So burnt out
So I’m coming up on 8 years in. Only have a year and a half ish left of my contract. I am so exhausted mentally and physically. My SNCO and I do so much for the unit even outside of drill days. I’ve clocked over 110 hours of volunteer time at this unit and had my work featured in the state guard magazine and not a single moment of acknowledgment from my unit. 8 years in, no coins, no ARCOM, so state level commendation, nothing. I feel unappreciated and like I’m wasting my energy. All this while a cadet got an ARCOM for being a liaison between units during a training event and another officer got an ARCOM as a going away present when leaving the unit. I’ve got a PT test and AT coming up and I (not licensed on the vehicles) was assigned to be a driver for AT. We have maintenance crew who are licensed and that’s nowhere near my MOS. Every day in the guard feels like another spoonful of shit. Scoop chew swallow scoop chew swallow.
I’m wasting my time. Wasting my energy. Making less on the guard side than civi. Getting injured trying to ignore health issues so I can pass a PT test that’s effectively meaningless. Picking up extra state active orders just for 1sg and the commander to look over my head to give their ole buddy a ribbon or medal for nothing. My mental health is at a serious low.
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Anybody can put anyone in for an award. If you and your SNCO have been doing all of this together, why hasn't he/ she put you in for an award?
“You expect an award for doing your job?!”
Great question. She said she was going to write one up for me when I volunteered for SAD with an MP unit over a year ago. As far as I’m aware she never submitted anything. She’s also currently 7-8 months pregnant and I feel like messaging her now about submitting ribbons for me would be ill timed maybe.
You should never have to ask your SNCO to put you in for awards. However, it seems in this situation that's what must happen.
No one cares more about your career than you do. I would absolutely give her a call and have that conversation. Her being pregnant should not keep her from being able to type up an award recommendation really quick. With AI tools the DoD provides now it takes like 10-20 mins from start to finish.
If you would like to be proactive you can complete the form yourself and send it to her for review, but I would insist that she write it first.
honestly if I were you I would write up my own and send it to my SNCO. Less work for them to do, so they’re more likely to go through with it
Sad shouldn’t get federal awards you can but most states have policies that say you should get a state award. I still think your senior NCO should have submitted something but your unit rarely submits you for an award unless you do something at the state level it’s usually your Senior NCOs. I tried to submit my guys for ATs and anything that was volunteer based. Regular drills usually not with a few exceptions.
One of the top keys to leadership is to respect and acknowledge the work of others. There has been lots of studies of private businesses that have proven that worker motivation is improved more by recognition and saying thank you than actually giving monetary rewards. What would it cost your unit leaders to stop and thank you for your work and put you in for an accommodation?
I understand the financial part would be nice as well but that failure likely goes to the state and federal budgets. They should however fight to get you short term ADOS if you are committing extra days. No one is doing MDay for the paycheck but can they really not find another $1000 every so often to pay you for work that needed to be done?
All officers and NCO’s should be aware when their subordinates are working hard and at least say “great job, keep it up” and it should have been noted on your OER. Putting such notes in your OER again costs them nothing.
What about recognizing dedication with finding you a school slot which really is funded by NGB? Things like this are the morale boosters.
Ope no can do with a verbal thank you, too much effort to fill out that 638
So. I am really really really curious for your "studies" can you please provide sources and citations from any respectable sources.
Lots of things like this:
https://hbr.org/sponsored/2021/03/good-leaders-acknowledge-their-employees-often
https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/role-of-gratitude-in-the-workplace-and-its-benefits
https://www.mavenclinic.com/post/exploring-the-benefits-of-employee-recognition-programs-strategies-and-impacts
The issue is the military does have formal reviews and an obvious recognition program but doesn’t necessarily teach leaders how to be the best people managers. How hard is it to acknowledge hard work with recognition? What does it cost you or the army to be a good people manager?
I’ll leave you with an article specifically published by the Army with links for its research:
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/NCO-Journal/Archives/2025/June/People-First/
You are not the only one, I have been in for 5 years and ETS in October I feel that this organization has not been pushing to my limits and I feel I haven't accomplished my achievements that I want to achieve out of my military career. Being denied to attend Special Forces tryouts because I don't have a 100 GT score and asked my leadership to send me to a 1 week long academic course to raise my GT score only to get hit with "there's no funding for it and because you're on federal borders". Being denied other opportunities because "you don't have a 500/500 on the AFT and 40/40 on M4 qual" not to mention I have no disciplinary action againstand never received a Article 15.still have some fight in me and have not been broken, I'm currently working on transferring to the active duty air force to better myself and my military career.
I honestly felt this way until I got a deployment, where I was able to finally shine. And now post-deployment, staff position, I’m back at dreading this gig as well. I feel you OP. You aren’t alone. Don’t stick it out for a deployment, I would see if you can find a better unit or even go Reserve.
Honestly dude if it’s really tearing you down, do yourself a favor and call it quits after your contract. I’m so done with the Guard and I get out in October. This may be the longest year of my life. We have H/W and a PT test coming up and I’m just over it. Have I passed every time I’m tested? Yeah. Do I give a fuck about passing anymore? No. That just tells me I’m done and ready to move on. If that’s your mindset for some things in the guard and you dread drill and AT, then it’s time to hang it up.
Switch to the air guard. It will be far less drama filled. Much easier.
We all have had leadership like that. I had a PSG that no matter how great someone did during AT, no AAM's, he wouldn't say "Good Job", hell he wouldn't even give a POB. He always said, "You don't get an award for doing your job." I always argued that, "No, but you should get one for doing your job well." Meanwhile one platoon over Headquarters Platoon PSG is giving out "Hero of the Day" trophies to the entire company every time someone does something that helps his platoon out. Shit I still got the SSG keyring he gave me, and I'm probably the most proud of that out of all my awards, all of which I got overseas, except my first ARCOM I got when I barely had a year in. It was another leader, and before the "The beatings will increase if Moral increases" phase of leaders.
You’d feel better if you stopped giving your time away for free. Show up at drill and do your job then go home.
Sucks to leave halfwya to retirement friend. I really suggest you try air force reserve (not air guard!!) or coast guard reserve...or even Army reserve on a short contract. Another less work and BS. The Healthcare cost savings alone make it worth it.