Company Commander
Company Commander
Posted on Jan 20, 2022
What advice do you have for working under a Command team that doesn't care about soldiers and has a coercive style of leadership?
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Here are some examples:
She thinks that herself and the LTS have maids for soldiers. This is the only unit I have seen, that the commander tells the LTS not to touch or layout any of their OWN equipment that they have signed for themselves. They want the SOLDIERS to do their labor for THEIR equipment. While they are not even present.
Another example, Commander asked Soldiers to empty out HER rucksack out of a container, and demanded that we brought HER ruck sack with her IOTV inside HER office. Shortly after that, she demanded that we ONLY bring the command teams RUCKSACK and IOTV into THEIR Respective areas in the office. As if we were their personal maids. I know I'm just a CPL. But I think that's wrong and using power and rank against solders to make them bend down and cater to their every needs. Yesterday, the commander created her OWN slide, used her OWN equipment (projector) and she was expecting the NCOS to cater to her and set up the projector for her. So she made a comment " I guess I aint got no NCOS"
We are deployed, and not one soldier, not once NCO can agree that she is a good commander. We are a small team of less than 30 people. Not a single soul, but the LTS care about her. She is very toxic.
Our first sergeant, follows right behind her tail.
There will be nothing for the soldiers to do, lack of computers for them to be able to do anything productive that will help them with their career progression in the office, but they complain when they see soldiers sitting around. There aren't enough computers for soldiers and we are early in the mission that we have no actual missions going on.
I just need tips on how to deal with this type of leadership. NCOS are all losing morale because every little thing is a priority to the command team, shit that isn't important... GARRISON SHIT... they set as a priority with dueouts for the same exact day. Give "homework" to NCOS and tell them they need to have all these chapters read to discuss on friday on the NCO Guide. Giving us tasks on top of tasks that arent really priority. But because there aren't enough computers in the office, people are stressing about getting shit done at 1730 after they've been released. It doesn't make any sense. They brought GARRISON to a deployment and NCOS are finding themselves doing the same exact stupid bullcrap that we were doing when we were in the rear.
I just need advice. I'm starting to question whether this is even worth me being away from my family for 9 months. Dealing with a commander and 1SG who clearly does not put people first, as much as she tries to fake it out to be that she is. And having no PL with a backbone to stand up and understands the problem, even when he complains just as much himself.
She thinks that herself and the LTS have maids for soldiers. This is the only unit I have seen, that the commander tells the LTS not to touch or layout any of their OWN equipment that they have signed for themselves. They want the SOLDIERS to do their labor for THEIR equipment. While they are not even present.
Another example, Commander asked Soldiers to empty out HER rucksack out of a container, and demanded that we brought HER ruck sack with her IOTV inside HER office. Shortly after that, she demanded that we ONLY bring the command teams RUCKSACK and IOTV into THEIR Respective areas in the office. As if we were their personal maids. I know I'm just a CPL. But I think that's wrong and using power and rank against solders to make them bend down and cater to their every needs. Yesterday, the commander created her OWN slide, used her OWN equipment (projector) and she was expecting the NCOS to cater to her and set up the projector for her. So she made a comment " I guess I aint got no NCOS"
We are deployed, and not one soldier, not once NCO can agree that she is a good commander. We are a small team of less than 30 people. Not a single soul, but the LTS care about her. She is very toxic.
Our first sergeant, follows right behind her tail.
There will be nothing for the soldiers to do, lack of computers for them to be able to do anything productive that will help them with their career progression in the office, but they complain when they see soldiers sitting around. There aren't enough computers for soldiers and we are early in the mission that we have no actual missions going on.
I just need tips on how to deal with this type of leadership. NCOS are all losing morale because every little thing is a priority to the command team, shit that isn't important... GARRISON SHIT... they set as a priority with dueouts for the same exact day. Give "homework" to NCOS and tell them they need to have all these chapters read to discuss on friday on the NCO Guide. Giving us tasks on top of tasks that arent really priority. But because there aren't enough computers in the office, people are stressing about getting shit done at 1730 after they've been released. It doesn't make any sense. They brought GARRISON to a deployment and NCOS are finding themselves doing the same exact stupid bullcrap that we were doing when we were in the rear.
I just need advice. I'm starting to question whether this is even worth me being away from my family for 9 months. Dealing with a commander and 1SG who clearly does not put people first, as much as she tries to fake it out to be that she is. And having no PL with a backbone to stand up and understands the problem, even when he complains just as much himself.
Toxic Leadership
Leadership Development
Company Commander
Deployment
Issues
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
Two options:
1) You and the rest of the Enlisted (especially the NCOs) sit down and have a talk to ensure you are all on the same page that way come the Command Climate Survey is filled out as honest and truthful as possible. Of course, that's IF a CCS is send out.
2) You and the other NCOs take these issues, write them down and be very specific, and you go pay a visit to the CSM.
Curious question, though. Where are you deployed to?
1) You and the rest of the Enlisted (especially the NCOs) sit down and have a talk to ensure you are all on the same page that way come the Command Climate Survey is filled out as honest and truthful as possible. Of course, that's IF a CCS is send out.
2) You and the other NCOs take these issues, write them down and be very specific, and you go pay a visit to the CSM.
Curious question, though. Where are you deployed to?
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CPT (Join to see)
In regard to the Command Climate Survey, it's the COMMANDER that has to EXECUTE the actions that result in the survey being put out. I was "reminded" that I have to have one, and was was never told again. If I didn't push it out, it probably would not have been done, and I don't know if anyone would have cared. It's pretty much cookie cutter survey with a subset of questions that I personally chose and composed.
So......... where I'm going with this is, line up one's ducks with an possible IG inquiry and the subject of a Command Climate Survey will probably come up, and if there isn't one questions will be asked.
If a unit is big on a command climate survey it's coming down from higher than the Company Level.
So......... where I'm going with this is, line up one's ducks with an possible IG inquiry and the subject of a Command Climate Survey will probably come up, and if there isn't one questions will be asked.
If a unit is big on a command climate survey it's coming down from higher than the Company Level.
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MSG (Join to see) and SSgt Christophe Murphy hit it on the head. If you don't have faith that your chain of command (PLs) nor your NCO Support Channel (PSGs and 1SG) can provide appropriate advice to fix the concerns you have identified, engage that CSM. Just like SPC (Join to see) states, my BC would wreck a officer if half of this is the unit culture and not isolated complaints.
The first thing I would advise is ensuring that this isn't a case of a bunch of entitled Soldiers not embracing the "suck". Junior enlisted Soldiers' perception of what constitutes Soldier Care varies wildly from what a CDR/SNCO may think, for example working past 1730 hrs during a deployment doesn't really register on the scope of human rights violations.
Second, if you have Soldiers, fill their free time with actual training. In the absence of orders, Soldiers tend to do nothing, it is their natural state. Can't be mad at them for that. Someone failed to plan training. Not some read from the manual BS "hip pocket", but actual individual tasks that support the mission essential collective tasks for the Company delivered in accordance with training doctrine. Or rehearse for your missions. Put it in a training plan and get the 1SG to approve it. Make sure it complies with the battle rhythm of the unit. Your PSGs should be doing this, but in the absence of leadership, someone has to lead.
Third, if there are real issues, everyone has suggested to write everything down. But take it to the CSM. No one can tell the CDR to fix herself except the BC and you don't want to go to the boss without the CSM taking a peak first. This insulates the NCOs in the company against potential retaliation. However, be prepared. Don't go to the CSM half-cocked.
The first thing I would advise is ensuring that this isn't a case of a bunch of entitled Soldiers not embracing the "suck". Junior enlisted Soldiers' perception of what constitutes Soldier Care varies wildly from what a CDR/SNCO may think, for example working past 1730 hrs during a deployment doesn't really register on the scope of human rights violations.
Second, if you have Soldiers, fill their free time with actual training. In the absence of orders, Soldiers tend to do nothing, it is their natural state. Can't be mad at them for that. Someone failed to plan training. Not some read from the manual BS "hip pocket", but actual individual tasks that support the mission essential collective tasks for the Company delivered in accordance with training doctrine. Or rehearse for your missions. Put it in a training plan and get the 1SG to approve it. Make sure it complies with the battle rhythm of the unit. Your PSGs should be doing this, but in the absence of leadership, someone has to lead.
Third, if there are real issues, everyone has suggested to write everything down. But take it to the CSM. No one can tell the CDR to fix herself except the BC and you don't want to go to the boss without the CSM taking a peak first. This insulates the NCOs in the company against potential retaliation. However, be prepared. Don't go to the CSM half-cocked.
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CSM William Everroad
MSG (Join to see) You would be surprised how often it happens. I have had Soldiers use the open door policy for the BC (just walked in) who haven't talked to their Team Leader about the issue, let alone me. He got about 30 minutes into the conversation before asking if the Soldier had spoken to me yet and kicked him out.
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MSG (Join to see)
CSM William Everroad - You'll love this one then: Back when I was deployed to Kuwait/Saudi, we had a Soldier (and I'm gonna use that term loosely) get sent to us via CRC. She shows up, and immediately starts having issues with the unit command. Complaints of gender discrimination for having to do a HT/WT and the like. But....at some point, after many issues she made up in her mind, she straight up cold knocked on the TF CG office door. Completely bypassed the 3rd Med Com doors, the TF CSM and straight to the CG. She was immediately sent to BH by the CG for evaluation. Within 5 mikes, I believe.
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CSM William Everroad
MSG (Join to see) The CG? Sheesh. I preached it when I was a 1SG and now as a CSM, give me a chance to solve your problem first. If you aren't satisfied, I'll walk you to the boss's door myself and give you IG's phone number.
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MSG (Join to see)
CSM William Everroad - Yea. The CG. Needless to say, the CG was not happy. I can only imagine the look on the face of the CSM. I was in Saudi when this happened. Got the back brief from my Det Sgt and XO when I got back
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My old BC would have wrecked any junior officers for doing that BS, one of my old CPT's would too. One of my CSM's found a PFC cleaning an LT's weapon and he confiscated it. LT comes back and wants to know if it was clean, PFC told him the CSM had it. Look on his face was... Amazing.
At any rate, MSG (Join to see) makes good points. Make sure you're peer NCO's and seniors are tracking and are coordinating group effort, communication, and documentation of incidents and work/command environment.
Whether this goes the survey route or devolves into an IG complaint, command inquiry, or 15-6 investigation depending on how things go, the outcome will depend on the statements and credibility of the NCO's.
During my deployment I witnessed commanders and 1SG's getting relieved of their position or have letters of concern / reprimand submitted to them by higher commands for situations like this and far worse. This caused some... Contention... As leaders at the lower levels and those around them seemed astonished that higher took action against them.
On top of that, monthly justice reports posted via military social media and in public locations confirmed what was happening at brigade and lower. While names and units were not mentioned in the public reports if you paid attention you could put the pieces together. As I recall, one commander actually got admonished for not posting the reports in a public location where all Soldiers could read it.
At any rate, MSG (Join to see) makes good points. Make sure you're peer NCO's and seniors are tracking and are coordinating group effort, communication, and documentation of incidents and work/command environment.
Whether this goes the survey route or devolves into an IG complaint, command inquiry, or 15-6 investigation depending on how things go, the outcome will depend on the statements and credibility of the NCO's.
During my deployment I witnessed commanders and 1SG's getting relieved of their position or have letters of concern / reprimand submitted to them by higher commands for situations like this and far worse. This caused some... Contention... As leaders at the lower levels and those around them seemed astonished that higher took action against them.
On top of that, monthly justice reports posted via military social media and in public locations confirmed what was happening at brigade and lower. While names and units were not mentioned in the public reports if you paid attention you could put the pieces together. As I recall, one commander actually got admonished for not posting the reports in a public location where all Soldiers could read it.
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