Should SM's blame the Military for getting "screwed" on assignments, or themselves for not working for that desired job?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 18:24:19 -0400

I often hear from Soldiers, "The Army f***** me, thats why i'm getting out". Is it necessarily the way the Army operates, or the fact that SM's are not pushing themselves to maintain standards so they can excel?

Response by SFC Amir Kurdy made Aug 19 at 2014 1:26 PM

SFC Amir Kurdy — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 13:26:40 -0400

Sir
Both the Army and the SM share the blame. soldiers not working on their dream, or the Army not helping soldiers getting where they need to be. When I was in 2-2 I didn't have the time to get into any schools, military or civilian.
But soldiers share the same blame for not trying something new and quieting on them salve.
FYF, BIG DEUCE

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 19 at 2014 2:37 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 14:37:34 -0400

BLUF: Are there jobs and assignments that are less than desirable in the military? Yes. Does someone STILL have to do them? YES.

Sometimes you have to take one for the team and do that dirty job that no one wants. Assignments are what you make of them. You can either perservere and overcome or you can pout. Succeed or fail, it's up to you.

Now, on the flip side, someone (whether it's chain of command, branche, etc) needs to be looking out for people too. If you had to put someone into an assignment no one wanted, the least you can do is try to get them to a more desirable assignment next time around. Spread around the suck as much as possible.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Aug 19 at 2014 6:02 PM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 18:02:04 -0400

I have to agree with LTC Paul Labrador there are jobs no one wants that someone has to do.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 20 at 2014 6:02 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 06:02:10 -0400

Junior enlisted don't have a career manager who works with them and sets them along a path to success. Unless you have some dirt on your branch manager, enlisted are pretty much cannon fodder. Schools are very hard to come by. Most 4187's will hit the circular file unless it is a reenlistment option, or a specialized unit is facing a critical MOS shortage.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2014 7:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 07:18:03 -0400

BLUF: you joined so go where your told and do what your told. In saying that however you are still able to call your branch and request assignments. That doesn't mean you'll get it but you have to try. Ultimately the needs of the Army are top priority.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Aug 20 at 2014 9:28 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 09:28:16 -0400

In the AF, enlisted assignments often depend more on two thing. Timing and manning. You will have one person who PCS's ever few years because they happen to hit the right cycle with the Overseas returnee window and aren't tagged with a deployment (which overrides assignments) and aren't in overmanned AFSCs and know how to work the Equal, Equal Plus and THRMIS and BOP systems to get assignments while others are in chronically overmanned AFSCs that there are literally no places to move to or just so few places to move you tend to stay at those places long periods of time.

Response by SGT Ali Alsaffar made Aug 20 at 2014 1:28 PM

SGT Ali Alsaffar — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 13:28:06 -0400

Leadership of any unit are the ones who should be held accountable for holding a soldier's career progression; weather it's a promotion, military school or some high speed assignment. Soldiers on the other hand and more specifically the senior specialist should always attempt to progress, meaning research the requirements of any desired school or assignment, talk with their career counselor and get some input from their PSG or 1SG.