Posted on Jan 11, 2022
What avenue can I take to get my packet submitted if my First Sergeant is holding onto my SFAB Packet?
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My first sergeant has my sfab packet hostage. He tells me that I won’t be able to turn it in until I come back from NTC. I submitted the packet in November just to find out a month later it never left the orderly room. The approving authority is the BC but it hasn’t even made into battalions. Is this an IG complaint, what can I do to at least get the fair chance?
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Career Advice
Career Advice
Posted 3 y ago
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The approval authority isn't the BC, it's your Brigade Commander, unless it has recently changed. SFAB is still a priority of the Army and FORSCOM. It sounds like your 1SG is concerned they will lose you before NTC. That won't happen unless you are on the same post as the SFAB. At that point, your Brigade Commander will have made an agreement with SFAB not to pull anyone until after your rotation.
Next step is to talk to the 1SG and explain that you can't go until after NTC, SFAB is not about burning bridges locally and will leave you in place. If that doesn't work, then talk with your CSM. If that hits a wall, then go talk to your IG. Remember, your IGs policy is to resolve issues at the lowest level and the first question they will ask you is did you talk with your chain of command first to give them a chance to resolve the issue
Next step is to talk to the 1SG and explain that you can't go until after NTC, SFAB is not about burning bridges locally and will leave you in place. If that doesn't work, then talk with your CSM. If that hits a wall, then go talk to your IG. Remember, your IGs policy is to resolve issues at the lowest level and the first question they will ask you is did you talk with your chain of command first to give them a chance to resolve the issue
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I wouldn't start with an IG report. That would be like shooting a house fly when you haven't opened the windows yet.
Follow the paper trail and find out why it's hanging up in the system and talk to those causing the jam. It's amazing what a face to face conversation can solve that 100 emails can't. Follow the trail and get leadership involved if/when needed.
Follow the paper trail and find out why it's hanging up in the system and talk to those causing the jam. It's amazing what a face to face conversation can solve that 100 emails can't. Follow the trail and get leadership involved if/when needed.
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SPC (Join to see)
I'm honestly amazed sometimes at the ghosting that occurs on the active side with email communication, quite frankly it's a disgrace and many officers and NCO's should be ashamed. Regardless, that's the system we have and emails are considered a paper trail, even if they don't respond so use them to your benefit.
Like SSgt Christophe Murphy stated though, ask questions and follow the trail. Is it an IG complaint or an open door policy with higher? Possibly. Are you 100% on that? Better build your case before you go and make complaints.
Worst case, you're making your complaint and you made IG/JAG/CoC's job easy by gathering info and documentation. Lesser worse case you walk your packet through the chain yourself; yeah you'll tick some people off but some people need to have a finger wagged in their direction from time to time regardless of rank. Best case scenario, you sent it through the chain and it gets pushed through because you put a face to an issue.
Like SSgt Christophe Murphy stated though, ask questions and follow the trail. Is it an IG complaint or an open door policy with higher? Possibly. Are you 100% on that? Better build your case before you go and make complaints.
Worst case, you're making your complaint and you made IG/JAG/CoC's job easy by gathering info and documentation. Lesser worse case you walk your packet through the chain yourself; yeah you'll tick some people off but some people need to have a finger wagged in their direction from time to time regardless of rank. Best case scenario, you sent it through the chain and it gets pushed through because you put a face to an issue.
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