A cadet SNCO of mine has approached with a tale + video of a Sqn Ldr from my current wing staff. He is very drunk and abusive. His behaviour is appalling, un-becoming an officer and certainly not what is to be expected from a Camp Commandant in charge of the welfare of cadets on a multi-wing overseas camp.
Do I raise the existence of the video with my COC and hope for a resolution through the proper channels?
Or do I host the video on youtube for all to see?
Personally I have absolutely no confidence that the COC will deal with the issue, I suspect it would be swept under the carpet to save face. So I am err’ing on the side of letting the masses decide.
Did anyone see the officer consume alcohol? Who was he being abusive to? Staff or cadets? (not that that matters anyway). Can your SNCO be certain that this officer doesn’t have a medical condition requiring the use of medication which may have adversely affected him?
If proof can be generated that alcohol is indeed the culprit, you can send the video through your chain of command with a written request for it to be dealt with. Be aware that if this is investigated, the investigating officer may well wish to take statements from those present at the time. Keep a copy of your letter for future use, especially if you feel the matter hasn’t been dealt with appropriately. You can always escalate it should you feel it warrants it.
I would strongly advise against uploading the video to YouTube as it isn’t the appropriate thing to do. It won’t just shame the officer concerned but it will portray the Corps in a poor light to members of the public and you stand to be accused of making a serious error of judgement by doing so.
At one point in the video a cadet shouts “Chug it” and he continues to then “chug it”…
I hadn’t really considered the consequences public viewing would have on prospective cadets. I would hate to do something that put kids off joining this organization.
[quote=“majorchavez” post=6015]
Or do I host the video on youtube for all to see?
Personally I have absolutely no confidence that the COC will deal with the issue, I suspect it would be swept under the carpet to save face. So I am err’ing on the side of letting the masses decide.
Anyone got any thoughts?[/quote]
Has to be COC - if you don’t get the expected response you can always push other “buttons”. Posting on youtube would put you in a sticky situation too.
Abso-bloody-exactly.
Don’t put it on youtube. That kind of negative publicity is the last thing the organisation needs. It would come back on all of us.
Also, as has been said that would very quickly make you an ‘innapropriate member of staff’ and you’d probably find yourself out too.
I’d be surprised if your Wing HQ don’t deal with it properly. I know that some things get ‘handled internally’ but something of that nature, especially with video evidence, will have to be dealt with.
If for whatever reason it didn’t, then your next step would be Region.
I haven’t seen the video and therefore I’m unable to comment his actions. What I can say though is that two things. One, he has done something that has been seen to be unacceptable. Two, it’s been filmed by a cadet.
It’s best to pass this up the CoC for a number of reasons. If he has messed up it needs dealing with, it’s not my place to say how. Two, if a cadet has a copy then it could and most likely will be passed around all the cadets in the wing. This could ruin his credibility. A warning and a chance to limit it’s damage would be helpful.
I’d pass it up the CoC as an FYI that it’s doing the rounds rather than pass judgement. Even if it’s swept under the carpet said Sqn Ldr may be more cautious in future. I’d like to note I’ve drunk too much before as a baby officer. I effectively “got away” with it. However the shame and hit to my reputation has definitely made me more cautious since. I wouldn’t expect it off a Senior Officer though. Hypocrisy? Probably.
I’ll also echo what other have said. Don’t post it on Youtube or FB etc. It’s cowardly, if you want to confront a behaviour do it in the correct manner.
I think a lot of us can say that we’ve ‘over indulged’ when on ATC duty, but hopefully never when cadets are around! If I am Camp Commandant or the Officer ic any overnight activity on a Stn or elsewhere, I make a point of briefing all adult staff that whilst they can and indeed should avail themselves of the facilities of their respective Messes, they subsequently do not go anywhere near the cadets afterwards, even if they’ve only had one drink! In my early VR(T) career, I saw several ‘merry’ officers and WOs ‘visiting’ the cadet accommodation late in the evening and getting the cadets to parade or play other stupid tricks. Again, if I’m Camp Commandant, I don’t drink at all that week, full stop! Regardless of whoever the Duty Officer may be, the buck ultimately stops with the senior officer present; they should control things and they should also set an example!
When on duty and in front of cadets I would say thou shalt be as temperate as a court official of your choice.
When off duty and in the private of your own mess then a couple of large ones can help one unwind after a long hard day on camp. As long as one is up next morning, in time for breakfast with a clear head and a thirst for action is there an issue.
Pissed in front of the troops, this is bad.
It doesn’t say where the cadets drinking aswell………
I’d personally suggest that whilst you should avoid contact with cadets after drinking, you should never drink so much on cadet duty that you couldn’t actually present yourself professionally in front of them if the need arose.
So, positively sloshed and falling asleep at the bench then…? :silly:
[quote=“the silverback” post=6046]When off duty and in the private of your own mess then a couple of large ones can help one unwind after a long hard day on camp. As long as one is up next morning, in time for breakfast with a clear head and a thirst for action is there an issue.
Pissed in front of the troops, this is bad.
It doesn’t say where the cadets drinking aswell………[/quote]
On duty/off duty arguments… Staff are entitled to let their hair down and relax when off duty - my view is that once your formal duties for the day are over (and there is someone else acting as duty officer/staff) then time is your own as long as you are sober/alive for your next stint of duty. Staff are not robots, we can’t do a 7/8 day camp and consider ourselves “on duty” 24 hrs a day.
BUT - I agree with the comments above re appearance in front of “the troops”. I have no personal issue with cadets seeing staff consume alcohol at say social functions (we are not enrolled in the temperance socity when we become staff), but totally blotto/abusive is not on. Hopefully the individual has some guilt/remorse about their (alleged) conduct.
Comments above re going through the COC and not blowing it into the public domain are spot on. But be preapred for investigations, statements, things being dragged up and it being generally uncomfortable for all concerned.
Seriously though - on duty for 24 hours breaks more rules and raises more welfare issues than having a couple of beers in the mess! I don’t think you’re “on duty” just because you’re on an activity.
Working time regs anyone? (and yes I know they don’t apply to the military, but what about SNCO?) Also you can opt out of the max number of hours worked, but not the time between shifts.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with staff experiencing their respective Messes, and drinking sensibly and in moderation at the end of the working day. What is wrong is when they go over the top and are either unfit for duty the next day, or when they decide to ‘visit’ their cadets after the bar closes.
I refer the gentleman to my previous comment; a Camp Commandant should stay dry for the whole of the Camp.
