Did you ever have an occasion, when one of your subordinates did not obey your orders? If so, what did you do about it?

2015-12-16T20:51:08-05:00

If so, what did you do about it?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Dec 16 at 2015 8:57 PM

2015-12-16T20:57:13-05:00

As a Squad Leader, in Garrison, I never had this happen to me.
However, I know that in combat, this would be deadly.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Dec 16 at 2015 9:12 PM

2015-12-16T21:12:53-05:00

22 years in service and I cannot remember once that anyone disobeyed me. There were a few times my Jr NCO's didn't "perform to my standards".....That was always handled between myself and the NCO's....

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2015 11:56 PM

2015-12-16T23:56:56-05:00

It just happened tonight. My daughter decided to play with her dolls instead of cleaning her room. She had to go to bed without any ice cream.
Problem Solved.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 8:46 AM

2015-12-17T08:46:09-05:00

Once. I was 2LT during AT in the field. Had a SPC go hide in the treeline instead of helping erect tents. I put him on "gate guard" duty at the entrance to our compound and "forgot" about him for 12 hours.

Response by MSG Gerry Poe made Dec 17 at 2015 9:58 AM

2015-12-17T09:58:43-05:00

Can't say that I can ever remember one of my soldiers just not obeying my leadership?! Now if one of my Joe's ever did, there would be counseling and lots of fun for me and not so fun for them corrective training involved! Good Times! Just don't get any soldiers that want to just "not do" what they are told. Just have to show them you don't stand for that sort of performance!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2015 10:33 AM

2015-12-17T10:33:35-05:00

Yes. For reasons of OPSEC and out of respect for those involved, I'll be vague...and concise.

I was commander during a combat incident involving what was later determined to be a VBIED attack. I made a call to set up an overwatch while coordinating an attempt to get to the down vehicle, but one of the TCs in the convoy decided to circumvent my orders and go in alone.

We managed to get through the incident, and though we lost a good vehicle to the VBIED, none of my soldiers or sailors lost their lives. I found the person in question later, a mid-grade Army NCO, and in private, asked him why he disobeyed my orders. He responded (very aggressively) that he thought his first duty was to get to his comrades...and that I didn't act decisively to protect them. I explained that while I had infinite respect for his superior combat training and experience, from my vantage point, I didn't know if we had been hit by an RPG, and/or if the attack was part of a larger ambush. I ordered my trucks to establish overwatch so that we could ensure a decent standoff distance and avoid losing any one else in the rescue attempt...and be able to mount a decent defense if more of the enemy were in the area. I had, during the moments after the explosion, received calls from other TCs of a possible sniper.

He apologized, and I offered my own thanks for his courage and initiative...and left it at that.

At the time, considering we "made it", I didn't see making a formality out of an object lesson for both a Navy officer and Army NCO of the same age who probably still had a lot to learn. In retrospect, I believed this hinted at serious problems with the way teams such as ours operated in the field, and drafted a manual which incorporated better SOP for what to do in various events.