Problem soldier

I hadn't even been an NCO a month when I found myself in the commander's office.

Earlier that morning, my squad leader approached me because two of the junior enlisted soldiers were scheduled to have their article 15 read to them and their NCOs weren't available to provide a 'defense' statement for them.  He asked me if I would be willing to go in and speak with the commander.  Knowing both the soldiers and had worked with them, I knew the reason they were in trouble was not necessarily out of character for them, but a little more severe than their normal antics. 

 While in Al Asad, Iraq, he completed the Marine Corps
Corporals Course

While out one weekend, they had found themselves in a fight with soldiers from another battalion.  When it was all said and done, the other five soldiers ended up in the hospital and they weren't much worse for the wear.  The soldiers were sorry though and they were good soldiers who had done something that most young soldiers will do at some point in time, they made a mistake.

As I'm standing there in the commander's office and I listen to someone who barely knows these soldiers names try to explain to the commander that they are nothing but trouble makers and deserve to be punished to the full extent, my 'fear' of the position I was in disappeared and my anger over this individuals lack of leadership kicked in.  After listening to what he had to say, I respectfully told him he didn't know what he was talking about and explained to the commander my first hand daily interactions with the soldiers.  After I had said my part, I was told my portion was done and I was free to go. 

A little while later on the hangar floor, I was tackled by those two soldiers.  Apparently, the commander had intended on punishing them to the max extent, which was a possible field grade, but after hearing what I had said about the soldiers, he changed his mind.  The soldiers still found themselves on extra duty for quite a while, but they had learned their lesson.

In this situation, I had learned something extremely important about leadership as well.  The soldiers simply needed someone who trusted and believed in them.  From that day forward, neither of those soldiers ever got in trouble again. 

Over the course of the last few years, I have kept in touch with one of these soldiers.  Although I still see that young, immature soldier in him - the changes in him have been completely amazing.  We deployed together and when I found out I was leaving to head back early, he was there with a positive word and a hug to send me back with. 

When the unit returned from deployment, I witnessed the changes that a deployment as a MEDEVAC crew chief can cause in soldiers.  I witnessed, through pictures, his wedding to a fellow soldier.  Then a little less than a year later, they welcomed their first child.  Both his wife and him has since left the service, but they have continued to grow.  He has become a real estate agent, she is going to school and they are expecting their second child any day now.  Even though he is less than ten years younger than me, he seems like one of my kids and I couldn't be more proud of the person he has become!