Posted on Oct 17, 2019
What happened to troop and company level supply? Where exactly has the failure to supply soldiers started?
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I know this issue isn’t just local, it seems to be happening everywhere. Soldiers are forced to buy hundreds of dollars on basic things that their supply should be providing to them. This includes: awards, ranks, face paint, even batteries of every kind, the list goes on. For someone like me who has been in for a while and seen a few promotions, these small expenses are a simple annoyance. That being said, we have soldiers coming in making $600 a pay check and are expected to drop $60 on their dress blues For unit awards and unit crests, going through multiple promotions, let’s call it roughly $35-$50 for ranks all together during each promotion, face paint and enough batteries to sustain them during field problems, about $25 or more per field event....
I don’t think I need to continue, we all get the point. What has happened to our supply? Is it laziness when it comes to ordering? Not enough funding? Are supply clerks told to withhold these basic needs? At what point did we stop supplying our soldiers for the mission on basic needs? Does anyone have a similar experience? Cause everywhere I go it seems to be the same since 2014.
I don’t think I need to continue, we all get the point. What has happened to our supply? Is it laziness when it comes to ordering? Not enough funding? Are supply clerks told to withhold these basic needs? At what point did we stop supplying our soldiers for the mission on basic needs? Does anyone have a similar experience? Cause everywhere I go it seems to be the same since 2014.
Supply
Team Leader
Section Leader
19D: Cavalry Scout
11B: Infantryman
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 17
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I have an idea where it went sideways. When ULLS transitioned to GCCS-A and the S8/S4 had to financially approve every financial transaction, hence every requisition. This scrutiny is happening with everything including deadlining class IX for pacing items. Most units are simply trying to handle deadline parts and don't always get to those.
Before that there was a MRF at the MMC which prevented the ordering of stupid stuff on an established list (Leatherman's, printers etc) but pushed through Class IX parts. Now the MRF is at the unit level in zPark. So this zPark is a hold file where those reqs sit until they are funded and the money flows in GFEBS. That's where all those other items are you are talking about, because it is all the same color money.
Before that there was a MRF at the MMC which prevented the ordering of stupid stuff on an established list (Leatherman's, printers etc) but pushed through Class IX parts. Now the MRF is at the unit level in zPark. So this zPark is a hold file where those reqs sit until they are funded and the money flows in GFEBS. That's where all those other items are you are talking about, because it is all the same color money.
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Supply is usually out of things like unit awards and patches. I was told that the Army will/should always provide you with 1 of everything when it comes to awards and uniform accessories, after that it's on you.
Funding is an issue, bad supply Soldiers are another, but they may also not be told what is needed. If they don't know, they can't order. So when a Soldier just says "screw it, I'll buy a box of batteries" then supply doesn't have to order because it was handled otherwise.
Face paint is still a thing?!?!
Also when it comes to uniforms, SMs receive an allowance each year for it. They just happen to spend it on beer instead.
When it comes to gear, the Army issues an full CIF issue. Is it the best equipment? not at all, but it does the trick. If a Soldier decides he/she wants to spend money on extra gear or better gear that's their choice.
It comes down to holding those Soldiers - supply, PSG, 1SG, S4 to do their job. Stop buying batteries and force supply to do it. If someone says just go buy it say no, you cannot be forced to purchase stuff that should be issued. Forcing functions are just that. When theres command climate surveys etc.. state the problems, go talk to the S4, talk to the 1SG. You're a SSG 19D so bring this stuff up, supply requests are your thing at the next rank, they cover it in ALC. Use your yellow reports.
Funding is an issue, bad supply Soldiers are another, but they may also not be told what is needed. If they don't know, they can't order. So when a Soldier just says "screw it, I'll buy a box of batteries" then supply doesn't have to order because it was handled otherwise.
Face paint is still a thing?!?!
Also when it comes to uniforms, SMs receive an allowance each year for it. They just happen to spend it on beer instead.
When it comes to gear, the Army issues an full CIF issue. Is it the best equipment? not at all, but it does the trick. If a Soldier decides he/she wants to spend money on extra gear or better gear that's their choice.
It comes down to holding those Soldiers - supply, PSG, 1SG, S4 to do their job. Stop buying batteries and force supply to do it. If someone says just go buy it say no, you cannot be forced to purchase stuff that should be issued. Forcing functions are just that. When theres command climate surveys etc.. state the problems, go talk to the S4, talk to the 1SG. You're a SSG 19D so bring this stuff up, supply requests are your thing at the next rank, they cover it in ALC. Use your yellow reports.
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SSG (Join to see)
I’ve requested these things multiple times and they aren’t being purchased. We are required 2 face paints a field problem and go through usually all of it in about 5 days (Schofield is SUPER big into face paint for some reason).
Respectfully, clothing allowance is also a joke. You get what....$350? By regs, a uniform should have a life of 6 months, not to mention those that inevitably get destroyed during field problems. That being said, if you save one To include boots for special occasions being issued 4 uniforms, that’s still a pair of boots, 6 uniforms (3 per 6 months), all ASU And PT fixings.
We all make it work and I get that money doesn’t grow on trees for units to spend. The last thing we could do though is supply soldiers basic things to alleviate the financial burden.
Respectfully, clothing allowance is also a joke. You get what....$350? By regs, a uniform should have a life of 6 months, not to mention those that inevitably get destroyed during field problems. That being said, if you save one To include boots for special occasions being issued 4 uniforms, that’s still a pair of boots, 6 uniforms (3 per 6 months), all ASU And PT fixings.
We all make it work and I get that money doesn’t grow on trees for units to spend. The last thing we could do though is supply soldiers basic things to alleviate the financial burden.
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
CW2 (Join to see) - "Face paint is still a thing?!?!" I feel ya.
In the early 70s One of my PFCs made the comment, "Instead of putting this camo every 1/2 hour then humping and sweating it off, why don't we just hop into the dye vat for the t-shirts and color ourselves green."
For just a moment everyone looked at each other and nodded before we ROTFLOAO.
In the early 70s One of my PFCs made the comment, "Instead of putting this camo every 1/2 hour then humping and sweating it off, why don't we just hop into the dye vat for the t-shirts and color ourselves green."
For just a moment everyone looked at each other and nodded before we ROTFLOAO.
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CW2 (Join to see)
That's an insane amount of face paint...must be some jungle warfare thing. That's insane and that should absolutely be supplied - I'd have some words with the S4 OIC/NCOIC on that one.
Figure 2 uniforms get destroyed a year, with 2 being still serviceable, your allowance will cover them, plus enough for badges, sewing, and incidentals, and a pair of boots. Every third year is usually the "big" allowance at like $450 to cover even more.
While downrange there's also the ADO option to stock up and replace stuff - including PT clothes.
If you guys are chewing through uniforms that fast, 1 I'd like to think you're getting some great training, 2 are they repairable?
I've seen a lot of uniforms destroyed because of improper wear (blown out crotches particularly- wearing them too low)
Again though, if it's that big of a problem I'd write it all down in an MFR as well as stop purchasing things with your own funds so that the higher ups see that supply is not working.
Figure 2 uniforms get destroyed a year, with 2 being still serviceable, your allowance will cover them, plus enough for badges, sewing, and incidentals, and a pair of boots. Every third year is usually the "big" allowance at like $450 to cover even more.
While downrange there's also the ADO option to stock up and replace stuff - including PT clothes.
If you guys are chewing through uniforms that fast, 1 I'd like to think you're getting some great training, 2 are they repairable?
I've seen a lot of uniforms destroyed because of improper wear (blown out crotches particularly- wearing them too low)
Again though, if it's that big of a problem I'd write it all down in an MFR as well as stop purchasing things with your own funds so that the higher ups see that supply is not working.
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
CW2 (Join to see) - Good point about if supply is not working then the COs might fix it.
Nothing like getting an ass chewing to focus your attention on a problem.
Nothing like getting an ass chewing to focus your attention on a problem.
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I’ve had the same probably since I’ve been in as well. There was one point where our supply had 200+ pairs of Oakley M frames. They told us they didn’t have any but randomly ones and twos would happen to stumble across some new eyepro
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