Am I a shitty NCO?
My unit is about to go to the field from the 12th to the 22nd. During that time, I have 2 TAP appointments I need to complete in order to start my CSP on June 10th. My appointment on the 19th is my service continum, and my appointment on the 22nd is to wrap everything up for the TAP process. When my counselor and I were scheduling these appointments, I told her about our field and asked if we could push it to the right or left, and she said that would be unlikely to work. Apperently, they both have to be after the 6th month from ETS mark, and I still need time to get the CSP packet turned in to the installation program and approved. The unit is planning for me to go out the 12th and come back early on the 18th.
Now, the part that I think makes me shitty. I have one soldier who will be going to the field as well. Due to a combination of factors, other soldiers being pregnant, on paternity leave, being sent to other units, etc. He and I are the only omes from our team going, and now I am going to be leaving him early to basiaclly fend for himself, and I dont really know what to do.
Im a Sergeant, and this is my first time having Soldiers. I feel like this is a really shitty thing to do, but I dont know any way around it.
Am I a shitty NCO? What should I do?
Edit: spelling mistake my phone didn't catch. Probably more, apologies for that.
Remember you’re nothing but a number to them, this lifestyle will chew you up like tobacco and spit you out in a monster can. That same monster can will be sitting in the humvee siting in the boiling sun for 3-4 days until your practically tar…. Where was going with this? I’ll have a son of a baconator
One of the best orders from Wendy’s I’ve heard in a long time.
You have served your commitment. It’s time for you to take care of you.
That being said. Set your soldier up for success. Take a lot of time before the field to teach him what you know. Ensure they are ready, not just to carry out your mission but fieldcraft in general. Time to pass the torch troop.
What you can do is find another NCO who can take your soldier under their wing and be their advocate, even if this NCO doesn’t have the same technical skills and/or MOS. Just find a good leader and make sure they understand the situation, so when they see your Soldier wandering and unclear on the 5 W’s of the overall mission, they can help.
The Army has to learn to operate short handed. We are in a dangerous business and people get wounded and killed. Leaders need to look out for everyone subordinate in rank and ensure Soldier health & welfare if their first line leader is unavailable.
You are good.
The Army was here before you and will be here when you leave. You have to take care of yourself too. You asked to move it, told you cant ... such is life, its out of your control.
Its your boss (whomever that might be) who has failed on planning if your soldier being by himself is going to be an issue.
No. A shitty NCO would not care if they are setting the soldier up for failure or success.
As others have said, do your best to set that soldier up to succeed. You'll be showing them that as an NCO, it's possible to take care of yourself and your soldiers.
The best thing you can do is prep that soldier, and use this as your last teaching moment with said soldier. Explain that you must take care of you, because the Army won't just magically do shit for you. Or give you time otherwise.
Nope, it’s your time to be selfish and plan your next moves in life.
You are not shitty. You were doing what you need to do to take care of yourself and your family. Your leadership might be shitty for not accounting for all of the known losses in your section during this field exercise but that's on them.
You aren't screwing that soldier over If anything you're giving them a realistic experience of what it might be like In a resource constrained environment (resource here being people)
Yeah might suck for them but guess what you do stuff all the time that sucks for you in the army.
Not responding to the rest of it but if your unit can’t figure out how to get you in and out of the field for appointments they are either trash or they don’t care about you
Take care of yourself.
I think that you are good. Literally there are things that happen outside our control. I have never felt bad for leaving my Soldiers go and do their job and perform at garrison or at the field. That is why is so important to keep with those ICTLs, so that our Soldiers are better prepared to take care of things in the absence of their NCO. This is the time for you and to take care of your transition to that civilian side.
Yes
I respect it.
It’s your leadership’s fault for not accounting for this yes. Since he’s a soldier I doubt he’ll get bitched at for not knowing what to do… but don’t be surprised if he does. Don’t be surprised if he’s upset with you after. Just reality.
Nah you’re not. Pull your soldier aside and give him a heads up. He will appreciate that.
As far as if other people equate this to being a shitty NCO? You’re about to ETS, fuck them.
Use your chain? Talk to your PSG or your 1SG and find out if your guy can train with another group.
But no this doesn't make you a shitty nco.
At the end of the day, the Army is a job, and you are disposable. You need to take care of yourself first, nearly almost always, including now, because the army won't.
Take care of you. That Soldier and your unit will be able to get on without you. As a wise 1SG once told me, the Army will keep rolling long after we are gone. It's time to worry about you and your transition. The bills will still keep coming after you separate and preparation for this life change is extremely important. Don't feel like shit, your Soldier will be alright.
You really should do extra PT for every day you’re not in the field. I mean you’re already bailing on the Army what’s one more Soldier?
Wait someone downvoted me aww come on I was dying laughing typing that. No bro you’re not a POS. You actually just care. It’s hard to get sarcasm over.
Well I thought it was funny
You'll reenlist anyway
With the recent changes to reenlistment? I certainly hope I dokt cave and reup.
You’re not a shitty NCO. Your NCOs are shitty NCOs for trying to make you go to the field while ETSing and for not reassigning your team. Ask another NCO to take your soldier for the field event and just go to TAP. You have to do it to drop your packet and they can’t stop you from going. If you take too long to complete TAP your commander gets fucked for it anyways.
If you’re not in 1CAB at Riley, this is an absolutely insane coincidence
You're gone from your unit if they have to do those "field" things in the future. They should be learning to operate without you.
If you are not replaceable, you have failed to train your subordinates, and if your unit fights to make you irreplaceable, they lack confidence in their own Soldiers.
The fact that you are asking the question means you care, which generally implies you are not. It would never occur to a shitty NCO to ask the question.
He'll be fine. I was a 13F and my team chief just dumped me on an infantry platoon pretty much 2 weeks into me getting to my unit and I rarely saw him. I figured it out. He will too.
Bruh you’re just leaving the field 3 days earlier lmao why are you even tripping over it? Oh no he’ll have to pack the tuff box up and ride back without you, big deal. Your CSP packet isn’t even approved yet so you’re not “starting CSP on June 10th” officially yet anyway, so if it’s that big of a deal to you just stay in the field the extra 3 days and use that time to teach him the craft
If you had to ask, then yes you are...
Can you have another NCO or experienced SPC kind of help him out or cover down? I don’t know the nature of the work but you got to take care of yourself as well man.
If you’re that close to ETS, are you not phase 2 medical?