Have you ever had a Commander say to you, "Don't tell me about it because I don't want to know"?

2016-05-22T17:42:46-04:00

Didn't want to know so he wouldn't have to lie.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2016 5:56 PM

2016-05-22T17:56:21-04:00

I have been in the California and Idaho ARNG good ole boy realm and I have never heard of this but I bet it has been discussed ad nauseum! I did once have a Battalion Commander who married a stripper and made example out of me (relieved for cause but I beat it with a rebuttal letter to the board) and I made CPT. We have 2 kinds of officers. Those who knew what they wanted to be Army Generals from the 8th grade, they were all full of self-confidence and most attended the USMA and those like me who are survivors. I am a survivor!

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2016 6:02 PM

2016-05-22T18:02:38-04:00

I love all of Viktor Frankl's writings.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 22 at 2016 6:07 PM

2016-05-22T18:07:07-04:00

I'm probably not the one to talk to about this Subject, Anything I would say could be considered Hypocrisy, I handled the Messages from Naval Communications Unit London UK to American Embassy Israel for Iran-Contra.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 22 at 2016 6:26 PM

2016-05-22T18:26:25-04:00

I have always said I want the bad truth now than later, because it does not get better over time.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made May 22 at 2016 7:22 PM

2016-05-22T19:22:39-04:00

Haven't heard that but I have cut Officers out of the loop on a variety of situations. "Sir, this is NCO business and does not concern you. Thank you for your support and have a great day."

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2016 9:29 PM

2016-05-22T21:29:47-04:00

Close. I've been asked "Do I want or need to know?"

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 22 at 2016 11:06 PM

2016-05-22T23:06:23-04:00

It wasn't a commander; but, when I was mobilized back in November 2001 I had several situations where my prior role as a consultant to the Federal government conflicted with what I was being asked to do as I supported the HQDA G-4 planning and operations division MAJ David Vermillion. At one point I was publicly dressed down for telling a COL that I was concerned that if I did what he told me it would be a conflict of interest. He didn't let me hear the end of that one - except for a brief time when we were both awarded medals on the same day.
I was able to sleep at night because I did my best to stand up for those I was responsible fro and never to do anything which truly violated my conscience.

Thanks for mentioning me LTC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by 1SG Harold Piet made May 23 at 2016 10:41 AM

2016-05-23T10:41:03-04:00

no, But I have told Commanders, I got this, you don't want to know about it.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made May 23 at 2016 10:46 AM

2016-05-23T10:46:39-04:00

MAJ David Vermillion Never ran into that problem when I served and I served under a lot of great Commanders that gave a Hoot about everything and they wanted to be in the know. As a former Commander of two Company level commands, a Battalion Command, and two Brigade Commands (one deployed) I wanted to be informed about everything that would cause my Commander Grief or cause the loss of life or mission failure. I wanted to know things that would have caused a "Cancer" within the morale and command climate of my units. If you don't know everything or try to gain knowledge about as much as you can, you can't lead from the front, you can't adjust fire, you can't make the necessary adjustments or changes to improve your organization and the welfare of your soldiers, and the list goes on - command and leading is proactive, not reactive. Just my personal opinions! PS. Sometimes you will still be reactive and its how you react that sets you apart as a leader, because everyone is watching to see what you will do and how you will handle every situation. Your unit service members have a microscope on you and all their leaders 24/7!

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 12:30 PM

2016-05-23T12:30:37-04:00

I feel like confirming the existence of the saying would be tattling on people I work with. But if I did hear it, it was only in the context of them knowing that I was going to fix the problem before it became an issue for them.

Response by SFC Roberto Garza Jr. made May 23 at 2016 12:39 PM

2016-05-23T12:39:30-04:00

Yes I have been told this many times, but I never had a reason or did something that couldn't be said. That was a comment made by commanders who feared their higher commander. By doing the right thing, your commander trusts you and learns that he doesn't have to fear his boss because his men will do the right thing.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 12:54 PM

2016-05-23T12:54:51-04:00

If you are a good nco, your commander dosent have to tell you that. You protect him with plausible deniability

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 5:30 AM

2016-05-25T05:30:20-04:00

No, but if I did, I would become insubordinate.