Why can't Johnny plan a convoy?

Thank goodness for ping-pong, it makes me happy.

Since I've been in the Army, I've told others about the importance of accountability and the effects it has on the troops. Basically, there are three kinds of Soldiers in a unit. 1) Generally incompetent and can't do anything right. 2) Generally lazy, but can complete a mission if held to task. 3) Generally dedicated, and will always go out of their way to accmplish the mission. If the leadership holds everyone accountable, then the unit runs very well because the incompetent are kicked out or beaten, the lazy are made to do work and the mission is done, and the dedicated will become even more dedicated and work harder and raise the overall excellence of the unit.

When the leadership fails to hold folks accountable, or doesn't apply it to everyone across the board, the incompetent infect other people and decrease productivity, the lazy continue to be lazy and do nothing, and the dedicated are forced to do everything themselves, and become cynical and bitter. Everyone loses, except the incompetent who continue getting paid for doing the wrong thing.

I've know for a while there is no accountability in this unit, the last few days made it abundantly clear. A simple task like "Drive trucks from A to B" becomes a major logistics nightmare, especially when the convoy commander loses the one item he has to move, before it has even left the base. Or doesn't do equipment checks until 30 minutes before moving out. Or forgets to take off the emergency brake and destroys the brakes on a truck, causing the entire movement to be delayed several days for repairs. These are all simple things any Soldier who has two halves of a brain can figure out. When it comes from experienced folks, it becomes inexcusable. However, there is no move to replace or retrain anyone responsible for the fiasco. I have no doubt I fall into the third category of Soldiers, and I am beyond cynical with the command. I knew before we left this unit was a failure when it came to things like this, it's just becoming evident how deep the failure cuts. Thank goodness for ping-pong, it makes me happy.

Today I have another half day off. I tried to sleep, but some Soldiers on the neighboring hutch were tearing apart the entire inside and replacing everything, so the buildings were shaking and very loud hammering and sawing and general carrying on was the norm. Good thing I don't work nights and have to sleep during the days, or they may have faced Angry Captain. Thank goodness for ping-pong, it makes me happy.

I am convinced the next unit I go to will NOT be a logistics unit. This stuff is pretty lame, and the attitude is too civilian for me. I have several options, and I am working even now to shape things so I can walk into a different job, at least for the next few years. As it develops, I'll write more on some of the opportunities, but for now, it's all in the pre-planning phase. The bottom line is, I need an Army job that makes me happy, or that I am happy in. Otherwise, what's the point? Planning logistics movements for a Sustainment Brigade certainly doesn't make me happy, or even un-bored. Thank goodness for ping-pong.