Need Advice

Hill CAP · March 24, 2011, 02:35:51 AM

First and foremost I am in no way trying to dishonor my current unit or any member of it. I am just seeking advice.

I just recently transfered back to WV Wing and was assigned as Leadership Officer of a Squadron. I was following a request from the Deputy Commander for Cadets that she had sent via email. Upon following this request I was quickly fourth point of contact chewed by the Deputy Commander for Cadets stating the Flight Sgt had done this a few weeks ago even though I was asked to do it tonight.

I have a soon to be wife and a loving 2 year old with down syndrome (I am not the real father but I am the only Dad he has) and a full time job. I am starting to wonder if CAP is worth my time and effort right now.

I have given all most 15 years of my life to this Organization and I wouldn't trade what I have accomplished or done through CAP and I will continue to support the program but I am just really starting to wonder if I really want to put up with it anymore at this point.

Advice, Pointers?

Thanks

cap235629 · March 24, 2011, 02:40:06 AM

I once was told that if you don't get a butt chewing from time to time, you weren't doing your job. Obviously this Deputy Commander has more to worry about than you doing what was asked of you.

Don't take this wrong, Suck it up and Drive on.

Just remember the incident and let it guide your dealings with this ~~Officer~~, Member.

a2capt · March 24, 2011, 07:01:29 AM

Wait, you got a request via email, and followed up on it, I presume at the next possible opportunity? .. and got ripped on for it?

In other words, you complied and got it handed to you?

Grumpy · March 24, 2011, 07:22:17 AM

Quote from: a2capt on March 24, 2011, 07:01:29 AM
Wait, you got a request via email, and followed up on it, I presume at the next possible opportunity? .. and got ripped on for it?

In other words, you complied and got it handed to you?

Hmmm, sounds familiar but I won't go there.

a2capt · March 24, 2011, 09:02:20 AM

D'oh!

James Shaw · March 24, 2011, 10:09:35 AM

Quote from: Hill CAP on March 24, 2011, 02:35:51 AM
I just recently transfered back to WV Wing and was assigned as Leadership Officer of a Squadron. I was following a request from the Deputy Commander for Cadets that she had sent via email. Upon following this request I was quickly fourth point of contact chewed by the Deputy Commander for Cadets stating the Flight Sgt had done this a few weeks ago even though I was asked to do it tonight.

Try giving them the benefit of the doubt. There may have been something else that helped spark their backlash.

As an HR professional I would "plan a feedback session and clarify expectations for both". Once is a fluke and can be forgiven,if it happens again then I would get annoyed.

Hill CAP · March 24, 2011, 11:32:13 AM

Quote from: a2capt on March 24, 2011, 07:01:29 AM
Wait, you got a request via email, and followed up on it, I presume at the next possible opportunity? .. and got ripped on for it?

In other words, you complied and got it handed to you?

I was sent the Cadet Weekly Agenda and the wording of the email was Please send this to the cadets. I have already checked the to box of the email I was the only one it was sent to. from the time she sent it to me to the time it was in the cadets email was less then an hour.

So yes I was chewed for following up and doing something I was asked to do.

Major Lord · March 24, 2011, 01:37:41 PM

It sounds like the Deputy Commander for Cadets may have overreacted to an unimportant glitch in communications. If we quit every time one of our people put their big foot in their big mouth, there would be no one left in CAP! You do have every right to be treated with courtesy and respect (until such time as you don't) and I get the impression that your CD-C may have been less than appropriate( but maybe I am reading too much into that) If you have a Marine Corp DI wannabee as a CD-C, don't let them treat you (or anyone else) inappropriately. If they go off on you that way, how do the Cadets feel about their Commander? Is it a happy thriving cadet program or a mini-version of Libya? (or Chicago?) You need to demand the respect you deserve, and earn the respect you are offered. Don't be a punching bag.

Good luck!

Major Lord

a2capt · March 24, 2011, 05:50:23 PM

So, perhaps you are dealing with someone who's not got a handle on how to use email correctly. You might have been Bcc'ed on that.. unless it was actually addressed to you in the body. Or you might have been the wrongly intended recipient of it, and the sender didn't know because the actual intended recipient called/emailed/whatever and said "where is that .. you were supposed to send me?"

File it away for now, since you're new to that particular unit, observe the behavior.. and see where it goes. But yeah, if the first time got to everyone, there would be no one left.