Blame Game

2014-06-28T19:58:01-04:00

Why is it when we take over a new job we always say how bad it is? Why is it when a person leaves we wait to say how bad they were? I find it difficult that some things are as bad as we say. If so then either the chain of command was blind or did not care. Sometimes people sit back and wait for you to leave saw you were wrong but decided to say something after you leave to make themselves look better. It's like in politics we keep blaming the past; stop looking at the past and fix it. If it was that bad and your that good fix it and don't ask for praise. The actions will show. Sorry had to get on my soap box for five minutes.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jun 28 at 2014 8:26 PM

2014-06-28T20:26:52-04:00

Personally, while I was serving on active duty if there was something that needed to be fixed while I was there it got fixed. I didn't give a damn if it was an old problem or a new one. My section chief would get his feathers ruffled on occasion, but once the problem was fixed he was happy with the end result. Yes, we butted heads, and probably way more often than we should have, but I usually came out on top. If I screwed up I owned up and took my lumps as should be. But that comes from the way I was raised. I knew my job and as a member of the E4 mafia things got done on the back channels with minimal problems. As the supply clerk everything that was laying around loose was mine, and anything that was nailed down but could be pried loose was mine as well. No problems.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jun 28 at 2014 9:58 PM

2014-06-28T21:58:08-04:00

It falls along the same lines of 'what is the best unit'? Before you PCS it's the one you are on orders to.. once you get there it's the one you just left. Always the way it is. But seriously, in answer to your question, leaders (and peers) need to learn to be HONEST in their evaluations of their people. Bottom line, it does no one (to include the SM in question) any good to just ignore substandard performance.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Sep 13 at 2019 1:05 PM

2019-09-13T13:05:20-04:00

Don’t be sorry for speaking the truth! I totally agree with you!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 13 at 2019 2:16 PM

2019-09-13T14:16:24-04:00

I noticed in the latter part of my career I was given to lean new positions with different organizations. They wanted me to be productive immediately, but their is a learning curve. I ended up writing the DFAS in support of disaster SOP. I went to work with a large Alabama NG unit and wrote a DTS SOP.