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CSM Elmer Feick Jr.
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In today's age of social media, it is easy to forget the professional protocols that come with posting articles and such. And equally as easy is to lash out personal attacks in an open forum. It was just a few weeks ago that another such posting on a female CSM who violated personal grooming standards had such negative ramifications. This type of unprofessional conduct using social media as a means to "vent out' your personal feelings towards another is becoming all too common place in our society.

I was always taught that if you had an issue with someone than you act responsibly and deal directly with that person until the issue was resolved....end of story...instead of embarrassing yourself, the values to which you took an oath to maintain and to the service branch to which you represent.
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CW4 Leonard White
CW4 Leonard White
8 y
Great advice CSM Feick. Unfortunately I've seen some leaders create such a toxic environment that many soldiers just can't deal with it in a dignified way. So toxic is the environment that you can't, as a subordinate, go to leader or the higher ranking individual and talk quietly "one-on-one." I have witnessed attempts at this and it can be brutal.
The only way to deal with a toxic situation is to remain professional and keep your emotions in check. The minute you lose control of you emotions you will be crushed and dismissed.
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TSgt James Emanuel
TSgt James Emanuel
8 y
My first supervisor, SSgt Vernon Hardy, taught me to "praise in public, criticize in private." Then there's the truism, don't go away angry. I worked for a grizzled old CMSgt on Okinawa way back when. As the squadron mobility (travel) manager, I pulled some strings and got a TDY slot for him on a Cope Thunder exercise at Clark AB, PI. It was not pretty. From "reminding" our troops of why they were there and what was expected of them to informing a maintenance officer that her haircut was out of regs, he was the proverbial Tasmanian Devil. The last day, he called the troops together and said if anybody wanted to "discuss" anything with him, he'd meet them behind the hangar. No takers. He was not one to be trifled with in any way, shape or form. We received a call back at the homedrome requesting that he never be sent to Clark again.

This was a telling indication of the caliber of individuals who were manning our units. When discipline and behavior devolve into indifference and lack of attention to details, our ability to meet our obligations and commitments are greatly reduced.
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MSG Johnathan Mathes
MSG Johnathan Mathes
8 y
CSM
Part of this problem is as you become this senior leader... you arent counseled you rte expected to know and do the right thing... how many leaders MSG AND ABOVE are counseled anymore... we grew fast and lost alot of good leaders... i believe we have alot of toxic leaders ... who are career centric and forgwt where they came from... as a leader.. its not about you anymore as you well know...he should have went behind closed doors with this... he now put his business out thete ... he seems to forget retirement is a priviledge... the bc doesnt have to aign off on his paperwork... and he could be cpunting snowflakes else wheres lol..
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SGM Port Security
SGM (Join to see)
8 y
It is apparent that these two didn't get along well in any setting! What is more troubling is the impact on others this toxic relationship created and what others remember. Having said that I will say this. I learned just as much from poor leadership as good. If you are fortunate enough to get a chance to lead you will then have loads of examples to chose from! I can only hope that it didn't impact on a good soldier leaving because of their example!
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CW2 C2 Systems Integrator
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They sure keep it professional in that unit
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Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
14
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One world...UNPROFESSIONAL. All he had to say was that his time at that unit was not in line with his future and had lost faith in his leadership to faithfully execute the mission. Therefore, he was requesting retirement. Simple and would have raised eyebrows and maybe gotten him an audience where he could express his feelings and attitude in person and potentially could have bettered the unit. As of now, he is painted all over the internet as a selfish hothead who hid behind the pen on official documentation. What is one of the things potential employers do first...that's right, do a search in all of social media for your name. When they come across this, there is no way he can explain it off as a misunderstanding, they simply won't care. They will move on to the next candidate. Never burn a bridge behind you as you never know if you will have to retreat to friendly forces. It is a short fall from the penthouse to the outhouse and you may need someone to pull you out as my grandfather used to say.
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1SG Michael Bonnett
1SG Michael Bonnett
8 y
I disagree.

I suspect it would not have raised any eyebrows or gotten him an audience.... Going away quietly would have left the problem for someone else...

The fact is the CSM did not read the request nor did the Commander and NO one that that request passed thru warned them of it. That says a lot...

You may think of him as a selfish hot head but I suggest you look up where the term 'parting shot' really came from...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_shot

Since his letter the CSM is gone...and I am willing to place a bet the Commander will be soon following him....

I suspect if this request surfaces in a job interview it will be taken for what it is....A last attempt to do the unit good by getting rid of a worthless commander and CSM...
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CW4 Leonard White
CW4 Leonard White
8 y
Let Col Shuttleworth, you hit the nail squarely on the head! I couldn't agree with you more.
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1LT Ordnance Officer
1LT (Join to see)
8 y
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SGT Executive Director
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