Posted on Jan 9, 2019
Should I report leaders who provided alcohol to underage soldiers?
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I received a field grade article 15 for drinking a 12 pack of beer with a couple soldiers who turned out to be underage, they both received summarized article 15's, I was recommended for the field grade by my PL and PSG. A couple months later they have a holiday party and supplied all the privates with a keg and hard alcohol, I took pictures of them drinking with minors (including the two minora I drank with) any guidance on what I should do? Report it? Or let it go?
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 21
I would never discourage someone from doing the right thing. If you were to report such a thing, I would ask for a PCS or inter unit transfer. It's terribly hypocritical if things are as you say. Just be aware that there is going to be some severe boo boo face and probably some attempt at reprisal.
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SSG Eddie Helmling
Karma always works best ... Revenge tends to hit the fan and no one knows who will get hit with it
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Usually, I would say it's just drinking. However, you were held to a certain standard and so the leadership should be held to at least the same standard. I would report it to at least your immediate higher leadership. At a minimum, something can be done to change your situation. If nothing is done to the leadership at that point I think you can take it outside of that group. There is never a reason why soldiers should be held to one standard while leadership is allowed to run roughshod over them at their whim.
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SPC Erich Guenther
I don't agree completely, he is a Specialist and not really a supervising authority yet. He is comparing his independent action against what appears to be a Company wide party or Company level event which......every one I attended when I was in the Infantry was supervised for folks getting in over their heads and they were typically held in the barracks vs somewhere off post. Yes a company party can get out of control as well but I suspect the message of the Article 15 was his supplying alchol to minors who were drinking it unsupervised by the NCO Corps and without knowledge of the NCO Corps.........who were placed at risk if the minors then did something stupid while intoxicated.
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SGT Joseph Gunderson
SPC Erich Guenther - Doesn't matter. If they are punishing him using a regulation that states that you cannot allow underage soldiers to drink then his leadership too should be punished. You cannot bend the rules based on your position. Regulations do not work that way.
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Either set the drinking age at 18 or raise the minimum enlistment age to 21. Being old enough to wear a uniform and too young to drink has never been acceptable. TO ANY ONE!!!! If a man isn't old enough to decide he wants a drink, he's not old enough to decide that he can risk his @$$ for his country. These troops could be in the ground tomorrow. Two things I wouldn't want them to go into the ground without doing, male or female. Getting drunk and getting laid. The beer I can do something about. Any questions?
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