What's your experience with "clicks" in the Army?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:13:11 -0400

Maybe I'm oblivious or just plain naive, over the recent years I've had a lot of Senior NCO's tell me they weren't "awarded" an award or given a certain position because the weren't part of the "click". Now, I have seen it where people usually gravitate to those they feel more comforable with but as far as awards and duty positions I've been right where I'm supposed to be ... not because I was ok with a certain group of people ... Thoughts Rally Point ...

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 8:21 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:21:07 -0400

That issue is not service specific. Unfortunately all services have hit, and I have witnessed it in the AF as well.

Response by 1SG Nathanial Wood made Oct 28 at 2014 8:52 AM

1SG Nathanial Wood — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:52:57 -0400

While I'm sure there are cases where someone did not belong to the right clique and were discriminated against, I'm willing to bet far more Soldiers use this as an excuse for not getting what they think they deserve. Centralized promotion boards are a perfect example. When the list comes out for the next week you can hear non-selects talking about how so and so didn't deserve to be picked up. You'll hear very few people analyze the list to find out what the selectees had that they didn't. We tend to have difficulty identifying our own shortcomings.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 9:33 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 09:33:20 -0400

I didn't see much of Clicks until I got with a certain unit.
This is going to sound like complaining but I am just pointing out how it was

There were 2 clicks during one of my Deployments.
1. The "Kiss a** Click" whom were always buddy buddy with the NCOs, did half the work, extra time off, got more of a pity party, left word due to "illness", disappeared for hrs when angry….etc all cause they related with the NCOs. Which was VERY noticeable amongst the others who were getting screwed over constantly. They were getting way more then they deserved.

2. The "SB Click" the other half of the group whom always got the horrible end of the deals. 1st to start working, last to end working. Shorter breaks, more work, embrace the suck…etc We started calling ourselves SBs with our little code names cause what's the best thing to do? Make the best out of a sh*tty situation.

It wasn't until about 4/5 months in we all just "snapped" got tired of it. It didn't take change over night but we did our own thing to make them see how they were running things. Got us a few smokings and a** chewings but in the end it finally made a change. The SB Crew where a great group that stuck together tho thru thick and thin.

Response by LTC Gary Earls made Mar 10 at 2019 3:14 PM

LTC Gary Earls — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 15:14:33 -0400

I served in an Army Reserve unit from 1978 to 1991 and left because I was promoted to O-5 and there wasn't a position for me. I failed to look around at other units but back to the story. Most people got a Meritorious Service Medal but I didn't. Found out later the same happened to another fellow in the unit when he was promoted to O-5. The common denominator was that we both had served in the 101st in Viet Nam. Neither of us received an award. The garrison commander had served in the 24th Corps in Vietnam and was the senior command over the 101st. Coincidence?? Had to put it behind me. I still go to the unit reunions just to make contact with the guys that I served with and I avoid the West Point commander. :-)