Posted on Nov 9, 2017
SPC Team Leader
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I have a soldier that is being MEBD for heatstroke. He’s on a deadman’s profile. He is also facing an AR 15 for underage drinking and fighting with another SM. He “forgets” to answer his phone and/or return them (texts included) and has missed accountability formation 4 times for oversleeping. Ok I know the kid’s brain is fried but this is getting ridiculous. Any ideas are welcome.

*UPDATE: Not too sure as to why I’m getting all these replies. This was a year ago lol. I’ll give you all an update though. He eventually was medboarded. He went back home to be with family and is on 80% disability. He was offered a job by a family friend but I believe he was let go.

For those of you that said he can’t be that bad or perhaps thought some of it was an act, I assure it’s not. If I’m wrong, the kid is severely committed to the role and could teach Christian Bale a thing or two. He has permanent brain damage. He’s delusional. He’s called me a few times in the middle of the night looking for a friendly voice. Last time we spoke he remembered his time on profile as him doing my job and him being in charge of the misfits and the training room. He was on his second job doing security. He wants to go to school for nursing but that along with his mood and train of thought change constantly.
Can’t keep track of the kid. He gets depressed and deletes all of his social media for months, then comes back reinvented. Kind of like what Madonna does to her image. Last time I saw him, he dyed his hair and beard black and this grunge type 5FDP group.It's been 3 months since I've heard from him this time. I'm hoping he's alright and with loved ones to watch over him.*
Edited 5 y ago
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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Jesus....That's some bad heatstroke to get Med Boarded. But, to answer your question, take a look at the profile as it should say what they CAN do as well as what they CAN'T do. For the missing formation...you could easily have them standing at the flag pole when the flag goes up AND down. You could have them sign in for accountability every hour during the duty day and into the evening. Have them write an essay on the importance of. All kinds of things, really. You just have to be creative and ensure that the corrective training encompasses what the infraction is. You could also have them grab a cot and sleep in/near the CQ office. Although that last one might be a stretch.
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SSG Darrell Peters
SSG Darrell Peters
5 y
LTC William Gilmore - Summer at fort Benning is unbearable. We had to make sure Basic Training companies were following heat category. Had a West Point Grad who got very creative when it came to taking good care of his troops. in Basic Training. Had to take my hat off to him. He took really good care of those trainee's and got the job done.
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PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
5 y
SSG Darrell Peters - I am in SAC and I know the temps in the South but with all due respect, I will believe it when I see the write up in the new England Journal of medicine (which I am subscribed) The Brain would have turned to mush. Other organs would have shut down long before.
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SSG Darrell Peters
SSG Darrell Peters
5 y
PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM - Depends on the amount of time. This is why rapid cooling is indicated. For a heat Stroke. Intial readings after the insertion of a rectal probe will be high. I have seen core temps initially at 130 when the probe is first inserted after 2 minutes generally will drop to112. My Doctor would not take the first core temp after the probe was inserted he insisted on waiting at least 2 minutes and every 2 minutes there after.
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PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
PO2 Rev. Frederick C. Mullis, AFI, CFM
5 y
I do not see how because 115 degrees is FATAL. Every medical book will tell you that... and by the time you get a 132 temp in the butt, the brain is already gone.. we are talking Succotash if he lives. I will not say Impossible but I wanna see the documentation.. Without Documentation it did not happen. That is a staple in every nursing class!
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We call these leadership challenges, but never forget that the corrective training should be aimed at the specific deficiency. Yes, your troop seems to have a lot of deficiencies that need to be corrected, but as leaders we must target the root cause of the behavior or actions. You know your Soldier best, and you know what motivates them and where the excel and learn best. Leadership is process of exhausting your resources, time - energy - and focus, into your follower. Do you best to assign specific corrective actions that address the root cause of the problem, but don't give up on them.

A few of my standard corrective actions that address - commitment, confidence, and competence deficiencies are: Reciting the Soldier's Creed/ Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer daily, given a class to their peers on the specific deficiency, and explaining what the Army Values and Army profession means to them.

Hope this helps.
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>1 y
Actually, this was very helpful! Thank you SFC!
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
CPT Aaron Kletzing
>1 y
Good advice here, well said
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
>1 y
Very good advice about tasking them with formal peer training, 1SG Noel DeJesus, MAAL.
Nothing makes you learn something more thoroughly than having to teach it to a bunch of folks who won't hesitate to sharpshoot you.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
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Honestly, at this point they clearly don't care. They know they're getting the boot.
"What are you going to do, kick me out twice?" is a common refrain from those getting axed. Don't let this waste of resources eat all your time. They can still provide very valuable CQ or SD runner services 2-3 times a week. Makes it much easier to keep track of them, and it frees up a Soldier that IS worth your time and gives them time to train/develop/ accomplish the mission, etc...

The old adage of "there are no bad Soldiers, only bad leaders" is nonsense. The military is clearly not for everyone. If it was, we wouldn't have a 80% attrition rate. 10% of your Soldiers will be stellar and require very little supervision on your part. 10% will be the useless chaff that occupies all your time. That 80% in the middle need you. Whether or not they get the guidance and mentorship they need now will determine in the future which 10% bracket they will fall into later. Don't shortchange the bulk of your personnel... Sometimes the kindest thing the military can provide someone is a handshake and a tour of the exit.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
>1 y
CPT Chris Loomis - The 80% attrition rate is based on Army statistics which declare that only 17-20% of Service members stay in long enough to reach retirement. The most recent quotation of that statistic is in the mandatory PPT on the Blended Retirement System online course that's currently mandated.

The 10/10/80 numbers I gave are simply general observation and anecdotal guidance passed over seventeen years of mentorship from CSM's, 1SG's, seniors, peers, etc... In my experience it's roughly true, though clearly a generalization.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
>1 y
3d8427e6
Here's a screenshot... I've heard the statistic before in other articles and courses, but this just happens to be the one most at hand.
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SPC Team Leader
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>1 y
Much appreciated SSG. I think it bothers me so much because I feel as though he should still have some sort of respect and at least attempt to make himself look good. Finish strong. I have a teenager and it literally feels though I’m letting my child walk all over me and I have my hands tied in regard to correcting his behavior.
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Sgt Tee Organ
Sgt Tee Organ
>1 y
Makes me wonder what type of Soldier he was prior to the aforementioned Heatstroke. If he was a bag of ass before then he's milking this. If not he may have some serious mental instability issues and that needs to be addressed before he gets out. Otherwise we could end up with a time bomb on our hands.
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