Posted on Dec 21, 2014
Leadership Dilemmas: If you were me, what would you have done? (PART 1)
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To all RallyPoint members: I faced this real Leadership Dilemma as a new O-1 in my first unit. Suddenly, I had a second chance to fix the mistake I made. What would you have done if you were me? (PART 1)
// REAL SCENARIO //
“Sergeant Jones got arrested again last night,” my commander told me with an unnerving stare. In the two weeks since my joining the unit, SGT Jones had been arrested for domestic violence, reported late multiple times, and flunked a basic job competency examination. As SGT Jones’s supervisor, I was responsible for remediating his self-destructive behavior and providing actionable, hands-on guidance to him.
However, instead of leading SGT Jones, I made the mistake of deferring to Alpha Company’s Senior NCOs who, in this case, had known SGT Jones for a long time and just wanted him out of the unit. No counseling or remedial actions had been documented. The Senior NCOs began shaping their plan to whisk SGT Jones away to a different unit, thereby removing the problem as opposed to tackling it.
Because I was the newest and most junior officer in Alpha Company, I felt pressured to follow the path of least resistance and therefore didn’t assert myself as a leader – a mistake that meant SGT Jones did not receive the leadership attention he deserved. Unsurprisingly, his misconduct continued.
My commander called me back into his office and told me to tell him what I wanted to do: send SGT Jones to the other unit, or something else?
** RallyPoint members: if you were me, what would you have done? **
//
Tag: SGM Matthew Quick 1SG Steven Stankovich SFC Mark Merino SSG Laureano Pabon LTC Jason Strickland SSG Robert Burns SSG Scott Williams SSG V. Michelle Woods CPT (Join to see) Col (Join to see) Capt Brandon Charters SSgt Gregory Guina CMSgt James Nolan 1SG (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) 1LT John Martin TSgt Joshua Copeland 1SG (Join to see) SFC William Swartz Jr SFC (Join to see) Cpl (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) SGT Thomas Lucken SGT Richard H. MAJ (Join to see) SGM Charles Brainard CPT Gregory Wagoner CMSgt James Nolan SFC (Join to see) SCPO (Join to see) MSG Wade Huffman SSG (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) SPC Brian Aranda Cpl (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) SFC(P) (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) SFC William Swartz Jr SFC (Join to see) 1LT John Martin A1C Nathanial Snyder MSgt Allan Folsom
// REAL SCENARIO //
“Sergeant Jones got arrested again last night,” my commander told me with an unnerving stare. In the two weeks since my joining the unit, SGT Jones had been arrested for domestic violence, reported late multiple times, and flunked a basic job competency examination. As SGT Jones’s supervisor, I was responsible for remediating his self-destructive behavior and providing actionable, hands-on guidance to him.
However, instead of leading SGT Jones, I made the mistake of deferring to Alpha Company’s Senior NCOs who, in this case, had known SGT Jones for a long time and just wanted him out of the unit. No counseling or remedial actions had been documented. The Senior NCOs began shaping their plan to whisk SGT Jones away to a different unit, thereby removing the problem as opposed to tackling it.
Because I was the newest and most junior officer in Alpha Company, I felt pressured to follow the path of least resistance and therefore didn’t assert myself as a leader – a mistake that meant SGT Jones did not receive the leadership attention he deserved. Unsurprisingly, his misconduct continued.
My commander called me back into his office and told me to tell him what I wanted to do: send SGT Jones to the other unit, or something else?
** RallyPoint members: if you were me, what would you have done? **
//
Tag: SGM Matthew Quick 1SG Steven Stankovich SFC Mark Merino SSG Laureano Pabon LTC Jason Strickland SSG Robert Burns SSG Scott Williams SSG V. Michelle Woods CPT (Join to see) Col (Join to see) Capt Brandon Charters SSgt Gregory Guina CMSgt James Nolan 1SG (Join to see) SSG (Join to see) 1LT John Martin TSgt Joshua Copeland 1SG (Join to see) SFC William Swartz Jr SFC (Join to see) Cpl (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) SGT Thomas Lucken SGT Richard H. MAJ (Join to see) SGM Charles Brainard CPT Gregory Wagoner CMSgt James Nolan SFC (Join to see) SCPO (Join to see) MSG Wade Huffman SSG (Join to see) SFC (Join to see) SPC Brian Aranda Cpl (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) SFC(P) (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) SFC William Swartz Jr SFC (Join to see) 1LT John Martin A1C Nathanial Snyder MSgt Allan Folsom
Posted in these groups: 
Values
What Would You Do
Values What Would You Do
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 88
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Every person is human.... and have potential to make mistakes. No one is above a hardship. If there has been no history of problems, then it is a leaders responsibility to try to help the subordinate. Ask questions, try and get to the cause of his actions. Since there was no history of remedial action or counseling, it seems likely that the other NCO's would choose to neglect their own responsibility, and would rather send him to someone else, or discharge him. That is a final resort, not an initial resort. Can this soldier improve? I don't know, but who would know if they don't make an attempt to lead? Sometimes a discharge is necessary, and I am completely for discharging soldiers unfit for service, but again, make the effort to lead, else you too become unfit for service
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Trying to figure out the problem would lead to many answers. Most Soldiers don't ask for help or even vent if they don't trust their NCO. Let's do our part. Also, if there isn't an documentation, there lies a problem too. How can you fix something you have no idea that existed if you don't ask the right questions. Be there for them and you can see a change with others, which in turn see a unit pulling together helping one another........think I saw this on a wheaties box. LOL
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I've never understood why we feel an obligation to try and reform deadbeats and scum. We've all heard the phrase "your worst 10% will take up 90% of your time". Imagine how much better the Army would be if the other 90% of our Soldiers who deserve our time actually got it.... Let's focus on the good ones and chapter the turds... It's a downsizing Army. Let's train the ones with potential. They've earned it.
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First and foremost I would talk to SGT Jones and find out what was going on in his life. Sometimes as leaders there are problems in a Soldier's personal life that we are not aware of. This can also help to serve as a mitigating factor should you need to go to bat for the NCO. However, the point may be moot if he ends up convicted of Domestic Violence as a conviction would prohibit him from having access to firearms. That would force your hand because he cannot serve with such a limitation. I think that learning from this experience will help to develop you as a leader. New LTs have the problem if simply not knowing any better because of the training. In BOLC they are taught that the NCOs will always do the right thing and will help guide the new officer. This does not always happen and there is a tendency to protect their own. In the meantime SGT Jones needs help and it's important to get him that help.
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I was a Station Commander as a recruiter. I was called by my 1SG that he was sending me a Reserve Recruiter to "fire". I asked him what the deal was and he simply said, this guy has to go. Firing somebody is not one of my values as a leader. If the soldier has a problem, why not simply ask what the problem is and see if there is a solution. We are paid to lead. Throwing a soldier away is not leadership. You every soldier a chance to fix what is wrong. At the end of the day, the soldier I was sent to fire as an E-5 ended up the top USAR Recruiter in the Battalion and retired a SGM.
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Sir, with all do respect you should have chaptered him out. Drinking in excess ok, maybe he is having issues, but domestic violence is a NO-GO in my book. He may be having some issues that need help and not willing to open up to anybody about them. I myself have been in the abuse of alcohol arena and surprised that I never got any worse than a 2-1 on my NCOER and still kept my job. But as leaders it is on us to mentor those that are having issues, we can not pass off sub par performers in this day and age of the military. Given the facts that you presented you have 2 options, help him, or chapter him.
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In two weeks all this happened?
Sorry, I'm not a babysitter, but I'm also not one to pass the buck. As an NCO, he is held to a higher standard and is making an example of himself on what not to do.
My vote is not to pass him off and give someone else the headache, but to start the chapter paperwork and send him on his way.
Sorry, I'm not a babysitter, but I'm also not one to pass the buck. As an NCO, he is held to a higher standard and is making an example of himself on what not to do.
My vote is not to pass him off and give someone else the headache, but to start the chapter paperwork and send him on his way.
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SFC Robert Wheeler
Dude, so you don't feel any obligation to ask about how that whole mess started? Wouldn't it be good know how many combat tours this individual had done? Wouldn't it be nice to know if he received any injuries that may contribute to the situation. This behavior is typical of TBS suffers for example. There should be a continuum of options available to you as a leader to deal with the situation. Starting the chapter paperwork right away is abdicating your leadership responsibilities.
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Sir
with all due respect you should not post this question in this forum. as everyone is looking
i came across the same situation here two years ago
1 soldier was going trough really hard times
2 supervisor turned in to social media for advice
3 other soldiers in the leader command saw the post quickly the rumor spread
4 soldier committed suicided
5 widow went to court Sue The Army for 100 millions and the leader for another 100 million i PCS don't know what happened.
good luck
I'm sure you will find all the advice and support with your local COC good luck and god speed
with all due respect you should not post this question in this forum. as everyone is looking
i came across the same situation here two years ago
1 soldier was going trough really hard times
2 supervisor turned in to social media for advice
3 other soldiers in the leader command saw the post quickly the rumor spread
4 soldier committed suicided
5 widow went to court Sue The Army for 100 millions and the leader for another 100 million i PCS don't know what happened.
good luck
I'm sure you will find all the advice and support with your local COC good luck and god speed
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
Thanks for the note. For your situational awareness (in case you missed Part 2 of the thread), this situation happened more than 7 years ago and is now fully resolved. The SM progressed to have a good career and is now a veteran doing well as a civilian. I also changed the individual's name in the scenario. So just to be clear, this entire situation was resolved 7 years ago and everything is good, fortunately for all involved.
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There are many things to consider. First would be to start the paper trail on this Sgt's transgressions to CYA. Since this is the second time the DA occurred, I would get with the CO and request Command Directed Mental Health Evaluation to find the trigger that caused the DA (this could be anything from historical events in the past to something internal like finances or issues). A for the failure, a two fold approach. Find what is affecting him and have him study/Practice as needed
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