I am possibly getting an Article 15, and I am taking responsibility. What can I do to help my Commander see that I am ready to change?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 10:00:53 -0400

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 10:24 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 10:24:28 -0400

I think you said it yourself ... don't make any excuses, don't blame anyone else, own up to your mistake, and have a corrective plan of action to better yourself.

Nobody's perfect ... a man's true character shines when he is in difficult times.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made May 11 at 2017 10:55 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Thu, 11 May 2017 10:55:37 -0400

Not wanting to sound like a smart ass, but quit doing the crap that got you the Article 15 goes a long way. As company commander, I didn't usually hammer a guy IF it were his first time in front of me and if his immediate supervisors thought he was worth a damn. Tell the CO that you screwed up and won't do it again, then don't do it anymore. Pretty simple.
The guys that had trouble are the ones that didn't learn and kept doing the same stupid things over and over.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 11 at 2017 11:24 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:24:08 -0400

Best advice (already given in this string) is quit doing the stuff that got you in trouble in the first place. If you need professional help to get rid of a bad habit, seek it now before you go see the Commander. Also, talk with a lawyer. Be very careful of requesting a Court Martial in lieu of the NJP. Unless you are doing so on advice of counsel, this is probably a poor decision. Be respectful and contrite. Accept the punishment like a Soldier.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 11:43 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:43:58 -0400

What PO2 Private RallyPoint Member and CPT Lawrence Cable said....I need not add any more.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made May 11 at 2017 11:55 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:55:28 -0400

Straighten up and fly right? Actions speak volumes

Response by TSgt Jennifer Disch made May 11 at 2017 12:43 PM

TSgt Jennifer Disch — Thu, 11 May 2017 12:43:34 -0400

Volunteer and don't do whatever it was you were doing when you got the Art 15.

Response by MSG David Johnson made May 11 at 2017 12:56 PM

MSG David Johnson — Thu, 11 May 2017 12:56:39 -0400

This may sound counterproductive to your situation and probably to the new Army as well. But, I once had a 1SG who told me that if an NCO doesn't have at least 1 Art 15 he wasn't doing his job. Now to put that into perspective, is your offense due to helping other Soldiers? Or was it something stupid you did?
The comment made to me was specifically about helping my fellow Soldiers.
This advice is from a senior NCO who has 1 Field Grade, 2 Company Grade, and 4 Summarized Art 15's. the 4 summarized were for helping out others, the Field grade and Company grades were for being stupid.

In conclusion I just want to point out this; take your punishment, fix what you did wrong, and show your command that you can still be a professional.

I know someone will say something about my comments here, but they are given as an example.

Response by LTC Peter Hartman made May 11 at 2017 1:44 PM

LTC Peter Hartman — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:44:45 -0400

Be squared away at all times from here on out.

Response by LTC Barry Hull made May 11 at 2017 2:21 PM

LTC Barry Hull — Thu, 11 May 2017 14:21:45 -0400

Be straight up. Tell the truth. If he does not give to a path to success, you need to ask specifically what change he is looking for and most importantly, follow through with action.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made May 11 at 2017 2:55 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 11 May 2017 14:55:10 -0400

Soldier up and tell the truth!!! Then live it. Own up to what got you in trouble, accept your lumps, and then get squared away. Be early for everything, have your uniform squared up, volunteer to lead whatever they ask for. You are an NCO...not only will your CO see you are doing right and took your lumps but so will your soldiers and that will go a long way with respect up and down the chain. You made a mistake...a lapse in judgement...learn from it because one day it will happen to one of your own and then and only then will you be able to deal with them as you have been through this fire. A man's character isn't about what happens to him or what he did...it is about how he picks himself up and moves forward.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made May 11 at 2017 4:10 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Thu, 11 May 2017 16:10:09 -0400

You are halfway there...stay motivated.

Response by CSM Lynn Chrisman made May 11 at 2017 5:28 PM

CSM Lynn Chrisman — Thu, 11 May 2017 17:28:07 -0400

Admit your situation deal with it and move out

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made May 12 at 2017 11:42 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Fri, 12 May 2017 11:42:52 -0400

You are a Sergeant. That indicates some socially redeeming qualities and a decent past performance. Talk with your section seniors and see if you can get their support for leniency either in writing, or by their appearance at the proceedings. If there were any peculiar circumstances that influenced your committing the infraction, make them known to your Commanding Officer when you are asked for information in your defense or mitigation and specifically state that you are aware of your mistake, lack of judgement or whatever fits the situation. A statement that you realize you made the mistake and how you would react differently to a similiar circumstance in the future would indicate you have reflected on the circumstance of your offence and have an alternative for the future. No CO wants to ruin the career or record of a good NCO arbitrarily, but the Article 15 is as much to demonstrate the significance of the offence to others as to extract vengeance on the offender. I heard all kinds of promises from my people, but the sense of sincerity of those promises was dependent on their overall record and the recommendations of their immediate supervisors.

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made May 12 at 2017 5:12 PM

GySgt Charles O'Connell — Fri, 12 May 2017 17:12:53 -0400

Then change. Actions speak louder than words. It may a while for the change to be recognized, proportional to how much you've been in front of him.

Response by SGT Bryan O'Reilly made May 20 at 2017 3:21 AM

SGT Bryan O'Reilly — Sat, 20 May 2017 03:21:22 -0400

It's typically a Unit decision, But you are being pro-active and that's a good first step. Warriors walk a fine line, They want you to be fearless, yet behave. To be free thinking yet regimented. There is a good reason why you have the toughest job you'll ever love.' And why our regs and traditions matter. But we become soldiers, and we become men, 1 mistake and one solution at a time. If you are really keeping it together and you want to keep on soldering. Be on your best game. and then be blunt and tell them you are willing to take all the extra duty they can throw at you to avoid an Art 15 because this is your life and you fear a bar from reenlistment. And then do it! You are a SGT for a reason. Good luck and go soldier, sarge.
Bayonet!

Response by CH (MAJ) Tom Conner made Dec 20 at 2018 1:05 AM

CH (MAJ) Tom Conner — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 01:05:12 -0500

Sign the Article 15, do whatever punishment the Commander gives, and fix what was broken and learn from your mistakes. I've seen a lot of Soldiers tell the Commander they were ready to Soldier on; however, within a few months, they were standing before the Commander again! The only thing you need to do is make the changes, your Commander will see it when it happens.