Posted on Jun 28, 2020
How do I request temporary assignment if I don't feel comfortable to work with another person?
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I'm newly commissioned officer in National Guard. Yesterday afternoon around 1500 I received a phone call from a 1st LT in my unit and tells me he needs me to be there now. I finished my assigned mission during the day and everyone include me is released after that mission. I live 30 mins away from my unit, and I was trying to buy a house yesterday so when he called me, I'm actually away from home, then I explained I can’t not make it but I will go, probably will take me an hour. Then he told me don't report and continue to do what I was doing. Today I received a counseling sheet from him states I fail to report in, in the counseling sheet, it also put some threat such as he feel I’m not capable to be an army officer because of it and he will separate me if I continue to do so. I asked him, how do I fail to report if you told me not to report. He said because when I tell you to be here, you explained. You shouldn't explain anything just be here and it won’t be problem after. Which is completely makes no sense to me. I was questioning myself after the counseling maybe American think differently since I’m an immigration and still learning America culture every day. But everyone start to tell me I shouldn't sign this form and some higher ranking officer suggest me to bring this up to BC because I never been told I have a task an hour ago after being released to home, Some people live far some people have kids, etc they just simply can't make it. My unit Top would like to handle this at lowest level, but I completed lost my trust to him after this happened because to me, it feels like a set up and he purposely trying to get me in trouble and I don't feel comfortable to work around him at all. But I do respect my Top and she is taking care of everything. So my question is how do I request temporary assignment to another without let BC know?Also If I really want to meet his exception which is be there in an hour without any prior notice, I literally have to sleep in my uniform and there is no traffic which is out of my control. I was wondering if I complain too much, should I literally do that because Im in military? Please help me and mentor me! Thank you!
JAG
UCMJ
Counseling
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
19
19
0
If it was a duty day, and you were released, you are still subject to recall. So you return.
If the 1st Lt had the expectation that you keep yourself on 30 minute recall, that should have been told to you prior to your release for the day. Unless the unit put travel restrictions in place as a conditions of your release for the duty day, once released, you may do as you please.
When recalled, state how long it will take you to get back. Don't offer explanation unless asked. If you didn't violate a travel restriction you do not owe an explanation. If you are an hour away, and you are recalled on 30 minutes notice. You can only do what you can do.
If you are asked to explain the delay, remember this:
_There are things you may want to do before you get on the road, (Take a shower, walk the dog, have dinner, look for housing etc.)
_There are things that must be done before you get on the road, (Ensure young children have adequate supervision, grab your uniform, turn around on your run and get back home. Drop off your dog that is in the car with you, etc, etc.)
_Know the difference between what you want to do and what you must do before answering the recall. If it is a "want to do" too bad get going. If it is a must do, don't offer an explanation unless asked. State how long it will take for you to get on the road, and how long it will take once you get on the road.
If "everyone start to tell me I shouldn't sign this form," why are you discussing it with everyone? It should be a matter of discussion between you and the 1st LT and the next higher person in the chain of command. Period. Your disciplinary record should not be a subject of discussion throughout the unit.
_If you are discussing your disciplinary record around enlisted personnel, stop it. Seek the advice of NCO's and SNCO's on the performance of your unit's mission, not on your career problems. Decline assistance from the Top Sergeant. Your unit Top should not be sorting out disciplinary/counseling between officers. End her involvement.
_If you are discussing your disciplinary record with your peers, stop it.
_If you have a trusted senior officer (Captain or above) who is not in your chain of command,; who mentors you, it is OK to seek their advice, but they should keep it confidential.
Is the 1st Lt in your chain of command? If not, he doesn't get to fill out counseling sheets on you. Your commanding officer is the person who would fill out the counseling statement. If the 1st Lt is in your chain of command, sign the counseling sheet, provide an accompanying rebuttal for the record. Then request a meeting with his commanding officer to present your rebuttal to the counseling statement
If the 1st Lt had the expectation that you keep yourself on 30 minute recall, that should have been told to you prior to your release for the day. Unless the unit put travel restrictions in place as a conditions of your release for the duty day, once released, you may do as you please.
When recalled, state how long it will take you to get back. Don't offer explanation unless asked. If you didn't violate a travel restriction you do not owe an explanation. If you are an hour away, and you are recalled on 30 minutes notice. You can only do what you can do.
If you are asked to explain the delay, remember this:
_There are things you may want to do before you get on the road, (Take a shower, walk the dog, have dinner, look for housing etc.)
_There are things that must be done before you get on the road, (Ensure young children have adequate supervision, grab your uniform, turn around on your run and get back home. Drop off your dog that is in the car with you, etc, etc.)
_Know the difference between what you want to do and what you must do before answering the recall. If it is a "want to do" too bad get going. If it is a must do, don't offer an explanation unless asked. State how long it will take for you to get on the road, and how long it will take once you get on the road.
If "everyone start to tell me I shouldn't sign this form," why are you discussing it with everyone? It should be a matter of discussion between you and the 1st LT and the next higher person in the chain of command. Period. Your disciplinary record should not be a subject of discussion throughout the unit.
_If you are discussing your disciplinary record around enlisted personnel, stop it. Seek the advice of NCO's and SNCO's on the performance of your unit's mission, not on your career problems. Decline assistance from the Top Sergeant. Your unit Top should not be sorting out disciplinary/counseling between officers. End her involvement.
_If you are discussing your disciplinary record with your peers, stop it.
_If you have a trusted senior officer (Captain or above) who is not in your chain of command,; who mentors you, it is OK to seek their advice, but they should keep it confidential.
Is the 1st Lt in your chain of command? If not, he doesn't get to fill out counseling sheets on you. Your commanding officer is the person who would fill out the counseling statement. If the 1st Lt is in your chain of command, sign the counseling sheet, provide an accompanying rebuttal for the record. Then request a meeting with his commanding officer to present your rebuttal to the counseling statement
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Maj John Bell
2LT (Join to see) - I suggest you speak to the BC soon. I would text him, or email him and ask if there is a convenient time that you and he can take the time to discuss an issue that arose in his absence.
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Maj John Bell
2LT (Join to see) - When a subordinate is "acting" in the Commander's absence, it has a meaning. An officer who is "acting" should not make unit policy changes. In addition, as the CO I'd have a lot of questions for someone who was acting in my stead and decided to discipline an officer, SNCO, or NCO; particularly if I was easily reached by phone, email, horse back messenger or carrier pigeon.
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This is really Officer Business and I think an officer should give you advice. But, as a future Junior Officer who will be mentored by a Senior NCO, this is my take on the situation
1. A counseling is not a reprimand or legal document. Sign it or not, it doesn’t matter. You are only signing that you were counseled. If the counselor was wrong then you are signing that the person writing the paper told you wrong information.
2. You will not get a new assignment. You will be uncomfortable with people you work with. This is the nature of the Army. You are forced outside your comfort zone and expected to produce results. Learn to be professional, learn what professional means, and be a professional at work. It’s not about feelings.
3. You cannot be reassigned without your BC knowing. It’s not possible. That’s like moving out of your parents house without them knowing.
4. The person who called you and counseled you acted in an unprofessional manner. Learn where the boundaries are in the Army. Learn who has actual power to influence your life and who is just trying too hard. Your 1SG is handling it for a reason. When you’re older you’ll understand why it’s inappropriate for a LT to be harassing a Cadet and why your Senior NCO is taking care of it. Just stick close to your Senior NCO and they will show you the way
1. A counseling is not a reprimand or legal document. Sign it or not, it doesn’t matter. You are only signing that you were counseled. If the counselor was wrong then you are signing that the person writing the paper told you wrong information.
2. You will not get a new assignment. You will be uncomfortable with people you work with. This is the nature of the Army. You are forced outside your comfort zone and expected to produce results. Learn to be professional, learn what professional means, and be a professional at work. It’s not about feelings.
3. You cannot be reassigned without your BC knowing. It’s not possible. That’s like moving out of your parents house without them knowing.
4. The person who called you and counseled you acted in an unprofessional manner. Learn where the boundaries are in the Army. Learn who has actual power to influence your life and who is just trying too hard. Your 1SG is handling it for a reason. When you’re older you’ll understand why it’s inappropriate for a LT to be harassing a Cadet and why your Senior NCO is taking care of it. Just stick close to your Senior NCO and they will show you the way
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Maj John Bell has already provided the best answer to the question, but you bring up a few problems that linger because too many Guard members don't learn this early on.
1. never make plans for a drill weekend, once you report there is no expectation to get out early to take care of personal matters. If you have a serious issue that must happen that weekend like getting a house or getting married, request an authorized absence or SUTA from your commander 2-4 weeks before drill. The same goes for every one of your Soldiers. Only the commander can authorize an absence or SUTA.
2. a drill day is (usually) two UTAs, each UTA is a MINIMUM of 4 hours. Releasing personnel before completing 8 hours of duty puts the commander at risk of committing fraud on a pay document if those personnel are submitted for pay for both periods that day (and your 1LT probably realized that after the fact when he started calling everyone back in to find something for them to do).
3. during your LT time, never wonder if you should be emailing (between drills) your CO during your company time, or your staff primary during your staff time. More is better. Keep them apprised of what is getting done, what is not getting done, resources you need to get more done and any problems that the CO or BC should know about.
1. never make plans for a drill weekend, once you report there is no expectation to get out early to take care of personal matters. If you have a serious issue that must happen that weekend like getting a house or getting married, request an authorized absence or SUTA from your commander 2-4 weeks before drill. The same goes for every one of your Soldiers. Only the commander can authorize an absence or SUTA.
2. a drill day is (usually) two UTAs, each UTA is a MINIMUM of 4 hours. Releasing personnel before completing 8 hours of duty puts the commander at risk of committing fraud on a pay document if those personnel are submitted for pay for both periods that day (and your 1LT probably realized that after the fact when he started calling everyone back in to find something for them to do).
3. during your LT time, never wonder if you should be emailing (between drills) your CO during your company time, or your staff primary during your staff time. More is better. Keep them apprised of what is getting done, what is not getting done, resources you need to get more done and any problems that the CO or BC should know about.
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2LT (Join to see)
Thank you SMG. Good lesson to learn make plan on duty day. I’m actually on Title 32 order now and it’s wasn’t a drill weekend, just me received phone call back not everyone. My questions is does the pay rule you were talking about still apply to title 32? If it does, I will make sure me and my platoon present at least 8 hours a day. I did sent troops back to home after they finished their job before not sure if this is a mistake?
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