Posted on Jul 24, 2015
CSM Michael J. Uhlig
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A Soldier overhears a NCO talking about his favorite food (pizza) and that he is hungry but has to do a barracks check before leave for the day.

The Soldier uses a temp check to buy pizza.....while the NCO is checking the barracks, the Soldier offers the NCO pizza and the NCO eats several slices. The NCO does not offer the Soldier any money and continues checking the common areas before leaving the barracks.

A week later, the Soldier is getting counseled for bouncing a check and says the NCO insinuated he wanted some pizza....what did the NCO do that was off course, what did the Soldier do that was not advisable? What would YOU do (you are senior to both) in this scenario?
Posted in these groups: Leadership development Leadership DevelopmentLeadership abstract 007 Leadership
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 63
CPT Company Commander
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It could be that the Joe was trying to butter the NCO up. i don't see anything wrong with this. I have been offered a slice of pizza from joes in the past. A lot of times it is rude if you don't accept. But I don't think the couple slices of pizza had any impact in the Joe's poor ability to handle his money.
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SGM Debra Bradshaw
SGM Debra Bradshaw
>1 y
A piece of pizza is different then "several slices". Either way the senior person should have offered to help pay.
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SSG Brian MacBain
SSG Brian MacBain
>1 y
@SGM Debra Bradshaw, according to what is written above, I have to disagree with you. The NCO never ask the junior soldier to buy pizza. That junior soldier took upon himself to buy it knowingly he did not have the funds to afford it. That "Joe" should been counseled for his finance. That NCO did nothing wrong. Now, if that NCO is/was nice he could offer to help pay, but he does not have to
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CPT Company Commander
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
SGM Debra Bradshaw - I don't agree it is the pizza. But I wouldn't be having dinner with him or have several slices of pizza. But this is more of a bait for the NCO than anything else.
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SGM Debra Bradshaw
SGM Debra Bradshaw
>1 y
SSG Brian MacBain - I don't disagree. The junior person knew he couldn't afford the expense, the senior person obviously did not know this. This is not a poor reflection on the senior person. I do agree with 1LT Rosa in that it is sometimes considered rude to refuse a menial portion just to be one of the crew. However, again, several slices is taking it too far unless you're paying. It's just good manners let alone taking advantage of a person making less money and having less rank. Lots of implications there. There should never even be an appearance of impropriety.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
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I was brought up that the senior ranking person pays (if they know about it).

I feel like some of the feedback here is a bit overdramatic and cynical. The NCO did nothing wrong necessarily and the junior soldier is already being counseled on his financial situation.
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CPT Company Commander
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
Wow, I didn't know you were still on Rallypoint.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
SSG V. Michelle Woods
>1 y
Oh I check in from time to time.
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SSG Bill Baker
SSG Bill Baker
>1 y
I totally agree. nothing wrong here other than the soldier handled his finances poorly and rightfully counseled on the bounced check
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SSG Ray Elliott
SSG Ray Elliott
>1 y
The NCO could have offered to chip in on the pizza, but it could be he didn't have cash on him. I don't think the NCO did anything wrong, it sounds to me like the junior soldier was just trying to dig himself out from under a counselling statement.
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LTC Substitute Teacher
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Im a little confused by the scenario. The way I see it regardless of the pizza situation with the NCO; if the soldier knowingly wrote a bad check; he has to face appropriate counseling/consequences. If he overdrew by error, then a little money management education/counseling would be in order.
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