(transferred over from MilBook)
BLUF: How much personal time should we require or expect from our M-DAY/Traditional National Guard and Reserve Soldiers to spend on Military Business? When does implied sacrifice required for service and position, become cheap labor? When is “enough,” enough?

I’m an Officer in the CA Army Guard, and was a PSG and Squad Leader before that. I understand that service in the Reserve Components comes with a certain amount of sacrifice of personal time in order to accomplish the mission. Doing PT, going to the doctor to stay healthy, staying current on MOS/Branch proficiency, staying up to date on policy and publication changes, are all implied tasks with being a Reserve Component Soldier.

With leadership (and the desire to be a leader) those implied tasks increase and additional sacrifices in time need to be expected, but when is enough, enough?

I’ve served in units where leaders get slammed if they don’t respond to email RFIs within hours. Taskings, with suspenses of two to three days, that require two-three hours worth of work, are routinely expected from platoon and company leadership between drills. Soldiers are regularly required to complete hours (6+) of mandatory online training, with little to no computer support at the unit (and the number of online classes just keep going up). Soldiers and leaders who don’t toe the line and complete the tasks are told to suck-it-up and complete the mission or have it reflected on their counseling.

I’m AGR, so I don’t have “free time,” only Army Time. However I was M-Day once and know how hard it was, so I feel that it’s my responsibility to stand up for my Soldiers; Soldiers who have families, jobs, and many of whom are going to college. It’s hard to hear NCOs, battle hard and as disciplined as any you will find, confide in me that they have Soldiers that are burning out. What’s worse is that I can hear it in their voices that they are nearly at their end as well.

I am familiar with and have tried several courses of action to help, but would like to see how other leaders in the services are handling it.

Brock