Are supervisors really parents?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 14:12:54 -0500

Most of us have thought it at some point that our troops are like our kids where we may be momma/pappa bear and can mess with our troops but do you dare even THINK about touching them, but I have never actually seen someone put it out in any kind of official publication...until now:

Here is an AF PA article that pretty much makes the claim.

http://www.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/tabid/271/Article/559040/the-air-force-issued-me-my-kids.aspx

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2015 5:12 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:12:05 -0500

Lot has to do with the UCMJ we all fall under, which is different than any other non-military supervisor-employee relationship.
Because the chain of command is responsible for everything done, or not done, by the members of the unit, military supervisors step up to take the 'parenting' role, knowing that if something goes wrong, their will have to do that anyway.
Where else does a supervisor pick an employee up from the police station? Where else does a supervisor go to an employee's house to check on their living conditions? Where else does a supervisor escort sn employee to appointments or other requirements not related to actual job duties?

Response by PO2 Stephen Brinkley (Scott) made Jan 25 at 2015 5:32 PM

PO2 Stephen Brinkley (Scott) — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:32:39 -0500

I joined the Navy at 22. So I ran into several situations where I had younger people leading me. I took it upon myself to act more mature (didn't happen all the time) and to prove to them that they could fall on me when needed. I truly believe it made the start of the second half of my career better, because I was ready. My last ship I had a kid that was 23, had 4 dui's in 18 months (I was only around for the last one) and cost us a spot in SHF school. I had to parent this kid everyday until he was finally kicked off the boat and sent to out processing.

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Jan 25 at 2015 7:11 PM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 19:11:36 -0500

I don't know if it's exactly the same as parenting...but it's similar. If you think the business community is different you are mistaken. The same young generation that you all are dealing with in a much more trained, controlled environment, we are dealing with on the outside. At times it's not fun and I wonder how this generation is going to fair. I'm glad we didn't raise our boys with some of these traits! In the end, this is America, and we have always risen to the occasion, I just hope this group does too. No matter what, we are there to give advice and guide them.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jun 7 at 2016 4:25 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Tue, 07 Jun 2016 16:25:49 -0400

Mentors not parents.