Check out some similar questions!

enjay22 · Mar 9, 2011, 07:18 PM

I have an airforce captain who feels that I am required to do his job for him. I'm a lower level position (2LT) and my job is to ensure all recognition of awards is received by those eligible. Now I present the information, very clear and concise, and get zero response from anybody. This was over a 2 week period that the information was sent down the chain, in hopes that people would put in requests for awards. Throughout this entire week I harped on people to get this information out and get people recognized. Nothing happened

Now my Capt. Is breathing down my neck acting as if I don't know my job and that I'm incompetent. This doesn't look good, because I do know what I'm doing, just can't get the people to rally behind these awards. Now that everything is due Fri, he's taking it out on me, saying I'm not doing my job.

I need some suggestions! How do I go about talking to my Capt? What ideas do you have to get these people going?

hkstroud · Mar 10, 2011, 06:31 AM

You are an officer in the US military and you are 18 years old?

Something doesn't smell right here. Must have been a battle field commission.

excon · Mar 10, 2011, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by enjay22

What ideas do you have to get these people going?

Hello e:

The military is the greatest place in the world to get things done IF you're of superior rank. What you DO to get people going, is ORDER them to do it or face courts marshal. It ain't no more difficult than that.

How come an officer in the Army doesn't know that?

excon

jakester · Mar 17, 2011, 09:27 AM

I'm not sure whre people got the idea that the poster was 18. Secondly, it's an Air Force officer we're talking about here as well.

Anyway, you are a Lieutenant. I don't care how far down the totem pole you are as an officer, the fact is that you have a slew of enlisted men and women who are subordinate to you. If your Captain has tasked you with finding qualified airmen to confer awards upon, then that's your mission. You go to the senior enlisted personnel in your squadron and you get names from them of airmen who are going above and beyond the call of duty and are deserving of recognition. You give them a deadline to get those names to you.

I think you may not command enough respect or you are not going about your task the right way. Frankly, the military is not like a civilian company. People can sluff off in civilian life and gaff off their superiors, but the beauty of the military is the UCMJ... use it if you have to.

Ultimately, I don't think there is an issue with your captain as much as there is something wrong with your leadership and your ability to see tasks through. But don't lose heart. Talk with a more experienced officer who may help you by giving you some mentoring or advice. But I don't think you are right in accusing your captain given the facts as you have presented them.