Height and Weight
Height and Weight
Posted on Oct 21, 2016
“I'm going to fail height-weight on purpose and get booted” – how would you handle this?
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This actually happened to me while I was a battery XO in Hawaii. My brigade had just gotten back from OIF and we were in that weird period of tons of people leaving the unit, and tons of new people coming in. I was in the motor pool like a good XO and one of the guys came up to me and asked to chat in private – he was a SPC (E-4) who was on soft shoe profile and had been for a few months. He was also on some PT profile, which many were skeptical of but that’s not the point. He was also quite overweight and in bad physical shape.
“I don’t want to be in the Army anymore,” he told me. “I’m just planning to keep failing height-weight over and over until I get booted out.” So I talked with him and we went back and forth about what’s really going on with him, etc. But he just stayed firm on: (1) wanting to get out of the Army ASAP; and (2) planning to put no effort into passing height-weight, to get booted.
Obviously I know what actions I took here but I don’t want to spoil it for everyone. How would you have responded in this situation?
“I don’t want to be in the Army anymore,” he told me. “I’m just planning to keep failing height-weight over and over until I get booted out.” So I talked with him and we went back and forth about what’s really going on with him, etc. But he just stayed firm on: (1) wanting to get out of the Army ASAP; and (2) planning to put no effort into passing height-weight, to get booted.
Obviously I know what actions I took here but I don’t want to spoil it for everyone. How would you have responded in this situation?
Height and Weight
Army Regulations
UCMJ
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 261
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I have always told my troops that the quickest and easiest way to get out of the military is to do your enlistment and be done. That way you don't have the stigma of having a possible dishonorable discharge. The military is not for everyone but don't be a b!tch and quit when things get tough. Sorry for the word choice but this irritates me to no end.
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PO1 Steven Siepp
The military isn't for everybody or is not for the individual at the time. I would agree with TSgt Waide on completing your time. at one point I was of the I don't give a s@%t attitude. My evals were starting to reflect that. one thing I learned is you aren't going to be at that one command forever, you are not going to work under the same Officer or Senior NCO forever. But your evals follow you. when you do decide it is what you really want to do, you will play catch up for a long time proving yourself and to others you are worth the effort. you never know what your circumstances will be, just don't burn your bridges.
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PFC Shawn Imlay
I got out after only one Hitch … regretted it ever since … that and the woman I accidently Bred with ...no I didn't fall on her … it just wasn't kids I was after at the time , are my only two regrets. That said , I agree on some level with all of the above statements except sometimes I do think It would be best for Moral and Unit functionality if Dead weight was dropped most Rikki-Tick
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I would make sure he gets out of the Army. At the very least I would let him know the ramifications of his actions. But if a soldier is doing this and thinks it is a smart move then the Army really doesn't need him. That doesn't align with the Army values.
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CPT Jeff Robinette
Very true staff sergeant. You can't save every Soldier no matter what you do all you can do if this guy is worth even trying to help out is to sell him on himself yes you can do it just put up put up for a few months that you have and go from there.
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PO3 (Join to see)
SP5 Jeannie Carle - I would bet that wife/girlfriend would rather he stay in, get his stuff straight, and stay healthy.
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Step one is wanting to help yourself.. If that step can not be taken, on thier own or with education, encouragement, support.
Then far as Im concerned they are a lost cause, not an asset to the unit and I would process them most expediently so a SM that IS an asset may be part of the unit. I would also caution (warn) them, it would be expected they live up to the contract they signed and committed to, that Duty was honorbound until the last day of service, failure of that and it would not be acceptable, UCMJ, and or other then separation under Chap 18 is likley.
Then far as Im concerned they are a lost cause, not an asset to the unit and I would process them most expediently so a SM that IS an asset may be part of the unit. I would also caution (warn) them, it would be expected they live up to the contract they signed and committed to, that Duty was honorbound until the last day of service, failure of that and it would not be acceptable, UCMJ, and or other then separation under Chap 18 is likley.
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SFC Michael Howell
SSG Scott Thelen - You are a buffer to prevent things that interrupt training or detract from the mission. You're not the buffer that protects them from the consequences of failing to adhere to the standards. Every Soldier is counseled repeatedly on the standards that they are required to maintain. You as an NCO should have been counseled that you were required to enforce the standards.
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SPC Scott Domogalla
SMG Marquez. Honor bound until last day of service, I believe that is part of the problem. As a whole, our military veterans are only 2-3% of our population. That is a fairly unique group of people. Once basic training and AIT are done, we all became part of that unique group. To me, we are honor bound until our last breath. Upon signing on the dotted line you take the oath, I took it twice, second time to me was unnecessary. I have never heard of a debrief where anyone has been relived of that oath and duty sworn to. If that level of commitment is not being instilled upon our young military personnel, i believe we are failing them. As far as the person failing weight to get out. Someone needs to smoke his ass, motivate that young man until he complies. If that is not being done, what message is being sent to our fighting force? If you want to great, but if you don’t, that is ok too?
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