Since the last case study proved so popular, I'm going to post another. We'll keep going with these as long as there's interest. If you have an interesting case study, please feel free to post it.
DISCLAIMER: Part of this case study is fact, and part is fiction based on responses to this thread and ideas that popped into my head that I included to make it a better story. This is NOT to be misconstrued as a factual "war story."
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Case Study #2: The Loyal Wife
This one's kind of long, and part of it really happened in my unit. Names and details changed in the interests of privacy. For those of you already familiar with this story and know how it ends, please don't be a spoiler.
Here's part one:
You are a company commander in a company that supports a Special Forces Group. The Group is gearing up for another deployment to Iraq. Most of the people in your company, including you and your first sergeant, have never deployed before.
Shortly before the deployment, your first sergeant asks to see you in the office you two share. You walk in and see one of your Soldiers sitting in a chair in front of the first sergeant's desk. Since he's sitting down and isn't either 1) in the front lean and rest with his boots up on the first sergeant's desk or 2) standing at a rigid position of parade rest, you know he's not in trouble.
The guy's a good troop, brand-new E5, never had any problems in your unit. First Sergeant explains that SGT Bradley's wife has a benign brain tumor- not operable, not fatal, but it's there. SGT Bradley wants to deploy, and claims his wife wants him to go, too. The Bradleys have been married three years and have two sons, ages four and one. First Sergeant explains that we really need SGT Bradley on this deployment, as we're already critically short in Bradley's MOS. But he also says that SGT Bradley's squad leader, SSG Rico, suggested that it might be better if Bradley stayed home.
As the commander it's your decision whether SGT Bradley deploys or stays back on rear-detachment. You have three days to make the decision. What do you do?
DISCLAIMER: Part of this case study is fact, and part is fiction based on responses to this thread and ideas that popped into my head that I included to make it a better story. This is NOT to be misconstrued as a factual "war story."
/////
Case Study #2: The Loyal Wife
This one's kind of long, and part of it really happened in my unit. Names and details changed in the interests of privacy. For those of you already familiar with this story and know how it ends, please don't be a spoiler.
Here's part one:
You are a company commander in a company that supports a Special Forces Group. The Group is gearing up for another deployment to Iraq. Most of the people in your company, including you and your first sergeant, have never deployed before.
Shortly before the deployment, your first sergeant asks to see you in the office you two share. You walk in and see one of your Soldiers sitting in a chair in front of the first sergeant's desk. Since he's sitting down and isn't either 1) in the front lean and rest with his boots up on the first sergeant's desk or 2) standing at a rigid position of parade rest, you know he's not in trouble.
The guy's a good troop, brand-new E5, never had any problems in your unit. First Sergeant explains that SGT Bradley's wife has a benign brain tumor- not operable, not fatal, but it's there. SGT Bradley wants to deploy, and claims his wife wants him to go, too. The Bradleys have been married three years and have two sons, ages four and one. First Sergeant explains that we really need SGT Bradley on this deployment, as we're already critically short in Bradley's MOS. But he also says that SGT Bradley's squad leader, SSG Rico, suggested that it might be better if Bradley stayed home.
As the commander it's your decision whether SGT Bradley deploys or stays back on rear-detachment. You have three days to make the decision. What do you do?