Why is building a unit so complicated?

PV2 (Join to see), although I have never stood-up a unit, I was the commander of the HHD, 83rd OD BN when we inactivated, so I might have a little insight on how these procedures work. Both standing-up and standing-down are not easy tasks. They are complicated to say the least. When we inactivated, I had one E-5 92Y, a 1SG 92Y, and a CW2 Property Book Officer working with two local national supply specialists. And we still wanted more. The amount of equipment to be laterally transfered, turned-in (in your case signed for), or DX'd is massive. The management of both property and personnel is a huge task. MTOEs and TDAs take months to adjust and require approval from several levels up. A close working relationship with your higher leadership and support from your adjacent units is essential. Towards the end, I only had 12 Soldiers available to move several million dollars worth of equipment and one S-1 NCO to manage the follow-on assignments for 12 Soldiers and five Officers. As the Commander, I was sometimes packing equipment myself while conducting daily inventories and tracking over 120 lateral transfers. The fact that we didn't lose any property I directly credit to my CW2 and Supply Sergeant, who regularly worked until 1800 (and sometimes weekends). The fact that my Soldiers got properly out-processed and made it to their follow-on assignments on time is directly credited to my S-1 NCO who also worked until 1900 some nights. Sometimes I was in my office at 2200 so I could speak with my branch manager about my next assignment (time zone differences). The thing with both standing-up and inactivating a unit is that it must be done the right way and you really only have one shot to do it properly without suffering from long-term ramifications. By the end, I was exhausted, my fiance was frustrated, and we both left a little jaded. But we did a good job and we did it right. Not one piece of propery was unaccounted for and not one Soldier had to sign a statement of charges. In both cases you will never have all the tools you want. Be it more Soldiers or equipment, it just won't happen for any number of reasons. Each one of my Soldiers had about 3 or 4 additional duties for the last 3 to 4 months. We all had to shoulder a bigger share of the burden. That is just the way it works. As a PV2, you just have to remember that you probably cannot see the whole picture from the perspective of the Company, Battalion, and Brigade Commanders. The situation and priorities will be changing for them on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis and every little change at those levels are amplified the further down the chain it goes. It isn't easy, but if it is done right, you should be proud of everything you will accomplish. Stay positive PV2 Kinder! If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Are you seriously complaining about 18 straight days way later than you are supposed to. You do realize you joined the Army and not the Boy Scouts correct. We are soldiers 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week. This is something you will have to come to realize and get used to. Just hold on tight and embrace the SUCK.

PV2 (Join to see),

I'll tell you right now there are no set duty day hours. That is why you're paid a salary and not by the hour. While your wife may not like it, it is reality.

My wife was an AD Chemical Officer while I was in the ARNG. There were times we barely saw each other because she had to work the night shift during rotations. When we say things like "I will always place the mission first" or "Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission" they're not just platitudes. Sometimes completing the mission requires some late nights and early mornings. In almost 9 years I can say I've rarely had all of the resources I wanted to complete a mission, whether it was personnel or equipment. Rising to the occasion is something that is expected of us as Soldiers.