Is there an army regulation to enforce an E4 specialist to be allowed to her job?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 17:24:23 -0400

As the only E4 74D in a transportation unit my job duties include maintaining the CBRN cage and all that is within it such as Gas masks, JCADs, and Radiac sets... etc. As the only 74D in the unit I fall under supply. For the past few years I have not been allowed or given the resources I need to do my job. My supply sergeant instead tasks me out for her needs with the idea that supply is more important. Now that this has been ongoing for multiple years the CBRN section is a colossal mess and I have received a negative counseling statement for it. This entire situation could have been avoided if I was allowed to do my job and after years of trying I’ve come to the conclusion that I am a powerless E4 with no way of in forcing the need to do my job but can get in trouble for not doing it.

So my question is are there any army regulations that I can use to my advantage that will simply allow me to put my cbrn job before my sergeants supply needs.

I want to state that I do not care one bit to help out in supply once I have completed my CBRN tasks. I just want the ability to actually complete my CBRN tasks so I don’t get in trouble.

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Aug 10 at 2019 6:20 PM

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 18:20:02 -0400

It is all about the needs of the Army. Doubt you will find much luck. Many areas that a commander can cross level.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2019 6:23 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 18:23:08 -0400

I sympathize with you and I know what you are going through all too well. I was in an almost identical situation as a 68E in a company almost entirely comprised of 68Ws. My immediate supervisor was a behavioral health tech, my squad leader was a physical therapy tech and my PSG was a medic. I was in charge of the only dental equipment set in my brigade and this set was a critical part of our role 2 operations.

In the beginning, I was often tasked out to help organize the medic’s equipment, leaving little time to learn or manage my own. This led to a very unorganized cyclic inventory with commander. It went poorly and my platoon PSG was taken around the corner and chewed out by the commander. After he got his, the PSG made his way to me and I got mine lol. At the end of the butt chewing, he told me to “fix it”. I waiting a few days for him to cool off and, with my squad leader in tow, I presented a plan to organize all of the subsets in the dental section to aid with the next inventory. I also, respectfully, stated that I didn’t have much of a chance to learn my equipment because I was always tasked out to help the medics. Long story short, the PSG gave me 3 months ( the time period before NIE) to fix it. He also gave explicit orders to all the NCOs in the platoon to not put me on any tastings without specifically asking him (or the PL).

I needed every bit of those 3 months to fix that cluster but during the next inventory, my section passed with flying colors.

I’m not sure if there is an explicit regulation that you can quote in order to get time to work on your section, but I would suggest that you bring your concerns up through your NCO support channel until you reach a person who will be receptive and help you. The CBRN section is very important and your rank doesn’t make it any less of a priority in regards to other sections. You are the SME and you should be treated as such as it relates to your section.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Aug 10 at 2019 6:52 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 18:52:01 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member if your supervisor is the Supply Sergeant, and you were negatively counseled about the NBC room, who counseled you? What issues were in the counseling? What was the plan of action?

If your Supply Sergeant counseled you, seems sort of like a boomerang booger flick. If it was your First Sergeant or HQ Platoon Sergeant, I'd go back to them for the follow up counseling with a plan to fix the problems to get the time and support to do it. Who does the supply Sergeant work for directly? 1SG or Commander? At the end of the day, the Commander is responsible for it.

Have you stood a command inspection on the NBC room? It would normally put you in Proximity to the BN CBRN who may able to influence your CoC.

With out more info, I can't give you more advice. My reaction would be to go back to who counseled me with a plan of action and request resources to enable your plan. As far as a regulation 600-20, which your commander has ordered your 1SG, Supply Sergeant, and you do do certain things and their general authority as NCOs makes them responsible for them, including your NBC room.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2019 8:18 PM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 20:18:33 -0400

If you received regular performance/developmental counselling, then these were the occasions when you needed to address your concerns and had them noted on the counseling form. If you aren't regularly counseled, then this is a failure of leadership. Not sure what the recommended frequency is for RC, but AC urges monthly counselling. Regardless of the formal counselling process, communication is critical to advise your chain and support channel. Since you are the only one with those responsibilities, respectful feedback about your need for time to execute is a must. Be the SME for your lane. If they refuse to listen, then failure will be on them.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 10 at 2019 11:41 PM

SSG Brian G. — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 23:41:29 -0400

Sounds like your unit sorely needs an operational plan that prioritizes jobs. The Sergeant is over the Supply section but needs to see to it that you are given the time to perform your primary job. If he or she cannot or does not then avail yourself of your CoC to see to righting the situation.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2019 1:01 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 01:01:06 -0400

Welcome to the world of CBRN. When it used to be NBC, the joke was No Body Cares. It's very common to have junior Soldiers in the CBRN corps turned into de-facto supply clerks or operations clerks. CBRN is a vital part of unit readiness and sometimes the Commander needs a gentle reminder of the fact.

What I (and other have suggested) may be challenging for a junior Soldier and may cause some waves of discomfort to ripple through your section. You need to take advantage of your 1SG and Commander's open door policy and have a conversation about your inability to do your job and contribute to unit readiness. It sounds like you already have a sympathetic ear from the XO. Leverage that if needed.

You won't be able to completely divorce yourself from some of the other duties your Supply Sergeant wants you to do. I suggest you come to the Commander with some sort of a plan in hand. Try to come up with a schedule for managing the CBRN needs. Include a timeframe for mask PCMS as well as level-10 checks on your CBRN equipment. Review your unit or BNs CBRN SOP to have a better understanding of your role. If there is a need to develop and train CBRN detection or decon teams, those should be included in your scheduling.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 11 at 2019 3:04 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 03:04:37 -0400

You are a program manager, maintenance manager, and advisor to your commander on CBRN.
What you're experiencing isn't uncommon for Chem Soldiers.
Sources of information and assistance should be the BN CBRN NCO, and BDE CBRN NCO.
DIV Chem should have a checklist that can assist you with ensuring your program is squared away. That is the checklist used for command inspections.
I ran a NBC room straight out of reclassification as an E4. I faced the same issues.
Many believe you only store stuff, and don't appreciate the time it takes. It is up to you to document the number of hours per week it takes for the various maintenance tasks, calibrations, administrative functions, and training planning/documenting (Memo for Record), and CBRN Team planning and training, operator training and evaluation, use of forms. That's the short version.
It would be helpful for you to write down the number of hours, by task; others who may be needed, by task, and estimated hours (may be one day per month). Number of hours to spot check operator level maintenance.
Then, you need to document the number of hours you use to perform other assigned tasks.
If other assigned tasks interfere with the CBRN-related tasks, that is what you raise, in writing to your supervisor. It should include a recommended course of action.
If you have additional time, of course you'll be glad to accept other assigned duties, as it expands your knowledge, gets you contacts, and shows you are flexible.
Consider trying to get a slot in the 2 week NBC course on post. Those tend to help you more with managing a room than AIT.
Check with other leaders for tools used for tracking calibrations, maintenance intervals, and anything with an expiration date and/or lot number.
Facebook has a Chemical Leaders page where you can have access to a wealth of knowledge. Attempt to look it up first before posting to the group, and state what you've done. That'll eliminate most of the sarcasm that tends to come out if it appears one posts without exercising due diligence.
You'll be fine.
Get the checklist, assess yourself brutally, develop a course of action to correct deficiencies, act on it, document the results.
If you have any issues after trying what I've suggested, feel free to message me.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Aug 11 at 2019 10:47 AM

SFC Robert Walton — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 10:47:27 -0400

If I May ask who gave you the Negative counseling? And did you keep a copy of it?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 12 at 2019 11:26 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 11:26:17 -0400

Joining the Army as CBRN is a bit like joining the Navy as a Non Rated Seaman. It'll get you paid, but you're going to float around doing whatever scut work the unit has for you... Unless you hurry up and head to Korea, that's going to be your life. Korea is basically the only place you matter or are taken seriously.