Posted on Mar 29, 2020
Does your NG/ USAR unit ask you to do "unpaid" duties outside of drill or AT?
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Army Reserve Elements
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Army Reserve Elements NGB
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
It's not that my unit asks me to do unpaid duties...it's that I am practically needed to do these unpaid duties. I have no ARA, so pretty much my Commander and I do what we can during our off time to try and not be behind the power curve come BTA time.
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Certain duty positions require M-day leaders to devote their personal time if they are going to be successful. Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Leader, First Sergeant, Company Commander, Command Sergeant Major and Battalion Commanders have alot of nuts and bolts responsibilities outside of drill if their organizations are to suceed
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MAJ (Join to see)
Hey completely agree with that and did more than I can remember as a commander of just that to take care of the things in my unit. I'm simply done doing that when its not a critical task. Just my opinion
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If you do work outside of drill or AT, do it for selfless reasons knowing that if something happened in your personal life, your leadership may or may not support you to the fullest. I’ve devoted so much of my time off duty with no pay that people thought I was full time. I did it to support my section and be the leader they needed, and support my commander.
Unfortunately, and not very often but maybe twice in my 18 years of service, I asked for my leadership’s support while I dealt with 5 major events in my life which all occurred in the span of a month. People ask me how I stay sane when they would’ve lost their minds. I did my best I could to keep it together for everyone. My leadership turned their back on me. It is what it is. I remain professional and continue to do my best because it’s my nature.
Besides taking the oath to serve, your work will speak for itself to describe who you’re doing it for.
Unfortunately, and not very often but maybe twice in my 18 years of service, I asked for my leadership’s support while I dealt with 5 major events in my life which all occurred in the span of a month. People ask me how I stay sane when they would’ve lost their minds. I did my best I could to keep it together for everyone. My leadership turned their back on me. It is what it is. I remain professional and continue to do my best because it’s my nature.
Besides taking the oath to serve, your work will speak for itself to describe who you’re doing it for.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Ma'am I certiantly do not disagree with your logic and I along with practicially every other M-Day officer/ SNCO have done countless things on our own time. Thats a choice we all make because we want to see our units succede. My problem with that is when it becomes the norm and not the exception. Thats a cultural problem in a unit or any organization and I'm not buying the line anymore that that is normal and to just " deal with it" we all make choices and on how we spend out time. I'm just choosing to not do unpaid work anymore as an acceptance of "normal". If its important we can put resources behind it if not then its not really that important. Just my opinion.
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MAJ Monique Salinas
MAJ (Join to see) I agree. The culture of leaders is a major factor in people choosing to get out or stay in. I encourage people to do exit interviews with the highest GO (for me, it’s the TAG). I believe some top leaders have all the greatest intentions to look out for the organization and its people. I’ve heard too many times that they don’t understand why so many people get out, why not tell them? No need to name drop unless requested but let them know the truth.
Like anything else, there’s a limit, everyone deciding for themselves what that is. The military is just a time in life. People move on, replacements will come in and the mission continues. Family and close friends will always be there. Some sacrifices aren’t worth the losses. My family sacrificed a lot for me to serve. It’s disheartening to see how the leadership disregarded their sacrifice. I made my decision. I won’t lose my family.
Like anything else, there’s a limit, everyone deciding for themselves what that is. The military is just a time in life. People move on, replacements will come in and the mission continues. Family and close friends will always be there. Some sacrifices aren’t worth the losses. My family sacrificed a lot for me to serve. It’s disheartening to see how the leadership disregarded their sacrifice. I made my decision. I won’t lose my family.
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