Currently a very stressful situation for her.There should be an acting platoon sergeant even if the position is not officially filled. It's quite common to not have a platoon sergeant (or platoon leader) at any given time given transfers, leaves, schools, etc.
I presume she was just sharing the latest work challenge she's experiencing with her mom as a normal conversation. I doubt very much this is as stressful for a 1LT as you are perceiving so I wouldn't worry too much barring something highly unusual or a convergence of multiple challenges and this is "just one more thing".Currently a very stressful situation for her.
This is what I’m hoping for. She’s at a base that has had a lot of problems and she chose to go there to make a difference. She’s definitely making it happen but not without a lot of lost sleep. Part of the deal. She keeps me in the loop daily which makes me worry more.@Mere2033
This is how JOs learn, being “stretched” in assignments - missing key people, having extra workload, getting an additional collateral duty, etc. She is gaining insight into what a PSG does, what makes the everyday routine work like a well-oiled machine, and figuring out how to get it done by prioritization, delegation, giving a more junior enlisted a chance to grow too. This will be great stuff for her annual performance evaluation input. This is how you become a pack-plus leader ranked ahead of your peers behind you in the pack and pack-minus groups. This is an opportunity to shine, though it undoubtedly feels like a painful burden.
A military career is by nature stressful, even in non-operational peacetime roles. There is always something. Always. All the crap and challenges I went through as a JO prepared me for even tougher challenges as a senior officer. Functioning well in high-pressure situations is also enormously attractive to civilian employers at any stage of departure from military service for the private sector.
Thank you!As a brand new LT, I had to fire my PSG and felt head under water trying to figure things out two months out of flight school by myself. Not a fun situation, but I grew a lot as a leader for the experience. I relied on my 1SG a lot (like a lot a lot) for the interim senior NCO guidance I was lacking at the platoon level, and the acting PSG (a very junior SSG) and I kept things rolling until a backfill eventually arrived.
Good luck to your daughter. She has resources outside the platoon that can help mentor her through day to day operations even if she doesn’t have a right hand battle at this exact moment. And like @Zaphod Beeblebrox said, take it in stride if she’s just venting. There are plenty of times in my career I’ve needed to unload and get a sanity check from people I respect, including my parents, but I wasn’t always looking for a solution, just someone to listen. She’s where she is at because she has been successful through college, commissioning source, and BOLC up to this point. Her job now is to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and the rest will fall in place. Soldiers are generally forgiving to newer officers when they see genuine efforts to take care of them, even if the new LT isn’t doing everything perfectly.
Ah. I learned to edit heavily with my mom.This is what I’m hoping for. She’s at a base that has had a lot of problems and she chose to go there to make a difference. She’s definitely making it happen but not without a lot of lost sleep. Part of the deal. She keeps me in the loop daily which makes me worry more.
So much of this. Where are you? Told her no where bad as I was sitting in Fallujah.Ah. I learned to edit heavily with my mom.
Mom: “You weren’t anywhere near where the plane hit the Pentagon, were you?”
Me: “Nope.” (Fingers and toes crossed) She was expert at post-event worry.
Oh yes.So much of this. Where are you? Told her no where bad as I was sitting in Fallujah.
DW is becoming an expert at pre-event worry.Ah. I learned to edit heavily with my mom.
Mom: “You weren’t anywhere near where the plane hit the Pentagon, were you?”
Me: “Nope.” (Fingers and toes crossed) She was expert at post-event worry.
Back to the OP. It’s great your daughter cares so deeply and desires to make such changes, but the military has a next man up mentality. If she is lacking one, appoint one in the interim. It’s a great leadership experience for someone looking at that role in the future. Lean on the next person in the chain of command to mentor that PSG. Tell her Company Commander what she needs and ask for their support. Good luck to her.
Currently in the process of asking for additional support. Not a lot of options currently which is what is making this so difficult.Back to the OP. It’s great your daughter cares so deeply and desires to make such changes, but the military has a next man up mentality. If she is lacking one, appoint one in the interim. It’s a great leadership experience for someone looking at that role in the future. Lean on the next person in the chain of command to mentor that PSG. Tell her Company Commander what she needs and ask for their support. Good luck to her.