What Smells Like Duty?

That would be me

Published on May 26, 2005 By chiprj In Blogging

Been a while since I had staff duty. I can tell you that I have not missed it. I'm dead tired and still have a little over four hours to go.

On Tuesday I was asked to support the other Korean school for their Joint Language Training Exercise on Wednesday. I answered that it would be no problem without even thinking about it. I wish I had remembered staff duty. There were other MLIs available to help out, but I never thought to ask them. It wasn't until later in the day that I'd realized what I'd agreed to. Oh, well. HAHA!

So, I was up early on Wednesday for the JLTX. Spent the day running a lane for the other school. Then I went back to my office and checked email real quick before heading off to the staff duty office.

I don't even have it the worst. My driver is actually on leave. He signed out on leave for his class break earlier this week, but his supervisor still had him on the duty roster. They called him and reminded him to be here tonight. When he asked how they could make him do duty while on leave, he was told too bad and if he could find someone to do it for him then he could have the night off. He didn't want to make waves by telling his 1SG (he figures that's an easy trip to his PSG's shit list) so he is just pulling the duty. I may have to contact the 1SG myself later this week. Telling a soldier they have to pull duty while on leave is no way to take care of troops. What if he'd caught his flight to Vegas a day earlier? Would the PSG actually try to take action against him? I mean the leave is approved by the commander, so the PSG doesn't really have a leg to stand on, but the threat of further treatment is a powerful motivator for young troops. Yeah, I'll have to send his 1SG an email in the morning.

My Ecosystem Details

Comments

ParaTed2k

on May 26, 2005

Yet another Great story Chiprj!

24 hour duty sucks no matter the situation.

Once again you conjure up memories. ;~D

I agree, it kind of falls on you to take care of that troop. It sucks but he did right for not arguing the point with his PSGT... it was a hit on the PSGT's professionalism to make the troop come in. Pure laziness on his part. Even if it did slip his mind that the troop was on leave, all he should have done once the troop reminded him was wish him a great time on leave, then accept the responsibility he already took on when he accepted the position. That is one piss poor excuse for a leader. It's too bad that troop hasn't learned the golden rule of leave and weekends... never be accessible!

Anyway, I remember a time when a PSGT did the same thing to a troop at Bragg. While the troop was doing CQ runner duty (during leave) the 1SGT called the PSGT at midnight asking him why a troop that he sent on leave was on duty. From that point on (at least until I was transfered out of that unit, the 1SGT made it a point to bring up the leaves for the next week at staff meetings. To tell you the truth, I didn't think much of that 1SGT in most cases, but he did have a thing for making sure NCOs took care of troops, I will give him that.

Texas Wahine

on May 26, 2005

I thought I smelled duty, but I figured it was just the dog.

Spc Nobody Special

on May 26, 2005

Which is why I never. never. answer my phone if I know it's army. Call screening is a wonderful thing.

chiprj

on May 26, 2005

Which is why I never. never. answer my phone if I know it's army. Call screening is a wonderful thing

HAHAHA! Yep! When I lived in the barracks, I kept a half-ful beer bottle in the fridge. Anytime I suspected it was an Army related knock at my door, I'd grab the partial and answer the door with a slur.

Them: "We need someone to move the TRQ in the motor pool."

Me: "Sorry, this is my third"

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