Demotions

[lordmonar]

In CAP, what do you do?  Do you stay in that unit when you know Commander Johnny Fartpants does not like you and will not allow you to advance?  Do you join another unit (given that there IS another unit that won't require an overnight stay just to go to a unit meeting)?  Or do you just leave CAP altogether?

You do what you do in the military.  You go over Fartpants' head, IG complains, etc.  Or you stick it out and wait for Fartpants to die.  Or you go find somewhere else to spend your hard earned time and money.

It is up to the individual.   I always suggest the fight tooth and nail option.....it is the only way for CAP to fix the Capt Fartpants.

I see that too much here on CAPTALK...."Help!  I'm being repressed/harrassed/dissed/ignored!  But if I complain I won't get promoted!"

[Brit_in_CAP]

(Not so for seniors).

That sucks vacuum.

Even if the reason for non-promotion is "I just don't like you" at least you know what the problem is and you can do something to fix it.

In CAP, what do you do?  Do you stay in that unit when you know Commander Johnny Fartpants does not like you and will not allow you to advance?  Do you join another unit (given that there IS another unit that won't require an overnight stay just to go to a unit meeting)?  Or do you just leave CAP altogether?

If you're willing to suffer a little, I do agree with lordmonar - dig in and fight, don't just sit there and suffer as that's truly self-destructive.  Plus, you're then paying good money for something you hate doing that won't ever change.  If you dig in, the worst that can happen is you end up leaving (it isn't a paid career... ).  Real change in an organization takes effort.... and there's a cost.  You have to balance what you're prepared to do and to suffer against the cost to you personally.

We had two cadets who were being *horribly* treated by the incumbent CDC when I was a 'lowly SMWOG' still trying to find out how the organization worked.  By the end of Week1 as a SMWOG I'd worked out that the CDC had no business being around young people and that one of the cadets at least was being held back deliberately.  Before I could intervene, the cadets both complained, following the CAP rules and the CDC decided to leave the organization.  It took some real courage on the cadet's part to do that.  That's the example I use when people ask me what they should do.

I'm also a real fan of behaving and if necessary leaving with dignity and style.  If you dig in, don't get in the gutter even if the other side do and, if you do leave, make sure the organization knows why, and not just us here on CAPTALK.

[Private Investigator]

In CAP, what do you do?  Do you stay in that unit when you know Commander Johnny Fartpants does not like you and will not allow you to advance?  Do you join another unit (given that there IS another unit that won't require an overnight stay just to go to a unit meeting)?  Or do you just leave CAP altogether?

You got to be "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" guy. Take it up with the chain of Command. The last time I complained about a poor Squadron Commander to a Group Commander who did nothing about it. The Group Commander got fired. YMMV   

[Private Investigator]

We had two cadets who were being *horribly* treated by the incumbent CDC when I was a 'lowly SMWOG' still trying to find out how the organization worked.  By the end of Week1 as a SMWOG I'd worked out that the CDC had no business being around young people and that one of the cadets at least was being held back deliberately.  Before I could intervene, the cadets both complained, following the CAP rules and the CDC decided to leave the organization.  It took some real courage on the cadet's part to do that.  That's the example I use when people ask me what they should do.

I'm also a real fan of behaving and if necessary leaving with dignity and style.  If you dig in, don't get in the gutter even if the other side do and, if you do leave, make sure the organization knows why, and not just us here on CAPTALK.

A good example and a good point too. Somebody in Command is not always the 'perfect' person. Above is a good example, the SQ/CC needs to monitor their Staff and fire or replace personnel as needed. 

That is a good point. I have left Wing (a few times) different Groups and different Squadrons. I may have been the devil's advocate but I always left on good terms. My next work promotion may put me back in a previous Unit.    

[Brit_in_CAP]

We had two cadets who were being *horribly* treated by the incumbent CDC when I was a 'lowly SMWOG' still trying to find out how the organization worked.  By the end of Week1 as a SMWOG I'd worked out that the CDC had no business being around young people and that one of the cadets at least was being held back deliberately.  Before I could intervene, the cadets both complained, following the CAP rules and the CDC decided to leave the organization.  It took some real courage on the cadet's part to do that.  That's the example I use when people ask me what they should do.

I'm also a real fan of behaving and if necessary leaving with dignity and style.  If you dig in, don't get in the gutter even if the other side do and, if you do leave, make sure the organization knows why, and not just us here on CAPTALK.

A good example and a good point too. Somebody in Command is not always the 'perfect' person. Above is a good example, the SQ/CC needs to monitor their Staff and fire or replace personnel as needed. 

That is a good point. I have left Wing (a few times) different Groups and different Squadrons. I may have been the devil's advocate but I always left on good terms. My next work promotion may put me back in a previous Unit.   

Indeed - leave on good enough terms and much can be forgiven.  Learning to forgive is also important.  I have left a paid job where my direct manager *hated* me.  He resorted to describing me with the f word in every sentence, even with other and more senior managers or HR in the room.  All I'd done was to reveal where he hadn't been paying attention.....   It was more serious than it sounds, sadly. 

I sat quietly through it all, even the planned, direct but petty insult of failing to arrange for my leaving lunch and presentation!  When I left, I was asked how I'd been treated....so I told them, without adding or subtracting!  The inquirer was thoughtful and left with notes in hand.....

For months I wanted nothing but damage to befall my former manager.  The I realized: he probably spared zero time thinking about me, assuming he was even still employed.  I stopped hating and let myself forgive him.  Very cathartic. 

Good luck in your new job!

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." -  Paul Boese

[Mitchell 1969]

They might've felt like you weren't paying attention to them, Sir.

To quote Sherlock Holmes: "Never theorize in advance of the facts."

Delaying promotions happens for many reasons, not the least of which being an articulated need to do so. Deciding that such a need exists can only be done by "...paying attention to them..."

No reason to jump on him, he gave you a theory, and not an illogical one.

Wow!  You thought THAT constituted "jump on him?"

[Alaric]

They might've felt like you weren't paying attention to them, Sir.

To quote Sherlock Holmes: "Never theorize in advance of the facts."

Delaying promotions happens for many reasons, not the least of which being an articulated need to do so. Deciding that such a need exists can only be done by "...paying attention to them..."

No reason to jump on him, he gave you a theory, and not an illogical one.

Wow!  You thought THAT constituted "jump on him?"

I would have thought that obvious by my comment.