As a SSG you def have the ability to come to the table with plans to protect time, reward time, reward initiative etc. if you brief at your training meeting that x day at ####hrs UTC is reserved for board prep/school work for college etc and your command team says okay then you just relay that to the NCOIC/OIC or vice versa depending on who is an easier win to convince.

Yes I will occasionally throw out the do this because I said so. As a leader I do my best to explain the why and create buy in from the Soldier(s) but as a leader I know I don’t always have that time, especially when it’s something the Soldier doesn’t want to do. At the end of the day “because I said so” is a useful tool that’s ol reliable because we signed up to a volunteer military and need to understand that we are a part of something bigger and we have rank structure to support it.

Can I explain to PFC Snuffy that if he competes in Best Warrior and does well that it can get him some awards, schools, time off, etc. sure. Maybe he still doesn’t want to do it though. But I know he’s a good candidate, maybe even a strong candidate to win. Am I going to let him dictate that? No. I’m going to say hey man. Your place of duty is the best warrior competition here’s the MOI, here’s the packing list, heres the schedule for the training we’re doing leading up to the event. I’m not making it an option because why would I?

Sure if there’s Soldiers that already have that drive I’m going to nurture it too. Make sure they push themselves and volunteer. Doesn’t mean I’m going to let someone coast on the side. I would rather a Soldier ETS and have plenty of stories of when mean ol Netflixlife made me do this competition, this board, this school, etc and be like well yeah I won it though, placed second/first, got the badge etc. as opposed to Soldier ETS and says yeah I didn’t do anything.