From commanding officers to senior enlisted people are being relieved due to cause, sexual misconduct, even dereliction of duty.

2015-01-14T10:36:42-05:00

The question to this: The requirements for advancement have been loosened to allow more junior persons to assume positions of greater responsibility. Is the military promoting too fast thus setting people up for failure on all levels of the chain of command?

Response by SMSgt Gary Calhoun made Jan 14 at 2015 12:58 PM

2015-01-14T12:58:39-05:00

Chief,

It does happen from time to time; I've seen selection to CPO at ~9 years TIS and I have witnessed AF E-4s promote to E-5 with a 61% selection rate in a cycle. These extreme examples often push personnel beyond their capabilities and force them to sink or swim. For the most part, the cadence of advancement is reasonable.

Responsibility at an early age is prudent. Many meeting engagements by opposing forces in the field are often decided by personnel at the E-4 to E-6 level.

Relief from duty for cause, sexual misconduct or dereliction of duty, whether commissioned or enlisted, are often the moral failings of individuals. All of the blocks of instruction, CBTs and other training delivery methods won't excise that from the ranks. Flag officers and SNCOs have learned throughout their careers what conduct or actions exceed the cultural norm of the service. A small number still fail to meet or exceed the standard. The service will continue to take action when those members come up short.

That doesn't even consider those that are political or collateral damage from superiors. It doesn't happen too often, but it still happens.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 4:11 PM

2015-01-14T16:11:50-05:00

It's not about promoting too fast. The real problem is the cut backs. You can't stuff 25 pounds into a 5 pound sack, the excess 15 pounds is all liability and risk . In my honest opinion, that rubber band is maxed to its compacity and it's about to break!! Instead of keeping key personnel in key places, we replace them with inexperienced younger NCO's and expect the same results. Far too much responsibility is being placed in inexperienced hands, causing incompetence. No fault of their own, just not trained properly nor do they have the experience to do the job. We are quick to down size to save a buck RIGHT NOW, but in the long run we end up paying double for the faults of the down sizing decision.

Response by LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® made Jan 14 at 2015 10:34 PM

2015-01-14T22:34:04-05:00

I read somewhere that per capita, crime has gone down over the years. It seems as though it has gone up because the media picks up on things so quickly.

There was a study done why many famous or high ranking people get into affairs, etc. It boiled down to power. When you are in a position of power, you are used to getting what you want. Over time, you feel as though you can get away with things like this.

If we create a culture of accountability and transparency, i think it is easier to stop people from thinking like this.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 4:57 AM

2015-02-03T04:57:12-05:00

It seems to have nothing to do with being promoted too fast. Moreso on people not having the self control to do the right thing and abusing power that they should have never had.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 7:05 AM

2015-02-03T07:05:53-05:00

Chief,

With all due respect sir, I think it is just poor recruiting. The Armed Forces get bad apples and when you couple that with a war, bad people inevitably get pushed higher and higher in rank. Personally, I blame recruiting because it is so numbers driven (not the recruiter's fault, just an issue with the needs of each service), so the recruiters can't take the time to ensure that each new recruit is good for their service. Just my two cents.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-02-03T11:21:13-05:00

I'm with @1LT Scott D. Tactically and Technically you might get promoted to fast, but if you aren't at least halfway morally centered by the time you're making decisions about SM lives, there's a deeper problem. The Flag Officers that are getting court martialed, still think they have done nothing wrong. Had GEN Sinclair- excuse me LTC Sinclair (should be Prisoner Sinclair)- been a SPC, he probably would be under Leavenworth.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Feb 3 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-02-03T15:14:36-05:00

It's not about promoting to fast. It's an ethical issue. When is the last time you ever saw a "NO" annotated on an NCOER on any of the Army values? I never have, but I have encountered numerous NCOs that routinely contradict many of these traits. I remember my NCO writing a counseling statement and trying to figure out something I need to work on, he came up with 'humility'. It's not something I am willing to work on because our definitions of humility are different. I am proud of how I conduct myself, and the work I do because I worked hard for it. It wasn't handed to me and I don't believe I am entitled to anything because of my performance. I constantly put others before my self, which I feel embodies selfless service, respect, and my duty as an NCO. I am humbled by God, and submissive to his will, not the will of men.

There is only one senior Army NCO I know of in my command that actually lives the Army values and upholds military standards. The others see these traits as situational based. The Army values are not something that go away when you take off the uniform. You either have them or you don't. Many of these leaders never had these values, it only seemed that way when someone was watching.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 7 at 2015 4:18 PM

2015-07-07T16:18:55-04:00

I think it's people of different ages who are willing to take a risk when the results are catastrophic.
Others won't even think about it due to values. Others won't do it because they don't want to get caught.

Response by SGT Jack Stevens made Apr 17 at 2018 6:41 PM

2018-04-17T18:41:13-04:00

In my 16 years i saw bad commands, push out great command structures to accomidate their poor command structure. Then appoint a worse leader, only because they would uphold the poor qualties. I saw it happen 4 times at the platoon level. It effected my view not only as an Enlisted Member but as an NCO as well. Im one who was removed because i didnt play ball and kiss the highers but. But i shielded my soldiers as much as possible.