Platoon Sergeant
Platoon Sergeant
Posted on Dec 13, 2024
Can an PSG outside of my NCO support channel direct me to disclose my behavioral health concerns/information?
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Basically, there is an NCO who was my platoon sergeant for about 4 days. In this time period, I suffered from a behavioral health crisis-- which I could have absolutely managed on my own.
I explained how this was a personal issue, and one that I did not want to disclose.
The NCO in question effectively gaslit me into telling him. The NCO told me how he wasn't able to help me without knowing what it was, this is a day after he recommended me for UCMJ as he thought I was lying to him. I showed him evidence that I was not and he withdrew the recommendation.
This next day he apologized and tried to help me. Scared, doing my best to hold back tears, and worried that I would lose the dream job I worked hard for-- I told him I was scared to talk about my behavioral health crisis.
He promised me that it would remain between the two of us, and that he just wanted to know so that he could help me. I told him. He gave me some kind words. Two days later everyone in the unit knew and I was being referred to behavioral health services by my command and removed from the training I was in.
After this, I was transferred back to my original platoon. Despite that, this NCO still acts as if he is my platoon sergeant. He had his squad leaders inspect my room randomly, he has gone out of his way to get his own personal accountability of me even when I've already reported to my actual NCO.
Now, he wants me to relay what the garrison behavioral health services tell me when I go to see them.
I already feel wrong trust his rank regardless of his person-- despite how much I want to trust my leadership. He says he's just trying to help me but I'm genuinely scared this is just another plot of his and that this is all a facade to achieve his own personal agenda.
I'd especially rather just keep my personal health matters between me and my chain of command.
I just don't know what to do... It's not like I can just go up to him and say "SSG, you lied to me and now I can't trust you" and I also can't say "SSG, I don't have to tell you about my personal health situation"
Moreover I don't want to say any of that. I want to respect him because I respect the rank, but is my only option here really to just do what he says when it's about my personal crisis?
Thanks everyone for reading and helping. I know there's a right answer here, I just don't know what it is
I explained how this was a personal issue, and one that I did not want to disclose.
The NCO in question effectively gaslit me into telling him. The NCO told me how he wasn't able to help me without knowing what it was, this is a day after he recommended me for UCMJ as he thought I was lying to him. I showed him evidence that I was not and he withdrew the recommendation.
This next day he apologized and tried to help me. Scared, doing my best to hold back tears, and worried that I would lose the dream job I worked hard for-- I told him I was scared to talk about my behavioral health crisis.
He promised me that it would remain between the two of us, and that he just wanted to know so that he could help me. I told him. He gave me some kind words. Two days later everyone in the unit knew and I was being referred to behavioral health services by my command and removed from the training I was in.
After this, I was transferred back to my original platoon. Despite that, this NCO still acts as if he is my platoon sergeant. He had his squad leaders inspect my room randomly, he has gone out of his way to get his own personal accountability of me even when I've already reported to my actual NCO.
Now, he wants me to relay what the garrison behavioral health services tell me when I go to see them.
I already feel wrong trust his rank regardless of his person-- despite how much I want to trust my leadership. He says he's just trying to help me but I'm genuinely scared this is just another plot of his and that this is all a facade to achieve his own personal agenda.
I'd especially rather just keep my personal health matters between me and my chain of command.
I just don't know what to do... It's not like I can just go up to him and say "SSG, you lied to me and now I can't trust you" and I also can't say "SSG, I don't have to tell you about my personal health situation"
Moreover I don't want to say any of that. I want to respect him because I respect the rank, but is my only option here really to just do what he says when it's about my personal crisis?
Thanks everyone for reading and helping. I know there's a right answer here, I just don't know what it is
Mental Health
Platoon Sergeant
Army Regulations
Posted 29 d ago
Responses: 3
If this person is NOT in your NCO Support Channel but within the same unit, you can do two things:
1. Ask your current platoon Sergeant to intervene on your behalf, or
2. Ask your 1SG to intervene on your behalf.
In other words, ask them to tell that other NCO to stay in their lane and mind their business.
1. Ask your current platoon Sergeant to intervene on your behalf, or
2. Ask your 1SG to intervene on your behalf.
In other words, ask them to tell that other NCO to stay in their lane and mind their business.
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COL Randall C.
SGT (Join to see) - Assuming what you described in your post is accurate and not hyperbole, you should discuss how "everyone in the unit knew and I was being referred to behavioral health services by my command and removed from the training I was in" with your unit commander.
Contrary to a popular misunderstanding, HIPAA doesn't apply to non-health or health related individuals/organizations such as your military leadership (if they aren't a HIPAA covered entity), so those laws wouldn't apply. However, there are privacy laws and DoD directives about a servicemember's PII and medical information which they must follow.
'Widespread knowledge' (outside of those that should know) that you have a
• medical appointment - no violation
• mental health appointment - gray area for command directed (yes for self-referral)
• command-directed mental health evaluation and/or that you were removed from training for those reasons - clear violation
Violations of the confidentiality of mental health information is something the DoD leadership has a zero tolerance with, especially with the implementation of the Brandon Act last year.
I won't make an assumption on who/how as likely there were at least more than a few individuals "in the know" (acting PSG, current PSG, 1SG, CDR, individuals in the orderly room, etc.), but what you described appears to likely be a result of negligence or misconduct that led to a violation of DoD policy/directives* and federal law.
Again, discuss this with your unit commander and request it be looked into to ensure it doesn't happen to you or another Soldier again.
---------------------------------------------
* DTM 23-005 (Self-Initiated Referral Process for Mental Health Evaluations of Service Members) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dtm/DTM-23-005.pdf
* DoDI 6490.04 (Mental Health Evaluations of Members of the Military Services) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/649004p.pdf
* DoDI 6490.08 (Command Notification Requirements to Dispel Stigmas in Providing mental Health Care to Service Members) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/649008p.pdf
Contrary to a popular misunderstanding, HIPAA doesn't apply to non-health or health related individuals/organizations such as your military leadership (if they aren't a HIPAA covered entity), so those laws wouldn't apply. However, there are privacy laws and DoD directives about a servicemember's PII and medical information which they must follow.
'Widespread knowledge' (outside of those that should know) that you have a
• medical appointment - no violation
• mental health appointment - gray area for command directed (yes for self-referral)
• command-directed mental health evaluation and/or that you were removed from training for those reasons - clear violation
Violations of the confidentiality of mental health information is something the DoD leadership has a zero tolerance with, especially with the implementation of the Brandon Act last year.
I won't make an assumption on who/how as likely there were at least more than a few individuals "in the know" (acting PSG, current PSG, 1SG, CDR, individuals in the orderly room, etc.), but what you described appears to likely be a result of negligence or misconduct that led to a violation of DoD policy/directives* and federal law.
Again, discuss this with your unit commander and request it be looked into to ensure it doesn't happen to you or another Soldier again.
---------------------------------------------
* DTM 23-005 (Self-Initiated Referral Process for Mental Health Evaluations of Service Members) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dtm/DTM-23-005.pdf
* DoDI 6490.04 (Mental Health Evaluations of Members of the Military Services) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/649004p.pdf
* DoDI 6490.08 (Command Notification Requirements to Dispel Stigmas in Providing mental Health Care to Service Members) - https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/649008p.pdf
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Medical information does not have to be shared with this disgrace to the uniform
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Use the chain of command. Lean on your Platoon Sgt or 1st Sgt to intervene. If he is truly outside of your chain of command and is forcing himself into the situation you need to engage your leadership. You need to avoid this NCO and let your chain of command know every time he keeps contacting you. They will handle this.
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