What advice do you have for someone who keeps getting excessive CQ shifts? Should I just suck it up, go to the IG, or something else?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:54:18 -0400

Ever since I came to Germany, I've had to pull a lot of cq shifts more than I did back in the states. Every week and/or weekend I have duty. If you're not a medic or in a position where you are exempt, my platoon, non medics, and I pull 4 or 5x a month. Most of these exemptions that others get can still pull CQ but no one questions it since they do "mission" but they stay in the barracks all the time. It's been excessive, that I only get 1 day off out of the week. I haven't complained yet because I was just sucking it all up but this is just getting unfair and last month was the last string, I had to pull 3 Saturdays and 1 Sunday. Yes we don't have a lot of NCOs, and most are exempt so that lead us non medics to pull more shifts. There is no problem with junior enlisted tho. One thing I recommended was to have 2 DA-6 for duty and non duty days or only have 1 person at the desk since other companies only run by 1 person but they don't want to listen. So am I doomed or just suck it up like I've been doing? I just wouldn't know what to do if I'm on the list to pull both upcoming holidays!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 14 at 2019 3:57 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:57:10 -0400

How much longer are you going to be stationed there, if not much longer I'd ride it out.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2019 4:00 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 16:00:49 -0400

Why are medics exempt? And what positions are deemed exempt?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Oct 14 at 2019 6:02 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 18:02:37 -0400

Have you asked the 1SG to show you the duty roster? You can you know.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Oct 14 at 2019 7:35 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 19:35:04 -0400

Ask your squad leader or platoon sergeant for an appointment with the first sergeant. Ask your 1SG about the frequency of your CQ Duties. I pulled a lot of Staff Duty when I was in Germany because the SSG pulled battalion SD and PSG got brigade SD which there were not as many E-7s in the brigade. I sucked it up which over time and additional staff sergeants, things got easier.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Oct 14 at 2019 7:41 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 19:41:26 -0400

When you get home ... visit a VA Hospital ... you can tell the Disabled Vets how hard you had it... Ya gotta speak loud to the deaf ones... You can also tell the Wheelchair guys about how you hated sitting all the time at a desk.

Response by MSG John Joseph made Oct 14 at 2019 7:42 PM

MSG John Joseph — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 19:42:13 -0400

Why are you openly asking this on a public forum when I'm sure there's competent leadership in your COC?

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Oct 14 at 2019 7:46 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 19:46:25 -0400

I used to volunteer to do CQ to cover Holidays for young soldiers.. so they could have good times and memories.. I had lived my life with many days under my belt..I was a 47 year CPL at the time. Some of my best stories and memories come from Guard Duty, Fire Watch and CQ...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2019 8:27 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 20:27:13 -0400

I would love to have CQ shifts on the regular like that. You know how much school work you can get done in 24 uninterrupted hours? At least an entire week's worth of homework. When I was married and going to school I had to barter with my wife to get a few hours away from the house with no responsibilities so that I could do homework. You're in a position where you can take school, plus get money from FAFSA for more school, plus because it's OCONUS you can take additional school for the local language without hurting your TA, and you're getting time to do it all. If you aren't going home during the holidays you can make some extra money pulling holiday shifts for others, all while accomplishing school. You guys are lucky these days. When I joined the Army the first time, before 9/11, TA only covered 75% of your tuition and you had to pay for the other 25% out of pocket. For an unmarried E4 making $600 a month, that was almost impossible - after accounting for beer money.
So, like the saying goes, when the sun is out make hay. It may be a decade before you're in another job position or life circumstances where you can max out your college. It costs you nothing but time, and it's time you already are trying to fill with something
Also, take a few handy correspondence courses and your DLC while you're at it. As an E5 you should be focusing on meeting the requirements for making E7. A degree (preferably bachelor), correspondence courses geared toward support operations (or anything 91X), and raising your PT score will make you more competitive than your peers. When I did SD I would keep a kettle bell and knock out a few presses while watching movies. Use the time that you have in a constructive manner. It's actually a gold mine for you

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 14 at 2019 8:53 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 20:53:57 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I was dedicated to inspecting Duty Rosters for correctness and bias.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 14 at 2019 9:13 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 21:13:18 -0400

During my careers, military and private industry, there were people in power that were assholes. My theory was, suck it up, do your best, and eventually, one of the two of you will be transferred. Worked out well for me in both arenas.

Response by SFC Luis (Coolwhip) Ochoa made Oct 15 at 2019 7:35 AM

SFC Luis (Coolwhip) Ochoa — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 07:35:57 -0400

So what’s the real story? Be honest!

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Oct 15 at 2019 9:49 AM

SFC Jim Ruether — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 09:49:02 -0400

Maybe you are doing such an outstanding job they appreciate the fact that you are in charge and monitoring the unit. Suck it up and continue to do the best you can do. You may be surprised who notices these things. Just remember nobody likes a whiner! There's a roster and you're on it, do your job, do your duty!

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Oct 15 at 2019 9:49 AM

MSG Gary Eckert — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 09:49:28 -0400

The IG is not your answer. The regulation that covers duty rosters makes using a separate weekend numbering system solely the discretion of the Commander. Ask to see the 1SG with your PSG and then volunteer for some NCO professional development. Offer to take over the preparation of the DA Form 6 for a couple of months if the 1SG agrees to split weekends/holidays into a separate set of numbers to see if that will improve unit morale with the weekend duties being shared evenly. Agree that you will keep the DA Form 6 current so that when he wants to publish the duty roster it will be ready to go. This will accomplish a couple of things, you get the result you are looking for and after a couple of months running the DA Form 6, you will have new found respect for how hard it is to maintain the DA Form 6 will all the changes in duty availability that soldiers have.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 15 at 2019 10:54 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 10:54:07 -0400

So what you're telling me is you have a ton of off days due to CQ recovery, so you aren't working as often as everyone else, and somehow don't know well enough to be grateful that you're being handed a silver platter full of sham?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 15 at 2019 2:56 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 14:56:56 -0400

The DA form 6 already accounts for separate control of weekday and weekends. If you are pulling that much duty you should have your platoon sergeant inquire and explain. If he or she cannot then ask to speak with the 1SG and respectfully ask to get an update as to why you are pulling so much duty. The 1SG should also be willing to show you the form 6. If all else fails ask to speak to the CSM and then the IG if all else fails. Thank you for your service.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2019 4:45 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 16:45:04 -0400

Hello SGT Johnson, I have been the one that has had to do the duty roster for the company. I can tell you from 1st hand experience, the list of capable NCO's to do CQNCO and SDNCO gets short very fast. Unfortunately being a SGT in a unit that has alot of expemtions and little to no NCO's is going to make your experience there rather horrible. I was stationed on Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, in an aviation unit and we had 1 NCO and 1 runner, and a small list of NCO's that ran CQ, so i know how you feel. I have 2 suggestions for you, both are lame but valid; Get promoted, or just roll with the punches. For the holidays, start putting in your 4 day passes, that way your not on the duty roster. For us, the duty roster is due to Battalion 7 days prior to the start of the duty month.