SgtMajs and Paperwork
When I was a SgtMaj, I always told my small unit leaders to “Do Your Job; do not make me do your job for you or we will both be unhappy.”
Every SgtMaj’s job is different.
It differs depending on the type and size of a command and the unit’s mission. It is also an agreement, sometimes unspoken or written, between the Commander and the SgtMaj on what the expectations for the position of SgtMaj are.
All six Commanders I worked with as a SgtMaj allowed me to spend much of my time with the Marines; in their work areas. As a SgtMaj I had a self-imposed rule;
No paperwork on any Marines’ will stay on my desk overnight.
I always completed the Marines’ paperwork on the same day, if not immediately the next day. I was never going to be the reason a Marines needs were not addressed as soon as possible. Obviously, there are times paperwork was held overnight, but that was because there was more information needed.
I also ensured that my second (usually a MSgt) had authorization to sign all documents for me; if I was unavailable. In fact, our commands were very good at moving paperwork out of the unit and up to our higher command.
Now, there are some SgtMajs that believe every piece of paper going into the CO must be approved by them; that is fine if you are in a small command or generate small amounts of documentation.
Here is an example of one extreme: the Base SgtMaj insisted on approving every document before it went into the Base Commander. Sounds good, right?
I will tell you it was not good; this was a ridiculous policy and cost many Marines much aggravation and stress, due to documents stacked three feet high (no exaggeration) on the SgtMajs desk; always – a perpetual pile of paperwork.
This SgtMaj, and maybe commander, thought that was the SgtMajs job; I could not disagree more.
A SgtMaj job is not PAPERWORK, it is to take care of their Marines and that cannot be done from behind three feet of paperwork.
This is something that happened over and over with this SgtMaj: after paperwork on a Marine’s approval for __________ the paperwork sits on the base Sgt Maj’s desk for weeks.
That is until I start calling to the base SgtMaj office and speaking with a Cpl; because this SgtMaj was so important the SgtMaj did not answer the SgtMaj’s own phone.
When I complained to the base SgtMaj about how long paperwork sat on her desk she responded with,
“my job is to make sure nothing gets to CO without my approval.”
I could not disagree more.
I could give many more examples of the office bound 1stSgts and SgtsMaj, but I believe this is an adequate illustration.
Here are three recommendations to leaders; especially 1stSgt and SgtMaj:
(1) Never leave paperwork on your desk; overnight.
(2) Get out with the Marines – out of office.
(3) Makes subordinate leaders do their jobs – hold them to account.
The moral of the story: Being timely with paperwork is taking care of the troops……
Photo: Zeroing M24 for MPs, Al Asad, Iraq, 2008.
SF DKD
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