Leadership Dilemmas: If you were me, what would you have done? (PART 2)

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:55:01 -0500

Here is the Part 2 conclusion to my first post entitled “Leadership Dilemmas: If you were me, what would you have done? (PART 1)” which can be found at this thread: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/leadership-dilemmas-if-you-were-me-what-would-you-have-done-part-1

// CONCLUSION BELOW //

…Upon recognizing Sergeant Jones’ unfortunate trend, I preempted his removal from Alpha Company by reporting to my commander and taking full responsibility for working directly with Sergeant Jones. Over the next four months, I addressed Sergeant Jones’ personal and professional challenges by focusing him on positive future opportunities through which he could prove himself a loving husband and motivated soldier. I convinced my commander to allow Sergeant Jones and his wife to attend marriage counseling during duty hours, promising that I would work one-on-one with him in the evening to improve his job competence.

By showing Sergeant Jones that I was sincerely concerned about him, I was able to build a foundation of trust with him that proved vital to developing his on-the-job performance. Sergeant Jones’ life gradually reached a positive balance, and he proved himself one of the most reliable and hard-working soldiers in my platoon during our Iraq deployment.

** RallyPoint members: What actions of mine did you agree with, and what else would you have done differently? **

//

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 Private RallyPoint Member Col Private RallyPoint Member Capt Brandon Charters SSgt Gregory Guina CMSgt James Nolan 1SG Private RallyPoint Member SSG Private RallyPoint Member 1LT John Martin TSgt Joshua Copeland 1SG Private RallyPoint Member SFC William Swartz Jr SFC Private RallyPoint Member Cpl Private RallyPoint Member SFC Private RallyPoint Member SGT Thomas Lucken SGT Richard H. MAJ Private RallyPoint Member SGM Charles Brainard CPT Gregory Wagoner CMSgt James Nolan SFC Private RallyPoint Member SCPO Private RallyPoint Member MSG Wade Huffman SSG Private RallyPoint Member SFC Private RallyPoint Member SPC Brian Aranda Cpl Private RallyPoint Member 1SG Private RallyPoint Member SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member MAJ Private RallyPoint Member SFC William Swartz Jr SFC Private RallyPoint Member 1LT John Martin A1C Nathanial Snyder MSgt Allan Folsom CMDCM Gene Treants CWO2 Private RallyPoint Member LCpl Russell Velzen LTC Paul Labrador MSgt Allan Folsom CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member SGT Chris Stock SSG Justin McCoy CPT Michael Barden SSgt Alexander Ingram SGT Richard H. CMSgt James Nolan COL Steve Maranian SSG V. Michelle Woods SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SSG Peter Muse MSG Sean Hayes MAJ Private RallyPoint Member SPC(P) Micah Lavigne SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS 1LT Private RallyPoint Member SFC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 2:59 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:59:53 -0500

I agree with all of the actions you posted.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jan 5 at 2015 3:01 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:01:56 -0500

I actually like the way you handled it all the way around, I hate that it took an officer to turn around an NCO as that is something that his PSG/1SG should have handled at their levels..."Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties, they will not have to accomplish mine." But, I see nothing wrong with the manner in which you handled things.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 5 at 2015 3:08 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:08:35 -0500

Good job sir. I think that you hit all points with regards to SGT Jones.

I am still a little disappointed in the ownership from your NCOs. I hope that you and your PSG had a long sit down concerning SGT Jones and the reasons you chose the COA that you did. Hopefully that sparked further discussion about taking care of Soldiers, leadership philosophies, and how to mutually support each other. I would further hope that your PSG had a talk with the NCOs in your PLT to ensure that all were on the same page as the way ahead was forged.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Jan 5 at 2015 3:22 PM

SGT Richard H. — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:22:06 -0500

The only thing I would add to what you did here is giving all the SNCOs involved a ton of hell for not having done any of this. Good on you for succeeding where they quite conspicuously failed.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 3:41 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:41:56 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing, you obviously made a positive impact on SGT Jones. That was great. And you kept your commander informed.

But did you keep his NCO chain informed? You don't mention that, and I'll bet that could cause hard feelings, and feelings that the LT was doing NCO business.

Also, I wonder what SGT Jones's peers thought of SGT Jones being taken under the LT's wing? Did they see it as favoritism being shown to SGT Jones? I'm guessing there had to be some of that, which could cause problems.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 3:39 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:39:30 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing

That is Outstanding, Thank you for sharing this experience.

Pleas provide us with some of the details that helped your NCO redirect himself personally and professionally.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jan 5 at 2015 3:44 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:44:17 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing, Sir, all I can say is OUTSTANDING! I would be proud to serve under your command. We far to often see a "Sherman's march to the sea" mentality of slash and burn their career when a troop stumbles, you showed what REAL Leadership is!

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Jan 5 at 2015 3:45 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:45:51 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing Well done! Step 1: Talk to the solider (from my response to your last post) appears to have been fulfilled, along with even more powerful follow-through actions than I had considered.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jan 5 at 2015 4:49 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 16:49:42 -0500

Sir, by investing your personal time and consistent leadership presence, you demonstrated you genuine concern and care. Inside the uniform, Soldiers are actually people and people have needs and want to be able to trust those around them. Too many times (unfortunately) leaders are caught up in looking out for themselves instead of what is really important, the people around them! Job well done.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 5:23 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 17:23:34 -0500

I think you did the right thing Sir. Too many times we allow actions to become so great that the only response is to force the SM out or try to make them someone else's problem. As leaders our job is just that, to lead. We have to take care of our troops, in every way possible.

I just don't understand though why it got to that point, where was his leadership when it started for it to have gotten to the point that it was at. His issues should have been rectified prior to getting to the point where those options even existed.

Too many times do we, as leaders, see an issue that can be resolved, and don't do anything about it, until it is too late.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jan 5 at 2015 5:41 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 17:41:05 -0500

Well done and handled correctly, Sir. I wish your NCOs had done it this way rather than trying to pass him off as a problem for someone else, but you saved a good Soldier. Once again, well done.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 6:05 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:05:11 -0500

You did a great job Sir. I would have also included the SNCO's to understand your logic and to give them the proper mentoring that it took to get SGT Jones motivated. I believe the actions that you took should have been initiated by the SNCO core. If an officer has to get that far down into the weeds, then it is obvious that our SNCO's are not taking care of their people the way we should. I think I would have invited (voluntold) a few SNCO's to your after hour mentor sessions to give them a better understanding of what you required from them as leaders.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Jan 5 at 2015 6:38 PM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:38:20 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing Sir, your results speak volumes. In the end, you individual attention and depicting of caring changed this Soldiers personal and professional outlook. In my humble opinion, there is no greater definition of a leader. Great job sir!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 7:00 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 19:00:02 -0500

One of my favorite things I have learned in the military is to develop the ability to distinguish between problem Soldiers and Soldiers with problems. It's NOT the same thing.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jan 5 at 2015 7:09 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 19:09:51 -0500

CPT Aaron Kletzing Sir, I have commented on some, not all of the responses. I think that by stepping in, you turned a lump of coal into a diamond. And that is one of the things that I talk about with my folks "make me diamonds". To me the key point is that in salvaging and turning someone around, what happens is that a NCO who has experienced CRAP, evolves, and hopefully repeats the solid learned lesson and passes that on to future troops. It is always awesome to see a "turnaround".

Not that you need to hear it, but outstanding.

Response by CPT Gary Jugenheimer made Jan 7 at 2015 12:16 PM

CPT Gary Jugenheimer — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 12:16:19 -0500

I agree....good to see a young soldier get his focus back and life in order....also agree with NCO's....this should have been part of their challenge prior to you getting involved...but it worked out....for future apps, consult the chain first and then act...Good job!

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Jan 11 at 2015 2:15 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 14:15:26 -0500

I'm glad it turned out well sir, and it's great to show such sincere concern for your soldiers.

How did your NCOs feel about the end result? Did they feel you undermined them or did they feel it was a good learning experience? I could see it going either way so I'm curious as to their response.

I feel like this situation could positively or negatively impact many leaders in your previous company.

Response by PFC Lisa McDonald made Jul 31 at 2017 2:35 PM

PFC Lisa McDonald — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:35:06 -0400

You sir remind me of the type of leadership demonstrated in the movie "We were soldiers" and promoted by Lieutenant General Hal Moore.
Strong leaders turn those around them into strong leaders!
All the way with pride sir!