Have you ever been asked by a General Officer to not share information?

2016-01-28T10:17:34-05:00

Occasions happen when higher ranking officers may ask you to not share information. Reasons may include containment, politics, ongoing investigations...

Response by SGT Duane Severa made Jan 28 at 2016 10:20 AM

2016-01-28T10:20:59-05:00

Yes. It's a common necessity of some, if not most, leadership positions.

Response by SPC David S. made Jan 28 at 2016 10:22 AM

2016-01-28T10:22:04-05:00

I think this one might be a bit tricky to respond to as if someone has been asked to keep something hush-hush should or would they attest to it in such a open forum.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 10:25 AM

2016-01-28T10:25:58-05:00

Yes. Directly too.
In Civil Affairs, we find out lots of inconvenient facts. During the Surge year in Iraq, the push was to hand off battle space to Iraqi Army units. As we were making capability assessments, it became very clear that Iraqi commanders were overstating their capabilities and manning in order to look good to their superiors.
My frank assessments were valued, but kept close hold. There was some pretty embarrassing stuff in there. "Patrols" that never happened. Consumption reports for fuel that could not possibly be true. Manning levels that were not borne out by any objective observation - sometimes varying by over half. It was pretty clear that many would simply sit on their base, feeling important, collecting their paycheck, and skimming fuel money (and I didn't know it then, but later found out that ghost Soldiers in these units got paid, too - also lining the officers' pockets).

But the momentum was to start reducing our footprint, so this information was only briefed by me once.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 10:44 AM

2016-01-28T10:44:15-05:00

Absolutely

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jan 28 at 2016 10:45 AM

2016-01-28T10:45:11-05:00

Yes, but ahh, I cant tell you about it..Kind of the point

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 10:46 AM

2016-01-28T10:46:17-05:00

My General asked me not to answer this question!

Response by SGT Ronald Bacon made Jan 28 at 2016 11:44 AM

2016-01-28T11:44:42-05:00

Yes, but only until officially released. Some positions overhear things they may not need to know. As a driver I overheard many things. Also working in communications I hear things. This is why we have security clearances. Personally I was never asked to width-hold information indefinitely.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jan 28 at 2016 11:54 AM

2016-01-28T11:54:02-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member When I was Comptroller and had close contact with the three GOs in the Hqs I was frequently given info that was close hold. Once, perhaps the worst was knowing that a close friend was being deployed and I couldn't and didn't tell him. Sometimes honor makes you sick.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 28 at 2016 1:21 PM

2016-01-28T13:21:31-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Of course. With a TS/SCI clearance you get that a lot, lol.

I'll say this, though: anybody that thinks the government can't control what the media gets is fooling themselves.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 28 at 2016 2:34 PM

2016-01-28T14:34:42-05:00

Does Constantly count? 21 years and the most sensitive messages that I handled were SPECATS, Special Category which predominantly were Flag Officer to Flag Officer. Usually the first half to 2 thirds of the message was exchanging greetings and business oriented but the end of the messages were a riot. "While you're in Japan could you pick up one of those Dolls for my Daughter". Changing the Crypto Codes in Flag Officers Quarters and being MAA to Chief of Staff COMSPAWARSYSCOM pretty much everything I did with Flag Officers was in that Category.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jan 28 at 2016 2:39 PM

2016-01-28T14:39:05-05:00

Never in my career did a General or Admiral deign to speak to an enlisted pig.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jan 28 at 2016 3:20 PM

2016-01-28T15:20:58-05:00

No, but I once had a PFC ask me not to tell his mom that he got married.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 28 at 2016 5:49 PM

2016-01-28T17:49:58-05:00

No but I begged a future general to not use my data points within the Corps.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jan 28 at 2016 6:41 PM

2016-01-28T18:41:32-05:00

I was standing watch in the "G" Shop, reviewing message traffic, about to be relieved when the OpO asked me to report to BGen "Benotz" --Here's a summary of the debrief:
BGen: "You will not speak of this to anyone about this."
Me: "Aye-aye, sir."
I felt pretty good about that --mostly 'cause I really had no idea to what he was referring.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jan 29 at 2016 1:05 PM

2016-01-29T13:05:55-05:00

Personally no. But this falls under undue influence and could get the GO canned.