Should I use the open door policy for losing my driver job?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 May 2018 20:22:41 -0400

Very long story short i was recently my battalion commanders driver, and i was recently halfway relieved of the position. I have yet to be told that i am anything else. Yet they are holding more interviews for my position. The reason all of this happend was becouse i was told not to worry the truck was not dispatched in my name and the truck did not have any BII. I had asked for it several times but there is only so much a PFC can ask for. GUESS what happend our CSM and BC checked the truck for BII. Im sure many of you can guess the rest. Just need some advice. I am 24 and held professional positions in the civilian sector, this is why i'm guessing i was selected for the job in the first place.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2018 8:30 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 May 2018 20:30:19 -0400

My first question would be, who is the Sub Hand Receipt Holder for the vehicle? But, my advice before you use the Open Door Policy, is utilize your NCO Chain first. Talk with your Squad Leader about this. Let them work on your behalf. Whomever the vehicle was dispatched to, should have checked it to ensure the BII was there. The person who is the SHR holder should have checked to see if the BII was there. Now, that being said, you as the driver are held to a responsibility to check the BII is in place before rolling out of the motor pool. If the BII was/is missing, then documentation should have been made. If you have paperwork stating that the BII was never there even before you became the driver, then you have a good case to give to your Squad Leader.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made May 29 at 2018 8:55 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Tue, 29 May 2018 20:55:12 -0400

I can't tell you the particulars to the Army stuff, but I will tell you my position as a leader (and kind of a screw up E4 previously)... Open door policies are there for a reason. We sincerely mean it as a way to solve certain problems. Those probs are sensitive ones that you don't want everyone to hear. If it is an issue like yours, if i understand it correctly, should be brought up through your NCO's 1st. This is for 2 reasons. 1) most times it can be handled at the NCO level, not that I wouldn't like to handle all my people's problems, but there are only 24 hours in a day... 2) If it is something that can be handled and isn't sensitive, if you bring it to me I am in an awkward position. I will have to make a decision outside of the NCO's, without their involvement. If there was a punishment or an internal policy that I didn't know about, and I change it, then I have overturned all the NCO work. Cut both of us down.

Hope that helps!

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made May 29 at 2018 9:09 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Tue, 29 May 2018 21:09:34 -0400

Use your Chain of Command that's why it's there, best case scenario the situation is corrected. It should have been taken care of at the lowest level. I can't believe the CSM didn't look into this before they went replace mode. Worst case scenario is you get replaced and you back down to your team/Squad, learn from this and become a better leader down the line. In my day nobody wanted to be the BC's driver we rather stayed in our platoons just to avoid all the hoopla. If anything I think your attention to detail will be hyper sensitive from now on and you will stand up to those who want you to skip procedure and SOP's and tell you not to worry about it, it could have been much worse in the scheme of things. Damn, I almost wrote drive on meaning keep on going but then I figured you would think I was making a pun at your expense, old terms get you in trouble sometimes. :)

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2018 9:22 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 May 2018 21:22:40 -0400

What's BII? I'm guessing it's like what we called SL-3 items. Every end item usually has equipment that is there to enable it for mission. For a truck it's things that are used by the operator, 1st echelon. Jack, lug wrench, fire extinguisher, pioneering gear like pick, shovel etc. Check or hold? If the dispatcher annotates that SL-3 gear is not present on the trip ticket, the operator is not responsible for any of it when it is turned in. Assuming that's what you're talking about, it seems petty to get rid of you over. Use your Chain of Command for many reasons though, but mainly so you don't piss everyone in the chain off between you and the BN Cmdr. It also shows the CO that you respect the C of C, and aren't abusing any familiarity from driving for him/her. Don't assume what you're thinking, as there could be other reasons. Maybe a Company CO has a shortage and wants you to beef up his strength. Maybe the CO wants a higher grade for a driver. Maybe someone wants to ensure you're proficient in infantry. Ultimately he will decide because he's the CO.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 29 at 2018 9:33 PM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 29 May 2018 21:33:59 -0400

Please permit an old guy an off topic rant. I wish everyone on Rally Point would stop assuming that your alphabet soup is everyone else's alphabet soup, It is NOT. DYNWTFIM. ISFTOTS. IIFI. SKITFO. There was a time when they taught military correspondence and one of the rules of the written page was the first time you use an acronym plain language followed by the acronym in parentheses. Example: United States Marine Corps (USMC).

I assume that BII are Basic Issue Items that go with the vehicle (Jack, wheel chocks, spade, etc.). ANY time and EVERY time you are supposed to sign for something. and something doesn't seem correct, STOP!!! Take a deep breath, and tell the person who is checking the item out to you that you want them in THEIR hand, in ink, over their signature to note your exceptions. Exceptions to inventory should be written out because a check mark can be added later. If they won't do it, DO NOT sign, ask to speak to the first Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) in their Chain of Command (CoC). [See how I did that acronym thing]. If you don't get what you want, keep going up the CoC, until you do.

Years ago, when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, it was common to get green troops to sign for items that were not there. Then the items were sold to pawn shops and Army Navy surplus stores. I implemented a policy, that no Lance Corporals and junior could sign for anything unless one of the platoons NCO's accompanied the Marine to the issue point and double checked the inventory. upon sign in or Permanent Change of Station checkout, It was amazing how much less gear was missing.

I don't know how long you've been the Battalion Commander's Driver. In my day it was a 4 month gig. It's not good for your professional development to be in such rarefied surroundings for longer.

If you want a translation of "DYNWIM. ISFTOTS. III. SKITFO." No, but here' a hint, each acronym is the first letters of each word, some with coarse language included.

Response by SSG Ronald Bloodworth made May 30 at 2018 6:09 AM

SSG Ronald Bloodworth — Wed, 30 May 2018 06:09:02 -0400

In my experience, when you’re a Battalion Commander’s driver and there are ongoing interviews for that position, you’re being replaced at some point in the near future. Also in my experience, things don’t happen in a vacuum or by coincidence. There is always, and I do mean ALWAYS, a reason behind their decision. You may or may not know their reasons, but be assured that they do exist.
When privates came to me with concerns backbin the day, I always asked questions of them to get a clearer picture of the situation before offering any advice or making decisions regarding their situations. Generally speaking, some of my questions give them the impression that o was beating up on them because they were interpreted as being unsupportive. For the sake of full disclosure, I had a very specific reason for asking the way I did. I simply wanted the entire unvarnished truth Nd wverybscrap of information I could get before deciding the best course of action to solve the issue and human nature will invariably cause one to paint a sympathetic mental picture in the minds of those who’s advice or assistance they seek. No one is immune, myself included...
In all candor, I believe this is also the case in this situation.
I would ask this:
How long have you been assigned as the BC’a driver?
Have there been other incidents prior to the one you mentioned?
Has there been a pattern of occurrences or on the spot corrections by others during your time in that position?
Also in my experience, things don’t suddenly materialize out of thin air. There is almost always a leadup to the action taken. (Little things that build up to the final scenario)
One thing for sure that I have seen is that soldiers who spend an extended period of time in a position like that (BC’a driver) almost always gave detriment later in their career. If that position was meant be an extended or permanent one, it would probably have its own MOS. I honestly don’t think you are doing yourself any favors by trying to stay in that position for any longer than you have to be. While it can have a certain attraction, it can easily cause problems later on down the line, especially in regards to maintaining technical and tactical proficiency in your actual MOS skill set.
(EXAMPLE): if you remain as BC’s driver for an entire tour of duty and then receive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, you would definitely be lacking in practical experience and critical skill knowledge that you would expected to have when you reach your knew duty station. In short, your new unit will almost certainly be expecting an experienced Infantry Soldier, not a Battalion Commander’s driver.

My on advice would be to go back to a line platoon and get all the training and experience you can get, while you still can. You’ll find it far more beneficial in the future, especially in positions of leadership, if you get that far.
Granted, being in a line unit ha it’s own brand of suck that comes with it but the payoff is a hell of lot higher in the end, for you, and especially for any soldiers you my lead later on..
Just my opinion.....

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made May 30 at 2018 10:34 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Wed, 30 May 2018 10:34:43 -0400

Partner, you should have told the CSM you were having trouble securing the BII and getting dispatched properly. It would have been a huge embarrassment for the Commander to be stranded without the proper equipment or to have been stopped at a BDE or Division maintenance check point and make the hit list. You're also older and have more life experience then the average PFC if you held "professional positions". I'm glad to hear the BC and CSM were doing equipment checks and setting a good example.
I had a lot of drivers from SQD LDR through BDE CSM and never had anything like that happen. I also served as a Driver as a young Soldier serving SQD LDRs, CO's and GO's and wouldn't have let something like that happen to my leaders. Unfortunately you have probably earned a trip out of the command section. Dust yourself off, learn to be more forceful and drive on.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2018 10:59 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 10:59:58 -0400

Halfway relieved? What does that mean?