Supposed undeserved promotion for female Soldier

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 23:06:09 -0400

Last week I hosted a Sisters In Arms event where a PFC came up to me asking where she could find a female mentor since the one she had recently ETS'd. She then went on explaining to me how this NCO slept her way to the top. I wonder how this is possible considering she in fact isn't even serving in the military anymore and last time I checked there is a promotion process. If it was possible to sleep your way to the top then shouldn't we be running the world by now. Of course after a lengthly thought provoking conversation on this subject the PFC was directed to the very qualified and valuable female Non-Commissioned officers in her unit to provide her with the right kind mentorship she was asking for. What are your thoughts?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 11:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 23:17:53 -0400

It sounds to me like this junior Soldier had a combination of the rumor mill and some poor advice. I think it is a little ridiculous to think that someone could "sleep their way" to the top with the current promotion system in place. It is good to hear that you paired this PFC up with some good NCOs to help her out though. She needs a good example of what right looks like and someone to mentor her.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2014 11:51 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 23:51:24 -0400

As much as I hate when someone makes generalities like that, I have had my mind blown. At my first unit, we had a female Soldier come in as an E2. She progressed up to SGT (points were low back then and just attending a board got you promoted) rather quickly. Obviously, its not possible to make it to the top on your back, in the air, or however its done these days, but it can get you somewhere. It was a known fact that she had relations with her supervisors. The mind blowing part came when I walked in on her coaching 2 other young females on how to learn who to sleep with and when. She had no clue how to do her job... and she was also an 88M. She was never in the motorpool. She couldn't even PMCS a vehicle, and when asked to do so would throw a fit.

She was telling these young female Soldiers to start with their squad leader. After that, you move on to pleasing the PLT SGT then ask to go to the board in the middle of the act. If they refuse, threaten go go public with the relationship, especially if he is married. After she was promoted, she tried working on the 1SG who wouldn't budge. She was the sorriest excuse for a Soldier, let alone a NCO. I don't know how often this happens, but it either worked in her case or she thought it did. All I know is that she got waives and progressed quickly, yet didn't have basic military concepts (let alone MOS knowledge) down yet. I really wish she had female leadership. I don't know where she is today or if she is even still in.

I don't like to blame the victim, but I do wonder if some of this manipulation played into the BG Sinclair debacle. As leaders, we need to learn how to avoid putting ourselves in compromising situations. Stuff like that needs to be nipped in the bud. I'll be darned if one of my Soldiers ever tried to hit on me. It will be on paper. Too many leaders allow this to happen and Soldiers are smart these days. They will get ahead in any way they can. So what if they have to resort to pretending you are soul-mates then stabbing you in the back with blackmail. I've seen way too many "protected" Soldiers. If you confront them about something they did wrong, here comes their leader telling you to leave them alone, as they stand there and smile. These leaders are ruining the military's moral fibers by allowing these Soldiers to manipulate and control them.

When all is said and done and the leader is all used up, the Soldier goes on to the next one to get what they want.

As a leader, we should be there for our Soldiers, but just remember, we are not their friends.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 20 at 2014 12:58 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 00:58:08 -0400

SFC Biddle, you want to ask what are my thoughts? DISGUSTED! Disgusted at the entire situation, at the Soldier for using this tactic - that is someone's daughter for Christ sake! And I am disgusted at the supervisor for violating the creed "I will not use my grade or position to attain PLEASURE ......"

I hope you took immediate action to ensure all were aware of the way to handle themselves.

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Mar 20 at 2014 4:04 AM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 04:04:28 -0400

We had a female in my previous unit who was a SGT(P). She had been waiting on points for a long time. Her points for her MOS for SSG Rarely dropped below 720. We got a new 1SG in (she had been promotable for well over a year and a half at this time) and within two months of this 1SG taking over she "maxed" her APFT and shot 40 out of 40 thus allowing her to get promoted.

I had been to a range with this SGT before and it always took her multiple attempts to even qualify with her weapon. She had also never got anything higher than a 225 on her PT test. A lot of NCO's saw the red flags when she pinned SSG and began asking her questions. She openly admitted that she slept with our 1SG in order to get him to pencil whip her APFT and weapons card. I don't know if she was saying it for attention or if she was being honest. I don't know why someone would lie about such a thing though. She PCSed a couple weeks after pinning on SSG so all the talk about it went away pretty quickly and our 1SG only last another three months before he was relieved on some other allegations.

I do know these types of situations are probably few and far between but it does happen. Most female Soldiers I know have to much self respect for themselves and their bodies. They also bust their asses to get to where they are or where they want to go. Sadly though, there are some Soldiers/NCOs out there that use there body or whatever other means necessary to get what they want.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jul 19 at 2014 8:21 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 20:21:14 -0400

Yes it is and yes there is. Any system can be worked.

Nice job trying to make people think that women do not already control the World?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2014 4:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 16:44:26 -0400

Favoritism, quid pro quo, the "good ole' boy system" and everything along those lines exist. The issue is proof. Unless one person involved admit to it, or there is some sort of hard evidence, it'll never end.

I have seen a Soldier come up hot twice on a UA for Cocaine and still served.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 3:24 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 15:24:28 -0400

This kinda stuff DOES happen, although I wouldn't say for promotion... Just kinda helps get there quicker. It also isn't as common an issue as most would believe in my opinion, but because this problem set is out there and known to all, its veracity is distorted.