Posted on May 22, 2014
High ranked military family members, good or bad?
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Is it good or bad to have High ranking parents or family either still in or retired? To me it puts a shadow on a person, My father is a CW5 his father retired as a CW4 my grandfather on my moms side Retired AF full bird COL, just wondering thoughts
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Military Life
Military Life
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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It's all what YOU make it. You should definitely use your acquired knowledge received through their sharing of their experiences to your advantage; but never attempt to use their rank or positions to your advantage. I'm sure that's exactly how they would want it as well.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
And "my dad, the COL said..." will do more harm than good - even if the dad is right....
A VERY useful benefit, though, is to go to the relative and explain actions of higher-ups that you don't understand. *I* will not share all the politics that go on at my level with my troops. If I am taking an action to protect (or get rid of) someone, I am NOT going to announce why I am doing it. I am NOT going to give an explanation if asked, in most cases. There are all kinds of reasons for that. Some are PC, some are strategic. But it's not like I'm a freaking genius. Anyone who has walked in my shoes will be able to give you pretty good insight on "why he would do that."
A VERY useful benefit, though, is to go to the relative and explain actions of higher-ups that you don't understand. *I* will not share all the politics that go on at my level with my troops. If I am taking an action to protect (or get rid of) someone, I am NOT going to announce why I am doing it. I am NOT going to give an explanation if asked, in most cases. There are all kinds of reasons for that. Some are PC, some are strategic. But it's not like I'm a freaking genius. Anyone who has walked in my shoes will be able to give you pretty good insight on "why he would do that."
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COL Vincent Stoneking
A very real example that I can share now. While mobilized, and preparing to deploy, I gave out two company-grade Article 15s. I completed both within HOURS of the precipitating events.
In the first case, the summary is "bar fight, Cops passed to MPs passed to me, good troop." He accepted the punishment (reduction 1 rank, restriction, extra duty - no pay taken), saluted, and moved out smartly. He got the rank back w/i 6 months, and was a productive member of the guard for years to come. No harm, no foul. A month or so later, he stopped in to both apologize for his behavior and thank me for my handling of the incident.
In the second case, the summary is "failure to follow orders (refused immunizations - not anthrax, just routine), bad troop, history of malingering, actively trying to get out of deployment." She was a nice enough person, just had no business being in the military in any capacity. I gave the full punishment allowed. Soldier thought I was unfair and requested a court. I convinced her to talk to the BN CDR before formally requesting, escorted her to the BN CDR, who educated her as to what he would have done in an ART 15, if it had been referred to him, and what punishments would be available to the court if one was insisted upon. Soldier signed the 15. Within the next few months, she was administratively separated, but was able to keep her honorable status and benefits (full time student). To this day, I'm sure she thinks I am a rat bastard.
My BN CDR gave me a pass on the first case (in fact, it was only mentioned once, in the context of the second one), but but let me know if I ever PREVENTED him from exercising *HIS* UCMJ authority again in a case similar to the second one, It would be my last act as a company commander.
Nothing about either of those incidents is even remotely clever. Anyone who has served at CO CDR or higher level and has even a passing familiarity with the UCMJ could tell you exactly why I did what I did.
In the first case, the summary is "bar fight, Cops passed to MPs passed to me, good troop." He accepted the punishment (reduction 1 rank, restriction, extra duty - no pay taken), saluted, and moved out smartly. He got the rank back w/i 6 months, and was a productive member of the guard for years to come. No harm, no foul. A month or so later, he stopped in to both apologize for his behavior and thank me for my handling of the incident.
In the second case, the summary is "failure to follow orders (refused immunizations - not anthrax, just routine), bad troop, history of malingering, actively trying to get out of deployment." She was a nice enough person, just had no business being in the military in any capacity. I gave the full punishment allowed. Soldier thought I was unfair and requested a court. I convinced her to talk to the BN CDR before formally requesting, escorted her to the BN CDR, who educated her as to what he would have done in an ART 15, if it had been referred to him, and what punishments would be available to the court if one was insisted upon. Soldier signed the 15. Within the next few months, she was administratively separated, but was able to keep her honorable status and benefits (full time student). To this day, I'm sure she thinks I am a rat bastard.
My BN CDR gave me a pass on the first case (in fact, it was only mentioned once, in the context of the second one), but but let me know if I ever PREVENTED him from exercising *HIS* UCMJ authority again in a case similar to the second one, It would be my last act as a company commander.
Nothing about either of those incidents is even remotely clever. Anyone who has served at CO CDR or higher level and has even a passing familiarity with the UCMJ could tell you exactly why I did what I did.
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The only way I see it as a negative is if you use them to get your way..."I'm going to call my dad he a LTC (or whatever)". That is a heck of a way to paint a target on your back.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of them and using them for advice or support. Chances are they are chalk full of knowledge. However I cant stand folks that use relatives as a way to try and force my hand at something. If I'm doing something there is probably a reason for it and as my soldier you need to do it. Complain about me to you relative...by all means, but don't be the guy that uses relatives as weapons.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of them and using them for advice or support. Chances are they are chalk full of knowledge. However I cant stand folks that use relatives as a way to try and force my hand at something. If I'm doing something there is probably a reason for it and as my soldier you need to do it. Complain about me to you relative...by all means, but don't be the guy that uses relatives as weapons.
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The "bad" side would be coming from a family like the McCains, Taussigs, or Carneys... where the military is the family business and you might feel coerced to serve.
The "good" side is that those family members give you a leg up on your leadership and time-management skills. I'd like to think that our daughter (commissioned last week) has learned from the military skills that we brought home-- as well as from having to listen to (almost) all of our sea stories.
The "good" side is that those family members give you a leg up on your leadership and time-management skills. I'd like to think that our daughter (commissioned last week) has learned from the military skills that we brought home-- as well as from having to listen to (almost) all of our sea stories.
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PV2 (Join to see)
True, my family is a military family both sides of it, one is Air Force, my moms side, And Army my dads side I chose Army at the end of the day
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