Posted on Jan 5, 2015
Leadership Dilemmas: If you were me, what would you have done? (PART 2)
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Here is the Part 2 conclusion to my first post entitled “Leadership Dilemmas: If you were me, what would you have done? (PART 1)” which can be found at this thread: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/leadership-dilemmas-if-you-were-me-what-would-you-have-done-part-1
// CONCLUSION BELOW //
…Upon recognizing Sergeant Jones’ unfortunate trend, I preempted his removal from Alpha Company by reporting to my commander and taking full responsibility for working directly with Sergeant Jones. Over the next four months, I addressed Sergeant Jones’ personal and professional challenges by focusing him on positive future opportunities through which he could prove himself a loving husband and motivated soldier. I convinced my commander to allow Sergeant Jones and his wife to attend marriage counseling during duty hours, promising that I would work one-on-one with him in the evening to improve his job competence.
By showing Sergeant Jones that I was sincerely concerned about him, I was able to build a foundation of trust with him that proved vital to developing his on-the-job performance. Sergeant Jones’ life gradually reached a positive balance, and he proved himself one of the most reliable and hard-working soldiers in my platoon during our Iraq deployment.
** RallyPoint members: What actions of mine did you agree with, and what else would you have done differently? **
//
Tag: SGM Matthew Quick 1SG Steven Stankovich SFC Mark Merino SSG Laureano Pabon LTC Jason Strickland SSG Robert Burns SSG Scott Williams SSG V. Michelle Woods CPT (Join to see) Col (Join to see) Capt Brandon Charters SSgt Gregory Guina CMSgt James Nolan 1SG (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) 1LT John Martin TSgt Joshua Copeland 1SG (Join to see) SFC William Swartz Jr SFC (Join to see) Cpl (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) SGT Thomas Lucken SGT Richard H. MAJ (Join to see) SGM Charles Brainard CPT Gregory Wagoner CMSgt James Nolan SFC (Join to see) SCPO (Join to see) MSG Wade Huffman SSG (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) SPC Brian Aranda Cpl (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) SFC(P) (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) SFC William Swartz Jr SFC (Join to see) 1LT John Martin A1C Nathanial Snyder MSgt Allan Folsom CMDCM Gene Treants CWO2 (Join to see) LCpl Russell Velzen LTC Paul Labrador MSgt Allan Folsom CWO3 (Join to see) SGT Chris Stock SSG Justin McCoy CPT Michael Barden SSgt Alexander Ingram SGT Richard H. CMSgt James Nolan COL Steve Maranian SSG V. Michelle Woods SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SSG Peter Muse MSG Sean Hayes MAJ (Join to see) SPC(P) Micah Lavigne SFC(P) (Join to see) SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS 1LT (Join to see) SFC (Join to see)
// CONCLUSION BELOW //
…Upon recognizing Sergeant Jones’ unfortunate trend, I preempted his removal from Alpha Company by reporting to my commander and taking full responsibility for working directly with Sergeant Jones. Over the next four months, I addressed Sergeant Jones’ personal and professional challenges by focusing him on positive future opportunities through which he could prove himself a loving husband and motivated soldier. I convinced my commander to allow Sergeant Jones and his wife to attend marriage counseling during duty hours, promising that I would work one-on-one with him in the evening to improve his job competence.
By showing Sergeant Jones that I was sincerely concerned about him, I was able to build a foundation of trust with him that proved vital to developing his on-the-job performance. Sergeant Jones’ life gradually reached a positive balance, and he proved himself one of the most reliable and hard-working soldiers in my platoon during our Iraq deployment.
** RallyPoint members: What actions of mine did you agree with, and what else would you have done differently? **
//
Tag: SGM Matthew Quick 1SG Steven Stankovich SFC Mark Merino SSG Laureano Pabon LTC Jason Strickland SSG Robert Burns SSG Scott Williams SSG V. Michelle Woods CPT (Join to see) Col (Join to see) Capt Brandon Charters SSgt Gregory Guina CMSgt James Nolan 1SG (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) 1LT John Martin TSgt Joshua Copeland 1SG (Join to see) SFC William Swartz Jr SFC (Join to see) Cpl (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) SGT Thomas Lucken SGT Richard H. MAJ (Join to see) SGM Charles Brainard CPT Gregory Wagoner CMSgt James Nolan SFC (Join to see) SCPO (Join to see) MSG Wade Huffman SSG (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) SPC Brian Aranda Cpl (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) SFC(P) (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) SFC William Swartz Jr SFC (Join to see) 1LT John Martin A1C Nathanial Snyder MSgt Allan Folsom CMDCM Gene Treants CWO2 (Join to see) LCpl Russell Velzen LTC Paul Labrador MSgt Allan Folsom CWO3 (Join to see) SGT Chris Stock SSG Justin McCoy CPT Michael Barden SSgt Alexander Ingram SGT Richard H. CMSgt James Nolan COL Steve Maranian SSG V. Michelle Woods SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SSG Peter Muse MSG Sean Hayes MAJ (Join to see) SPC(P) Micah Lavigne SFC(P) (Join to see) SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS 1LT (Join to see) SFC (Join to see)
Posted in these groups: 
Leadership
Values
Leadership Values
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
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I actually like the way you handled it all the way around, I hate that it took an officer to turn around an NCO as that is something that his PSG/1SG should have handled at their levels..."Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties, they will not have to accomplish mine." But, I see nothing wrong with the manner in which you handled things.
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CMSgt James Nolan
SFC William Swartz Jr You hit it. As a young NCO, I do believe that I would have held you in high regard (based upon what I have seen you post as an old Soldier).
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SFC William Swartz Jr
CMSgt James Nolan you actually probably wouldn't have lol....when I became an NCO in 1989, a young CPL, I was a complete asshole, I hadn't been trained to be an NCO yet, and was told to emulate the young SGTs in my Platoon and Company...probably not a good idea as they were assholes too!! It took a lot of seasoning for me to become a decent NCO, but I like to think that I reached that point at sometime!!
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CMSgt James Nolan
SFC William Swartz Jr Well....I what I was inferring was you as an old dog, and me as a young NCO-you would have learned your lessons and show what you show today, and I would have appreciated the insight! LOL.
And to show how things are, I somewhat regularly hear the phrase 1stSgt you are not in the Marines anymore...I take it as a compliment.
I remind them that while I may be an *sshole, I am their *sshole.
And to show how things are, I somewhat regularly hear the phrase 1stSgt you are not in the Marines anymore...I take it as a compliment.
I remind them that while I may be an *sshole, I am their *sshole.
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Good job sir. I think that you hit all points with regards to SGT Jones.
I am still a little disappointed in the ownership from your NCOs. I hope that you and your PSG had a long sit down concerning SGT Jones and the reasons you chose the COA that you did. Hopefully that sparked further discussion about taking care of Soldiers, leadership philosophies, and how to mutually support each other. I would further hope that your PSG had a talk with the NCOs in your PLT to ensure that all were on the same page as the way ahead was forged.
I am still a little disappointed in the ownership from your NCOs. I hope that you and your PSG had a long sit down concerning SGT Jones and the reasons you chose the COA that you did. Hopefully that sparked further discussion about taking care of Soldiers, leadership philosophies, and how to mutually support each other. I would further hope that your PSG had a talk with the NCOs in your PLT to ensure that all were on the same page as the way ahead was forged.
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Sir, by investing your personal time and consistent leadership presence, you demonstrated you genuine concern and care. Inside the uniform, Soldiers are actually people and people have needs and want to be able to trust those around them. Too many times (unfortunately) leaders are caught up in looking out for themselves instead of what is really important, the people around them! Job well done.
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