What's everyone's opinion on a COC forcing their guys to have extra duty for not wanting to attend a command sponsored function?

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 May 2017 00:24:55 -0400

Response by TSgt David L. made May 1 at 2017 12:51 AM

TSgt David L. — Mon, 01 May 2017 00:51:34 -0400

I think you wont make Chief. Compulsory attendance is expected if you want to promote ahead of your peers. Just my 2 cents.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made May 1 at 2017 3:28 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Mon, 01 May 2017 03:28:36 -0400

Ha-ha-ha, forced recreation..........the Army does that too....."Your going to have fun and like it or else....." I think it is better to go along with it rather than fight or resist it as the club of extra duty suggests.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 1 at 2017 8:12 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Mon, 01 May 2017 08:12:24 -0400

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member In a full unit command function there are only two choices commonly, participate as an attendee or participate as a supporter.
No reason to "punish" non attendees , but USE THE TO SUPPORT THE EVENT....you bet, use as many as are needed to support the function...the other Non attendees? Well someone has to do the routine assignments not being covered down on by the attendees.

It is a Unit planed, resourced event on the training schedule, perfectly acceptable use of military manpower to support.

If you don't want to go to a esprit de Corps unit event, nor even support it...It is more telling about you than the unit.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made May 1 at 2017 9:36 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Mon, 01 May 2017 09:36:01 -0400

LOL. Mandatory fun day! I earned not just 1 but 2 spiral fractures in my fingers playing mandatory flag football during mandatory battalion fun day.
Ahh...
Enjoy!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 1 at 2017 10:28 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 01 May 2017 10:28:15 -0400

Ah, the "Command Performance". Be aware that a Command function is duty, and if optional, the Command will think up an alternative duty. Never look at it as biting into your time off. That's the wrong mental orientation that leads to problems later. It isn't "Extra Duty", it's "Alternative Duty". You're not paying any particular price, just doing something different. The reason you'll get looked down on is the bosses look for you to set the example and will take note of what example you're setting. That is what TSgt David L. is referring to.

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 1 at 2017 12:19 PM

PO1 John Miller — Mon, 01 May 2017 12:19:07 -0400

Is it really extra duty, or are you holding down the shop and taking care of what needs to be done there while everyone else is at the command function?
Not a damn thing wrong with Mandatory Fun days.

Response by PO3 Maria Flasher made May 1 at 2017 12:30 PM

PO3 Maria Flasher — Mon, 01 May 2017 12:30:13 -0400

I could see how the COC might view attendance to these sorts of functions as a show of force or support. When I was an MS on board a ship we were under the understanding that these events were not just for the hell of it but to build relationships and mutual respect between the ranks in a division. Basically, not showing up was highly frowned upon and in some cases "punishable" because it could be seen of disrespect to higher enlisted and officers in your COC, which is punishable under UCMJ. Also, to put together these functions, your division was spending budgeted govt. money did not shoeing up was a waste of govt. funds.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made May 1 at 2017 1:23 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Mon, 01 May 2017 13:23:24 -0400

Mandatory fun. I remember it well. Just suck it up and attend. It was usually better than the alternative "fun" for not attending.
Plus it shows Command involvement, Command support and all that other good eval stuff.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made May 1 at 2017 2:58 PM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Mon, 01 May 2017 14:58:51 -0400

Is this "function" a fun day or a military function. There are many function where "all hands" are "invited" to attend; such as an award ceremony, promotion ceremony, going away party, etc. I always encourage my folks to attend and to be properly attired as warranted by the function.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made May 1 at 2017 4:08 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Mon, 01 May 2017 16:08:39 -0400

I really have no issue with it because there's always going to be someone on duty. So what better person than the person who decided they didn't want any part of whatever command function was going on.

Our biggest command functions is the Marine Corps Ball. As it's typically been put, even if you aren't going to the Ball, you're still going to the Ball. So the ones who don't want to go, end up on the working parties or they're stuck with duty at the barracks or the acting designated drivers.

I don't really see it as a punishment or anything. This is the military. This is what we signed up for.

Response by PFC Thomas Lusk made May 1 at 2017 8:37 PM

PFC Thomas Lusk — Mon, 01 May 2017 20:37:30 -0400

in the military you do what you're told

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 1 at 2017 10:38 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:38:04 -0400

Staff Duty, CHarge of Quarters (CQ for Army types), exterior guard detail, and the whatever the Naval equivalents are (Quarterdeck, OOD?) will be filled by someone. May as well be someone not going to the Command Event. Without knowing what the "Command Event" and "Extra Duty" are for comparison can't really opine on it.

So if a reception, ball, formal ceremony, or some community event is the Command Event and the Extra Duty is standing watch while everyone is out, serving as a courtesy patrol at the event venue (saving drunk shipmates from themselves), lugging stuff back and forth to the event in a utility uniform, or otherwise holding down the fort while it is going on, that is the cost of doing business.

Commanders may work service members 7 days a week, 365 if there is a mission requirement to do so.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 2 at 2017 11:41 PM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 02 May 2017 23:41:48 -0400

Not good... but that is where we got the term mandatory fun. Sounds like a poor command climate.

Response by CW3 Kim B. made May 4 at 2017 4:17 PM

CW3 Kim B. — Thu, 04 May 2017 16:17:59 -0400

Someone will complain whether a unit has one or not. It is even more vocal if a unit doesn't have one.......comments like, "this unit is so $&#!*$up, they don't even have a mandatory fun day"! IMHO, plan a great event and good things will happen for the unit and it's members.

Response by Sgt George Lawrence made May 4 at 2017 8:54 PM

Sgt George Lawrence — Thu, 04 May 2017 20:54:12 -0400

What a riot. Mandatory fun day? I can just hear my old DI at MCRD San Diego "You maggots WILL have fun."

Response by SGT Patrick Wells made May 4 at 2017 10:26 PM

SGT Patrick Wells — Thu, 04 May 2017 22:26:58 -0400

I remember one year we had a poor showing for the Co. party. The following year at the announcement of the CO. party we were informed that everyone would be there and everyone will have fun. We really did usually have a great unit party. The last one we had prior to my PCS was on a steamboat to a large sandbar in the Tanana river where we had a meal of fresh caught salmon and sides.

Response by SSG John Jensen made May 5 at 2017 1:43 AM

SSG John Jensen — Fri, 05 May 2017 01:43:28 -0400

there have been events where there was a call for volunteer(s) for CQ or other duty that was needed and I volunteered sometimes so that the others could have fun, and frequently got thank you s and lots of munchies or other stuff

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2018 8:34 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:34:59 -0400

I don’t agree but I can’t say it isn’t typical. Mandatory fun isn’t a new concept to the military.

Response by SPC David Willis made Mar 16 at 2018 10:46 AM

SPC David Willis — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 10:46:16 -0400

Well if you're not going to participate, you're generally going to be put into a pool of people who will randomly be picked at a rate of 100% to staff the event. Details aren't punishment. I never understood the big deal, sure its "mandatory fun" haha lets laugh at the oxymoron but you show up for an hour or two, drink beer and leave after command has given their incredibly rousing speech.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2018 3:15 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 15:15:40 -0400

Mando Fun is a requirement or your standing the watch's of the people attending. Your required to be somewhere during working hours if you don't want to attend the event then you need to be in your work center or standing Watch so others can attend.

Now if this is after working hours and they are punishing those that don't want to give up the little free time they have that's an issue. Yes I have seen it happen. As a PO1 I'm telling you get involved with these events, get on the planning comities, volunteer for the setups and the clean ups. I know its a pain and takes away from your free time BUT it WILL reflect in your evals. It might be the thing that gets you ranked Higher and helps with awards and your promotion to Sec past just acing the Test.

Response by CPL Any Jim made May 7 at 2018 10:09 AM

CPL Any Jim — Mon, 07 May 2018 10:09:24 -0400

Sounds fair ? Rewarding extra duty for not attending command function ? But doess it go both ways ? If you attend the function do you get a day off later with out asking , or favorable actions awarded out of no where ? Its fair ' but is there a reward for attending or just a reward for not attending ?

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made Jun 11 at 2020 5:48 PM

SGT Justin Brothen — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 17:48:43 -0400

Been fhere bud, NCO's that didnt buy tickets for a company ball, were put on detail for it. Thats life man, itll be over with before you know it.