If I Lead Will You Follow? Will You Follow If I Lead?

"I wrote this while smoking a La Gloria Cubana Wavel.

I planned the operation weeks in advance. The proper pieces of the puzzle dropped into place. The right paperwork completed. The right people notified slowly, getting them used to the idea. The end result was a sergeant who was fired and left with the feeling that it was his idea all along.

That’s right. I fired one of my E5 team leaders today and replaced him with an E4 corporal. If I did the right thing, why do I feel less like Machiavelli and more like a dirtbag?

What is a headquarters platoon? It’s the glue that holds the company together. It’s the reason that people get paid and have vehicles available to drive. It is also the dumping ground for the sick, lame, lazy, blind, crippled and crazy.

Sergeant Lambchop (OPSEC) was one of the “Marginal” NCOs from “Crazy From the Heat.” He has his advantages. He’s an infantryman. He makes sound tactical decisions. He does what he is told to do.

He also can’t pass the PT test and has shown no desire to do so. He complains about the mission and the leadership. His attitude eats away at the core of his team."
Big Tabacco