Red Cross Message in Combat
Abstract
All Soldiers should receive the same considerations when receiving a Red Cross Message in a combat zone. Today's Army is wide spread and getting increasingly hard to fill, requiring some units to serve twice a year in a combat zone. Most commanders look at a Red Cross Message as bad timing and a void to fill if the brigade commander agrees to let the Soldier go home. While deployed down range many Red Cross situations will occur requiring your immediate attention. Most deal with family crisis. There are three things to consider when sending the Soldier home. (1) What role does he or she play in the unit's mission? (2) Will the Soldier continue his or her efforts or become a liability if he or she cannot go. (3) What difference will the Soldier make in bringing about a solution to the problem if sent home? Remember you can still win a war without one Soldier. Each Soldier plays an important part in the unit's mission today. Manning roster for some, when filled, will only show one deep, a real cause for concern. The Soldier is not the problem when a Red Cross Message comes to the unit requesting the Soldier to come home because of family issues. Remember he or she is the only Soldier the system allows the unit to take with them. First Sergeants and company commanders should know the roles of each Soldier in their unit and what values each Soldier possesses. First Sergeants and company commander must ensure cross training is a solution to avoid turbulence before that one Soldier goes home. The battalion commander will look at it from all angles knowing he will eventually talk to the brigade commander about the issue. The battalion commander must know how he plans to cover for the Soldier, how long it will take the Soldier, and where can he expect to get help from if needed. More importantly, he must make sure his answers satisfy the brigade commander.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 16, 2005
- Accession Number
- AD1117595
Entities
People
- Bruce Pinckney
Organizations
- United States Army Sergeants Major Academy