Bullet
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2008
- Messages
- 986
Seems to me a piece of the puzzle is missing to get to the full story. That being said, sounds to me like some new unit commander is doing his best Gregory Peck in "12 O'clock High" impersonation.
My advise to your son: BEFORE he goes into this commander's office for his appointment, his first visit should be to his direct OIC (either the Capt or Major in direct charge of him). Explain the situation to THIS officer first, get HIS read on the situation, make it VERY obvious to him that your son WANTS to improve, and is visiting him first to get together a game plan that will address the commander's concerns and prove his is worthy of staying in the Corps of Cadets. Gave your son ask this Major if he would talk to the Colonel afterwards about the situation to get honest feedback on what the Commander saw that needs improvement.
And this is the toughest part: ACT ON EVERY SUGGESTION his unit leadership wants to see. If he wasn't leading but managing the crowd, ask for opportunities to try again (complete with feedback on what to improve). If they saw lack of effort, or "goofing off" (not saying that is what your son DID, just saying that is what the Commander SAW), then take it serious next time (I think this may have been the wake up call as to how serious he needs to be).
Bottom Line: use his chain of command to get a clear understanding of what the concerns are, what future expectations will be, and what he needs to do to prove that this particular week-end was a "fluke" in an otherwise good future officer's learning process. Then prove it.
My advise to your son: BEFORE he goes into this commander's office for his appointment, his first visit should be to his direct OIC (either the Capt or Major in direct charge of him). Explain the situation to THIS officer first, get HIS read on the situation, make it VERY obvious to him that your son WANTS to improve, and is visiting him first to get together a game plan that will address the commander's concerns and prove his is worthy of staying in the Corps of Cadets. Gave your son ask this Major if he would talk to the Colonel afterwards about the situation to get honest feedback on what the Commander saw that needs improvement.
And this is the toughest part: ACT ON EVERY SUGGESTION his unit leadership wants to see. If he wasn't leading but managing the crowd, ask for opportunities to try again (complete with feedback on what to improve). If they saw lack of effort, or "goofing off" (not saying that is what your son DID, just saying that is what the Commander SAW), then take it serious next time (I think this may have been the wake up call as to how serious he needs to be).
Bottom Line: use his chain of command to get a clear understanding of what the concerns are, what future expectations will be, and what he needs to do to prove that this particular week-end was a "fluke" in an otherwise good future officer's learning process. Then prove it.