Fighting your way back from demotion

[Cecil DP]

People make mistakes and, are accountable for them.  A demotion in grade (when appropriate) is an available "payment" for such.  When a member shows that they learned how to conduct themself properly, they should be allowed to be promoted to their original grade.  I usually allowed 6 months before a review.  A demotion in grade should be done during a "counseling" session.  Objectives, goals and a timeline should be established for the member; to understand what the process is and, how to achieve restoration of their previous grade.

When that member is demoted and decides to stay on, he should be counseled as to what is expected to be reinstated to his previous grade and when he could expect to be reinstated. I am assuming that his previous Date of Rank is used at the lower grade.

[flyboy53]

Yes, of course, give them a defined path back up the ranks, but I qualify that very cautiously. I would have to be really convinced that that individual's behavior changed or the issue corrected before I would consider a new promotion.

We are a volunteer organization where the rank, badges, ribbons, etc., are the only things that are tangible rewards for service, so a reduction in grade is a very sad thing, indeed.

The problem, however, is that too many times a person was demoted for a cause and then starts using any number of cards or political contacts to restore their rank. Case in point, HWSRN, look at the mess that we as an organization have had to dig ourselves out of.

The first six months of my service as a group commander involved three 2Bs. One of those cases was procedural and the issue corrected itself in time. One case, I absolutely can't talk about, but the other, involving a lieutenant reduced to senior member, was for a cause and that individual never learned. You would have been shocked at the number of the different cards that were drawn and the people who contacted me to reverse my decision. The individual, however, never challenged the appeal process and his behavior never changed. He eventually dropped out of the program.

[mynetdude]

Just read the MARB publications that is readily available, it doesn't state a lot of specifics but it will tell you which/who was denied and approved/reversed through the appeals process.