Sgt Andrew Pouliot 213734 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Earlier I posted about writing about deployment experiences and I got some helpful information from some of you out there.<br /><br />This time, I have a more detailed question about this topic: what are your thoughts on writing about people you served with who performed poorly on the deployment, who caused problems, got into trouble, or otherwise did not live up to standards? Would you change their names or would you just not write about them at all?<br /><br />A perfect example of this is the story 'Roughneck Nine-One' by SFC Frank Antonelli (Ret). Sergeant Antonelli was part of an A-Team in Iraq that fought in the Battle of Debecka in 2003. His team was the first to use the Javelin antitank missile in combat. In his story, his commanding officer is referred to as 'Major X' because this major turned out to be a terrible leader and made several bad calls during their operations. Antonelli even went so far as to describe it in the end that he changed his name to Major X to prevent any defamation. <br /><br />On my deployment we had quite a few troublesome NCOs. Since I have been thinking about writing about our deployment, I brought this up with some of my boys and one of them said, "You realize that if you write about Sergeant Whatshisface, he will sue you" so it got me thinking. I know that whatever I write was from my point of view, it's my side of the story, even if I am being impartial to the fullest. Those who were not so good on the deployment might read that and think, Why would LCpl Pouliot write that about me that's not true. So I'm just trying to see what anyone's thoughts are on this, because I figure if I talk about the dynamic of our group and the stuff we did and went through, it would have to include these men and women because as terrible as they were, they were a part of all of it. I figure changing their names would work just fine. Thoughts? 2014-08-22T22:31:18-04:00 Sgt Andrew Pouliot 213734

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Earlier I posted about writing about deployment experiences and I got some helpful information from some of you out there.<br /><br />This time, I have a more detailed question about this topic: what are your thoughts on writing about people you served with who performed poorly on the deployment, who caused problems, got into trouble, or otherwise did not live up to standards? Would you change their names or would you just not write about them at all?<br /><br />A perfect example of this is the story 'Roughneck Nine-One' by SFC Frank Antonelli (Ret). Sergeant Antonelli was part of an A-Team in Iraq that fought in the Battle of Debecka in 2003. His team was the first to use the Javelin antitank missile in combat. In his story, his commanding officer is referred to as 'Major X' because this major turned out to be a terrible leader and made several bad calls during their operations. Antonelli even went so far as to describe it in the end that he changed his name to Major X to prevent any defamation. <br /><br />On my deployment we had quite a few troublesome NCOs. Since I have been thinking about writing about our deployment, I brought this up with some of my boys and one of them said, "You realize that if you write about Sergeant Whatshisface, he will sue you" so it got me thinking. I know that whatever I write was from my point of view, it's my side of the story, even if I am being impartial to the fullest. Those who were not so good on the deployment might read that and think, Why would LCpl Pouliot write that about me that's not true. So I'm just trying to see what anyone's thoughts are on this, because I figure if I talk about the dynamic of our group and the stuff we did and went through, it would have to include these men and women because as terrible as they were, they were a part of all of it. I figure changing their names would work just fine. Thoughts?

2014-08-22T22:31:18-04:00 2014-08-22T22:31:18-04:00 SSgt Private RallyPoint Member 213795

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="309190" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/309190-sgt-andrew-pouliot">Sgt Andrew Pouliot</a> I was in the command post during the cold war at Ramstein. First day there terrorists blew NATO HQ.

2014-08-22T23:08:23-04:00 2014-08-22T23:08:23-04:00 SPC Carson S. 622488

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>In my opinion, unless you are trying to incite a call-to-action against that person, there is no need to refer to them by name. You can still tell your story without recognizing that person in full; all you need from them is their character/actions for the sake of the story. Calling them out does nothing at this point. That's just how I see it, and that is how I write.

2015-04-27T12:29:44-04:00 2015-04-27T12:29:44-04:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 623114

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Poor examples are good teaching examples.

2015-04-27T16:20:21-04:00 2015-04-27T16:20:21-04:00 SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member 631477

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If it autobiographical in nature, change the names, if it's fiction, change the names. If it's being written for a screen play, change the names to protect not only the guilty, but also the innocent. You can always ask permission to use someone's name...have you tried that?

2015-04-30T11:15:41-04:00 2015-04-30T11:15:41-04:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 812308

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>It depends on the culture of your unit. Good units police themselves of cancer. Also you will have to think about the risk you are willing to assume

2015-07-13T18:10:43-04:00 2015-07-13T18:10:43-04:00 SGT Ronald Audas 816568

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Being 24 years old and married for 4 years,when I got drafted in 1966,gave me a little bit of maturity some of the younger people did not have. From this perspective, I was probably a bit more attentive of training personnel. Options are limited when dealing with less than competent leaders.Your best option is to do your job to the best of your ability,and try to maintain a standard above them.Calling these people out will only bring some resentment toward you. I used these soldiers as a great motivator in my case.As for your co-workers,there will always be the 10% rule.

2015-07-15T11:40:29-04:00 2015-07-15T11:40:29-04:00 2014-08-22T22:31:18-04:00