Who do I talk to about misallocated funds within the Unit?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 05:25:37 -0500

I've been with my Unit for about 6 months now. We have had an extremely high op-tempo. My Soldiers don't have the equipment to effectively train or be combat effective. We dont have enough personal weapons or NVGs for everyone within the Troop. A majority of our Bradley's are only barely capable of moving on their own power, while the turrets rarely operate. I have some serious issues with this. How am I expected to keep my Soldiers combat focused and ready, when we cant even get our Tracks up and running half the time. Having a high op-tempo is great, but if we cant even buy more weapons to keep up with our MTOE, when push comes to shove, shouldn't the excessive training sit on the back burner? At least until we have the equipment that we need in order to conduct the training? Honestly I hope my current high echelon leadership stumble across this post. And maybe... just maybe something will change.

Response by SGM Gregory Tarancon IV made Dec 26 at 2018 7:02 AM

SGM Gregory Tarancon IV — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 07:02:40 -0500

Good point!

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Dec 26 at 2018 8:04 AM

LTC Eugene Chu — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 08:04:54 -0500

Reminds me of media incident right after invading Iraq. "...go to war with the Army you've got..."

https://youtu.be/t5uBgLtY6ec

Disrguntled soldier complains to Rumsfeld

1. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld standing in front of troops 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Thomas Wilson, Army Specialist - 278th Regimental Combat Team: "W...

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Dec 26 at 2018 11:03 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 11:03:41 -0500

Partner you shouldn't put unit readiness issues or percentages over the open net. Also "Honestly I hope my current high echelon leadership stumble across this post" is not the way to get things fixed. If your readiness rate disturbs you, get on the 1SG/ CO's open door and tell them, then see the CSM / BC if things don't get moving.
That said, have you checked the MTOE to see who and how many Soldiers are actually authorized NVGs by position. On weapons is it a matter of serviceable weapons or a lack of weapons (don't answer just think; no one here needs to know your ER rate).
I don't know much about Bradleys' , but I do know Heavy Equipment and without fail part of every 10 level PMCS included moving the equipment through it's full range of motion. So if your turrets don't move or the vehicle operates sluggishly it should be captured as a fault during PMCS. Even under high Optempo PMCS should be being done and faults captured and reported which will fire flares to higher if your ER rate drops below the acceptable line. If you don't think your stats are being reported accurately revisit paragraph one.
As far as keeping the troops motivated there is no magic bullet one size fits all answer and what worked for me might not work for you. One thing that is universal is for you to project a positive attitude in the Soldiers presence and be creative in meeting your missions.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2018 11:08 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 11:08:46 -0500

You can report it to your Chain of Command, IG, DOD IG Hotline, or your member of Congress.
Since it appears that this isn't about misallocated funds, as your subject line indicates, rather about equipment readiness. You should clarify that to whomever you contact. By personal weapons, do you mean individual weapons? Similarly, not enough NVGs, dies the unit have what is authorized?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 26 at 2018 11:21 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 11:21:53 -0500

Stand down on-line!

When opportunities arise, attempt to initiate an intelligent discussion with your chain of command. (I say ‘attempt’ because there may be other problems).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2018 11:37 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 11:37:04 -0500

I guarantee your unit is well aware of this and briefing it to higher every week. Your company XO is tracking maintenance and reporting it to higher. Your company commander is tracking combat effective firepower and reporting that to higher. That is being reported up to the Brigade level who pushes for more equipment.

There are a couple of reasons why you might not be getting the equipment. Your unit may be a low priority for fielding equipment. You might not have the budget. Supplies might be on back order. Or even, your unit may be slotted to get newer, upgraded equipment and the Army won't pay for fixing your equipment until then.

Should the training take a back seat? Maybe. But usually there is a mission and your higher echelon can't turn it down. Sometimes you just have to take what you have and work it.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Dec 26 at 2018 1:28 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 13:28:18 -0500

Understand your frustration, but this is the most inappropriate place to talk about individual unit capabilities. This is an open forum. If you have problems and concerns, bring it up with the chain of command in person. How would you feel if a PVT were to say something bad about you in this forum, "hoping" the upper chain found out about it? SSG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2018 1:42 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 13:42:16 -0500

Everyone is feeling the pain on over talking ourselves right now. My last unit had to run a by name troop to task at battalion level just to keep BDE off our back.
As far as equipment readiness goes, too many people fill out the 5988, turn it in and stop thinking about it till it's time to go train. Then they bitch about their stuff not being fixed. My recommendation is take the equipment and the paperwork to the next level of maintenance on your own to ensure it's being properly worked. Dont rely on some armorer or an over worked XO. Keep the XO in the loop so he know where the property is and what the status is. They should be glad someone is taking something off their plate.
For vehicles I would sit the mechanic down at his computer and have him put the part numbers needed on the 5988 for the faults. Then take the 5988 to the clerk and watch them order the parts. Have them print the 5988s showing the parts were on order and keep them on file. This way if the shop clears the NMC list you have proof and can take it to BN.
Hope this helps, it is a lot of work, but of you stay on it you should be able to get your stuff fixed.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 26 at 2018 6:41 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 18:41:43 -0500

I appreciate your zeal. However, the greater the audience the more prudence you need to practice.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 26 at 2018 9:51 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 21:51:46 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member how have the funds been misallocated? Did the BN do a hail and farewell in the Caymans with your Maintenance dollars? I am going to answer your question with questions before you whiz on the IG's leg:

1. Is each vehicle with a deadlining fault on the 026? Are faults annotated on the 5988E? Is a maintainer verifying faults? Is this happening in advance of training?
2. Are the parts on order on the 026? Do the parts all have funding? Did they make it though the S4 validation in the review file?
3. Are 02/03 parts installed when they come in? Friday at 1700? Is at least one member of the vehicle crew assisting in maintenance? Going to the SSA to help your signature card holder pick up parts.
4. For parts on order more than 72 hours, does your BMO/MCO have a valid status and disposition in GCCS-A? For parts with no availability in the next 60+ days, is the AMC BLST an AFSBn working these parts? Do the reqs have the right NSN? Is there an alternate NSN?
5. Has Support Operations Maintenance deemed that any of your equipment has exceeded the capacity or capability of your field maintenance units? Is that work being evacuated to LRC? Funded?
6. Are the services on your equipment current? Are they on your unit training calendar? Does at least one member of the crew go to assist with services?
7. Does the BMO/BMT order the service kits and ave them funded in advance of the service?
8. Has the crew removed any parts or components like gun bags? What is the plan to return them to their proper configuration?
9. What is the status of gauging of weapons? Is your cyclic gauging scheduled with Field Maintenance and the LRC?
10. Weapons and equipment on hand vs Required: if you do not have theMTOE equipment on hand that is required (not authorized, but required by MTOE) , does your CO XO/CDR have it in the USR? What is on your unit's top 10? This gets scrutiny all the way up to Corps G4 and FORSCOM level. Are the shortages unit funded or Army funded? Are the items ForceMod? What is the fielding schedule? You won't get it until its fielded on your unit. Schedules are often multi year. The BOIP may not meet all the dreams or needs.
11. If you have assigned mission requirements not supported by MTOE equipment, the S4 either needs to generate a 2028 (usually DOA) to the MTOE or an ONS Opeational Needs Statement through FORSCOM to get the items for the mission/trainup period. Each commander along the way needs to approve. Sometimes the answer is TPE. Sometimes it's no.
12. Is your unit validating bench and shop stock? How many lines are zero balance with and without due ins? What does the authorized To stock, formerly ASL, zero balance look like? When was the last time the unit and AMC reviewed it?

SSgt Joseph Baptist and MSgt Kurt S. if a unit is not doing this stuff, a IG complaint will be a self inflicted gunshot wound and will have the opposite intended effect. PMCS doesn't stand for park the mother and call the shop. Mech and Armor units need to live in the motor pool if they expect their shit to be relied on. Another false assumption here is that the unit is funded for 100% of all unforecasted requirements. Units are frequently choosing month to month what will be ordered and fixed and wat won't. Pacers like Brads and M1s have priority. Some parts are not in he system nor have a sourcing solution at National level, AMC enterprise level issue. Manufacturers don't exist for proprietary items. If Congress wants to help they need to fund a consistent and reliable budget so the services can retain suppliers. The GFEBS and GCCS-A shenanigans with the ZPass by the RM channel slows down maintenance and cancels reqs, but that is reflective of limited budgets.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 27 at 2018 12:02 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 12:02:57 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, you're a E-6. You should know how the system works. The military is almost always expected to do more with less. Certainly with less than optimal equipment and supplies. It was that way when I joined in 1969 and was still that way when I retired as a DAC in 2013. We know the military is "tired" because of the frequent deployments into combat environments during the last 20 years. Talk with your chain of command. Take advantage of your CSM's "open office hours". There's likely more to the problem than meets your eyes. Find out what you can do to support the chain of command's requirements to maintain combat readiness.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 27 at 2018 2:31 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 14:31:53 -0500

Young'un, funding is a roller coaster always. It goes up and it goes down. In the late 70's my regiment (as well as the whole 82nd) was hurting for funds. When you went to the Div Ready Force 1 cycle, we had to turn in our down weapons for war stocks, which had to be returned from you went further the readiness cycle. We didn't have enough fuel or spare parts for the vehicles, so we walked across FBNC, and all training was done in loops across the post. We even road marched to Pope AFB to jump and road marched 10 miles to the garrison area after the jump. By the way your comments should not have been aired with any unit designation- BIG OPSEC VIOLATION!!! I damn will know that unit readiness is reported all the way up to the CG, DA. So your plight is known

Response by SFC Roberto Cancel Jr. made Jan 25 at 2024 6:57 PM

SFC Roberto Cancel Jr. — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 18:57:24 -0500

Brother I feel your pain. Back in the day we had our issues with supplies. But we made it work with what we had. Make sure to annotate everything on you PMCS and it will hopefully be worked on or be put on order. Have a positive attitude and try to help out your maintenance team as much as you can with other items that you can supply them. You scratch my back and I scratch your back. That’s how we did it back then. I’m not sure how they do it now cause I’m talking 30+ years ago.