the old days of analog you could pick up a tv station.

Response by SGT David T. made Jan 11 at 2019 1:16 PM

SGT David T. — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 13:16:12 -0500

Because they want to remind you why you want a 214 blanket.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Jan 11 at 2019 3:47 PM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 15:47:31 -0500

My last day in uniform was doing an Air Assault field problem. The very next morning I turned in my gear and left. And I could not have asked for a better last day in the military, even though I tried tooth and nail to get out of doing it. I had already turned in my equipment only to get a new gear issued the day we loaded the buses for the field.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2019 6:50 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 18:50:35 -0500

Technically if you are a month out to ETS, you are supposed to be going to ACAP and prepare for transition.... But if you are going out involuntarily, then of course they are going to send you to the field.... that's how the game is played...