Working with Civilian Workers

SSG Fleming,

There are certain functions that most certainly should be controlled by military personnel, but others require the continuity that our civilian counterparts provide.  Your post doesn't provide very much background as to your current situation.  I see from your profile information that you are stationed at Yongsan Garison, South Korea.  I have spent three years of my career in South Korea and have to wonder if your discontent is with Korean national civilians or DOD civilians.  Is your discontent based on cultural differences or misunderstandings?  Overall I have had positive experiences working with Civil Service employees and contract civilian employees, though I have had a couple of isolated issues.

During my first PCS move, I had an issue with an employee in a post child development center who I felt provided substandard customer service.  My wife and I had not utilized the child development center at our previous duty station.  We were new to the PCS process and had no knowledge of the services provided by the CDCs.  The CDC employee that we dealt with spoke down to us in a very condescending manner.  I suppose she answered the same questions day in and day out, thus felt the answers should already be known by everyone seeking service at her facility.  That was an isolated incident, certainly not the norm.

I wish you better success in future interaction with our Civilian counterparts.

I am torn on this one right now as I have 19 that work for me and do a great job. I the OIC of a JRSOI hub and my contractors do all the instructing and scheduling. This allows the Soldiers to do the job that the Army trained them to do.

However you are right that there is an over abundance of them taking away from what we as Soldiers are paid to do.

As a veteran of the Armed Services and a current Civil Service employee I have been on both sides of the fence. We are all entitled to our own opinion and generally speaking that opinion is usually based on the experiences that you have had, whether good or bad. Not knowing the exact "functions" you speak of it is difficult to say whether they would be better served by the military taking them over. This should be very evident to you in the environment that you are currently in as I assume you are still in Korea. Having served two tours in Korea myself and understanding the constant turnover of Military folks and the impacts that has on day to day operations I would submit to you that there may be validity in leaving some of those functions with the civilian workforce. Continuity or institutional knowledge of an organization can be a great asset when striving to make an organization better than it was previously. Conversely it can be a hindrance as well if that person with the institutional knowledge has a negative impact on the workforce around them when leadership attempts to implement change.

Your narrow minded point of view that all civilians are backstabbers only shows that you may be a part of the problem and not a part of the solution. No matter what organization you are in there is bound to be that one bad apple that just spoils the entire barrel. But to categorize all civilians as the same would be like saying that all soldiers are pompous and self centered and cause trouble when in downtown Seoul. Just simply not a true statement but if you ask those in surrounding communities you might get that type of response from at least a few.

I would be curious to know what those functions are that you speak of as your post is very ambiguous which of course prompts many responses but if you truly want to impact change you need to provide clarity.

There I a difference between contractors and civil servants (DA Civilians).  My last two jobs my bosses/rater has been a civilian.  They have overwhelmingly been dedicated to the army and the Soldiers in it.  A lady in my office retired with 40 years of service and she will be missed because of her hard work and dedication. 

Contractors are a wild card, they are a for profit worker. Many care and are trying to make a difference. 

Remember, we operate under civilian leadership, we work for the American people.  The President, SECDEF, SECAR are all civilians.