Unfit for command p1 - Military Career Development Strategies & Tips - Military Times EDGE

There was once a battalion commander in the 101st Airborne Division so hated by his men that officers and enlisted alike joked that the best way to find him on the battlefield would be look where the enemy’s green tracer fire intersected with friendly red tracer rounds.

It’s the kind of story that gets traded like so many baseball cards in the military. “You think that was bad,” goes the typical reply. “I once had this first sergeant who ...”

While everyone hopes to serve under inspired greatness, let’s face it, some leaders are more blustery blowhard than cool-handed commander, more self-serving jackass than respected warrior.

Of course, civilians can always say take this job and shove it (although real life rarely makes it that easy), but what do you do when your military boss is a jerk?

Head check

The first thing you should do is look in the mirror, experts say. When anyone with a people-problem in his unit walked into Dr. Curtis Holder’s office, it often didn’t take long to figure out the person lodging the complaint was the real problem, the former Air Force psychiatrist, who now works in private practice, said.

Sure it’s not you? Ask yourself if the problem is just friction between you and your boss or if your Capt. Bligh has everyone up in arms. If it’s one-on-one, you can climb the chain of command, either quietly curbsiding sympathetic superiors or marching your way up through the open-door policy.

“But this is the standard dilemma of the chain of command: You can use it, but sometimes, there’s hell to pay,” Holder said. If the brass sides with your boss, you could really be in the stink locker.

If it’s a wider morale issue, consider a back-door approach, perhaps through a unit family advocacy group, a chaplain or the base mental health office.

Island of excellence

Danny Cox spent 10 years as an Air Force fighter pilot. During an assignment in the Philippines, he remembers one squadron commander so diabolical he called in crews every Saturday evening to read regulations to them for hours on end.

“I used to have nightmares about that guy, but I figured if I could work for him, I could work for anyone,” said Cox, now an author of several books on leadership and a national speaker.

He encourages people stuck in similar situations to manage their pain. “You can’t become afraid of a boss like that. Fear has no strength of its own, only the strength we give it, which ironically is the strength we need to overcome it.” It’s part of what he calls becoming an “island of excellence” even if you’re surrounded by a sea of stupidity. “Tell yourself, if nothing else, you’re going to learn something from this. You have to consciously do that. Find ways to better yourself.”

Toxic terrors

When he polled a thousand people about their co-workers, Dr. Alan Cavaiola, a psychologist, author and lecturer on leadership and the workplace, noticed something interesting when it came to toxic leaders in the military.

“They tend to be control freaks, won’t delegate anything and usually have incredibly high demands of anyone who works for them,” he says. Experts call it obsessive compulsive personality disorder. Only-out-for-themselves, credit-stealing narcissist types also ranked high.

His advice: Adjust your expectations and do whatever you can to stay off their bad side. “Both are not good mentors and they’re not good leaders. Empathy is not even a word in their lexicon,” he says.If you’re already in their sights, “work hard to convince them that you are on the team. Don’t withdraw or say ‘screw them.’ If you have to get a good performance rating from them, you have to play their game.”

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When bad turns ugly

Personality conflicts between leader and led are not uncommon, said Stephen Carpenter, who served as an Army lawyer for six years and is now a civilian attorney near Fort Lewis, Wash. “There are certainly times where the harsh treatment by supervisors may develop into outright abuse,” he said.

If you think your boss is crossing the legal line, there are several options. Among them:

• In cases of sexual harassment and discrimination, head straight to an Equal Employment Opportunity counselor within 45 days of a specific act. File a formal complaint, preferably with the help of a military legal assistance attorney, against your commander. Article 138 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice UCMJ guarantees investigation, if done properly. In particularly bad cases, commanders can be prosecuted for abuse.

• Uneasy about sticking your neck out? Call the inspector general IG hotline, your congressman or senator’s office or even a reporter. You often can file complaints anonymously or at least with assurances your identity will be protected. It’s amazing how quickly toxic command climates clear when an outside investigator starts asking tough questions.

• Getting bashed or harassed for sticking your neck out? The Whistleblower Protection Act says wrong answer. Call the Defense Department DOD IG.

Carpenter has three general pieces of advice. First, keep a log of specific incidents with as many details as possible, including witnesses. Second, talk to a lawyer (military or civilian) before filing any complaints. “Third, for sanity sake, request a reassignment to a different unit or perhaps even a different post pending the final results of these investigations.”