Posted on Mar 21, 2015
Have you ever had a senior leader fail to live up to their responsibilities to you for an evaluation?
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As a reserve battalion commander, I had about 10 months in position when my senior rater was leaving. I asked my Brigade Commander for Senior Rater option OER since the new senior rater would not have enough time to write any comments. I was told that would not be a problem and would not affect my OER. However, sure enough a couple of months later, it came back with no senior rater comments because he was not did not have enough time in position. This was a key OER for me as a commander and felt that my Brigade Commander should have gone to bat for me to get a senior rater option. To me, it was an example of failed leadership in not taking care of a Soldier.
In my current work with ROTC, I work with future Officers all the time and even though I am not a direct mentor to them, I always try to share experiences and lessons learned. So I would like to hear your experiences with this and what if anything you did to resolve the issue.
In my current work with ROTC, I work with future Officers all the time and even though I am not a direct mentor to them, I always try to share experiences and lessons learned. So I would like to hear your experiences with this and what if anything you did to resolve the issue.
Evaluations
OER
Leadership
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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COL Jon Thompson, I was once, quite literally, told that I could expect not to receive, or to even be considered for, a top block rating because "we reserve that for people who are being promoted or coming up to another board." Thankfully, I did not have to resolve it. The problem went away by itself.
The latest evaluation scheme comes up short as far as planning around the problem. Perhaps the lesson is that the problem cannot be stamped out. What would a truly merit-only-based system look like?
The latest evaluation scheme comes up short as far as planning around the problem. Perhaps the lesson is that the problem cannot be stamped out. What would a truly merit-only-based system look like?
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Sir,
It is a pretty stifling blow to a junior officer's morale when they are told this, at the beginning of a rating period. That statement is basically conveying to them that, no matter how hard they work or what they do, they aren't even being afforded an opportunity to compete. In an Army where just about everything revolves around competition, that is hard for type-A personalities--of which most officers tend to be, from what I've seen--to take in and accept.
It is a pretty stifling blow to a junior officer's morale when they are told this, at the beginning of a rating period. That statement is basically conveying to them that, no matter how hard they work or what they do, they aren't even being afforded an opportunity to compete. In an Army where just about everything revolves around competition, that is hard for type-A personalities--of which most officers tend to be, from what I've seen--to take in and accept.
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Had a reporting senior who didn't turn in fitreps for the entire shop. While I was a 1LT overseas on Med Cruise, the command eventually got him to turn one in on everyone there... several months late, and mine was overlooked. I guess out of sight, out of mind. I never did get one from him, which left a year long gap in my record. Needless to say he was at his terminal rank and went on to retire... I did another overseas tour (1 year) and came back to fill his billet.
Some folks serve as examples not to emulate and he was one of them.
Some folks serve as examples not to emulate and he was one of them.
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How about a LTC commander getting a DUI and a full col as well working in the pentagon as a reserve aviation advisor. Both were heavily fined and forced to retire. Personally new both of them.
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