JACK ARMY, scanning my sector!
I think you did a masterful job on this post. The Army, like any other organization, has some baaaad apples, is all. (It only takes a few.)I also do NOT think, imho, that YOU should be embarrassed by the actions of some of those that you had to interact with(e.g GLOR), since you no doubt followed your own oft-stated mantra of being the best you can be. Your love for the Army is as obvious as it is strong, but nothing and no one is perfect. However, maybe your appeals can help them begin 'progress' towards the unattainable goal of perfection. If they can learn from past mistakes; as we all must sometimes.
*** Sarc on
Gee, you DIDN'T find being ridiculed and(what was it? Oh, yeah) degraded, a motivating and spiritually uplifting tool for achieving goals??? Who knew? (Idiots- 'People Management for Dummies' would have covered that in their first paragraph, heck, in the first sentence!) Ridicule doesn't work on children, friends, spouses, strangers, co-workers, or the family dog, so hey, let's try it on underlings we are supposed to be leading!!! - It has SUCH a stellar track record!!!
*** Sarc off
Sorry, but I've been in a similar position and it's... a slow poisoning of the soul. I'm glad, and your family (if they're like mine) has got to be LOVIN' the fact that you've moved on to a position and people you actually respect and/or like. For their sanity and your own.
My one year anniversary in USAREC is coming up. I know I haven't seen anything like as bad as it can be, and I consider myself lucky.
Even in the best of times USAREC doesn't let up. I can't imagine the strains and pressures put on the station commander. Being a recruiter sucks, but being the FLL for a recruiter has to be almost as bad.
You're too good of a NCO to let this follow and ruin you. I formly believe that the rest of the Army takes things that happen in USAREC with a grain of salt.
Like SFC B said, it has been my experience that along with the crap that was piled on us when in USAREC any punishments are usually looked over upon return to the "real Army". Most think that it is to be expected while serving a a recruiter and it doesn't affect the Soldier's career in the future. I personnally know of a MSG that received the same punishment that you did while serving as a detailed recruiter as a SFC, 3 months after returning to the mainstream Army people started calling him Master Sergeant. Don't sweat it, you are a top NCO and Soldier, your actions will speak for you.
Having spent my three years in HELL in Usawreck, I totally concur. And I add, nothing has changed in over 20 years. I came in all full of piss and vinegar to the Ft. Monmouth Btn. back in '83 only to meet with an E-8 calling himself sergeant major. His first comments to me were; "I'm going to starve your wife and kids and ship you out of here in a body bag.."
After finishing school at Ft. Ben I returned to a station and was given five year old school lists and told to make my calls to kids that had been called 10-15 times over the previous few years. And I was not allowed to make calls from any other lists. And guess what, I was a "dog" and "not a good soldier" for not making my mission. It became obvious early on that everyone in USAREC was insane from the CG on down.
USAREC so ruined me on the Army that I ETSed into the Reserve and went back home.
As I'm sure anyone else who is truthful and has served in the command can tell, I can tell multiple horror stories about the corrupt practices that went on. From recruiters that could not read, criminal checks that got lost or forged, and multiple ghost contracts to reserve units.
Truly hate to see that you had to go through all of that. But I belive 190% every word you wrote.
The only good thing about any of this is the post you'll be making here saying that the appeals process works! Continue to
"Ride To The Sounds Of The Guns"
Tanker
Thank you for your honesty. I didn't know it was THAT bad. I just know my son well enough to know that he would neither have enjoyed nor excelled in that environment. That you served 8 years in that command says more to me than the letter -- which I would certainly view with a large grain of salt.
I served in USAREC back in the 70's. Obviously, nothing has changed.
The problem with USAREC is that it's a sales organization, and most NCO's and officers have no experience with that type of organization. Normal military experience and usage doesn't apply, so the command structure has to improvise.
One friend of mine from Milwaukee DRC was told to destroy illegally obtained HS lists. Three months later when they weren't making mission, he was asked if he really destroyed the lists.
It's interesting that they reclassified you back into the leg infantry. Considering your years in the army, they're still trying to punish you.
SF Grunt
If you haven't noticed by the comments yet, nobody thinks any less of you for this post. Yeah, on the face of it, a RFC NCOER & a GLOR doesn't make you sound like NCO of the quarter material, but for those of us who have been reading you for longer than 20 minutes and "know" you, your love of the Army and pride in your profession shines through. It sounds like to me you're not in any danger of losing any respect around here, Sarge.
A series of less than stellar or even poor NCOERs while on recruiting duty, sandwiched between oustanding NCOERs isn't that unusual, or so I've heard. Appeal, and good luck with that, but take it for what it was and move on.
As difficult as this post was for you to write, thanks for posting it. It's tough to be critical of an organization you love, regardless of how well deserved that critism is. Thanks for your candor.
I'll echo what Jack said above - I appreciate your candor, and have high hopes that you'll prevail in your appeal. Good luck with that, and with your current posting.
Yeah, we're all looking forward to hearing you say "I won my appeal". My own fight with the Army took five years, but eventually I won. Hang in there!
I have been in USAREC for 8 years also. I have seen a lot of things happen both good and bad. In my 8 years I have not seen anything happen that has not been due to the Soldier or the Command. If you are going to cry on the internet then cry all the way. What did you really do. Oh, as a Station Commander you could of stopped what was happening if you are half of the Leader you claim to be. I have been stepped on many times in the last 8 years, but a TRUE LEADER will not stop.
I concur also. USAREC is an oppressive command. I served in USAREC for a total of 15 years as an AGR Recruiter. 5 times identified as one of the best in the Army and then received the same treatment. Failure to remember that our job as Soldiers and specifically NCOs is take care of Soldiers.. This fixes alot of the problems that the Army has, take care of Soldiers. Back to the basics.
They gave you the ole "Jack Welch" huh? Screw em, I have seen that a few times, a couple needed to get back to the Army, one was in your shoes. I did three and a few months and its all as everyone who has ever spent a day in USAREC knows. It sucks. I did see a comment from a SCF Crusher, spoken like a true 79R. Almost sounds like my first SC. Anyway, keep your head up. That shit will go away. Regular Army could give a rats ass about anything USAREC has to say. By the way, my time was full of ups and downs. My first SC was a dumbass. My second one wasn't too bad. He was a former detailed silver badge that got called back up and auto converted to the dark side. So you know he wasn't happy. I had to run the station for him for a few months and he showed his appreciation by sheilding me from the rest of the dark mafia world. So I got pretty lucky there in the end. Just really really burnt out. You know, I think being out there actually brought my IQ down? I'm not sure, but there is something do dealing with the trash that constanty bugs you about putting thier disqualified butts in. Good luck in your future endeavours.
I'm currently serving as a datailed recruiter and a have to agree with everything that you have said, recruiting is totaly thankless and the moment that you fall on production you are nothing but trash to them and your career threatened with no remorse,
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