As an NCO how do you deal with your soldiers that don't get along?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 14:11:15 -0400

I've had good teams in the past not saying there not good soldiers but this is the first team that doesn't get along. They argue every chance they get wether me or other Team Leaders are in the room or not. They can't seem to find common ground for anything. The field or even platoon duty becomes very stressful and tedious because I have to constantly here them complain aboit eachother. How would you deal with a team like this?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 5 at 2018 2:29 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 14:29:09 -0400

Separate them, and have them discuss with you what is the issue. Than try to find some sort of commonality they may have.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 5 at 2018 4:39 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 16:39:54 -0400

I've had soldiers that couldn't get along. We're all human so it's bound to happen from time to time. But I make it clear that while on duty I don't want to hear it. They can fight and fuss all they want when off duty but when there's a job to be done, that's all that matters. If they can't do that then administrative action needs to be taken because they're weakening the unit. Move them to other platoons/companies or if it comes down to it, separate them from the Army. But what they're doing impacts the mission and that's a no-go in my command.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 5 at 2018 5:12 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 17:12:07 -0400

Have you discussed this with the Squad Leader?

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Oct 5 at 2018 8:56 PM

SGT John " Mac " McConnell — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 20:56:20 -0400

When I had this problem. I would take all the trouble makers out on a long range patrol. Away from the unit for quite awhile and basically train them to help each other with the tasks at hand for the mission. This was only used during training and not an actual mission. It didn’t work the first or the second time. But I had to break them down in order for them to gain each other's trust. We started working as a great team after that. Just like a family. We all have our own little quirks. Find it and use it as attainable tool. Each one survives as long as you got each other’s six ! I hope this helps....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2018 1:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 01:02:14 -0400

Take a piece of paper and make them hold it. One holds with their left and the other with their right. Then give them a task like sweeping the floor or moving boxes. One person is the left hand, the other is the right. If they rip the paper they start over.
I used to make them hold hands, but usually one is a jerk and squeezes the others hand. The paper forces them to be gentle. The task makes them coordinate. Working together is usually so distasteful they don't fight any longer.

Response by CSM Danny S. made Oct 6 at 2018 6:01 AM

CSM Danny S. — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 06:01:27 -0400

Well sometimes you just have to let them argue with each other. Then other times you have to tell them to shut up and get the task done. You have to set the tone for when it is and isn't acceptable. Is this how they blow off steam, is it personality problems, or is it just one guy that gets them all fired up? You have to figure out what is causing it and realize you may not be able to stop it. You can ask your squad leader for advice and top cover but you have to deal with it. If not you run the risk of losing respect from your team.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 6 at 2018 8:42 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 08:42:08 -0400

Remind them they are the for the duration, they are a team and they WILL have to depend on each other down the road- they either work as a team or the ringleaders will be gone!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2018 9:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 09:18:32 -0400

I have seen this is the past. I know a lot of my peers created a common enemy. I.E. the team or squad leader went out of there way to make them focus on them by making work harder don’t know if that is the way to go but it seemed to work for them .