Can I order my Soldiers to buy a piece of mandatory clothing/equipment before the mandatory possession date?

Thanks for contacting us at ASKTOP.net.

Your questions and concern are a valid and honorable one. I am sure there are numerous leaders struggling with this same issue. First this is probably not the answer you are going to want or like but it is probably the course of action that will get you the most bang for your buck.

WARSTORY:

Anytime a senior leader told me I had to do something that was their desire but not mandatory I bucked the system and just said “No!”  They could put me on crap detail or whatever they wanted and I would comply and make my case for their violations afterwards which typically was very embarrassing for them.  Now the flip side was anytime a Leader came to me and said “Hey, I need your help with this.  Can you help me out?”  My answer was typically “Yes” How can I help.  I just wanted to be asked if it was something that was optional for me to do.  When you take an optional event and turn it into a mandatory event usually you get push back.  Put yourself in their shoes.  Do you want someone telling you an option is a requirement and trying to shove it down your throat?  Keep in mind their compliance is optional until the mandatory possession date.

Thoughts

Here is my take on the issue.  ALARACT 202/2008 states that the mandatory possession date for the New ASU items is 4^th Quarter, FY 2014. So I see that as the July, August, September timeframe.  It does not state when in the 4^th Quarter Fiscal Year.

So in my humble opinion you cannot force a Soldier to buy the items ahead of the mandatory deadline.  However you might consider conducting a counseling that basically is a formal request asking the Soldier to get the uniform early or provide you a plan with how they plan to have the item by the mandatory date.  You could also inform the Soldiers  that you or the unit will begin an inspection of the ASU on or about a specific date in the 4^th QTR FY.  Coordinate this date with your 1SG and Local IG just to make sure they will have no issues supporting your efforts.

Potential Example Counseling

The counseling might look something like this.

_____________{INSERT RANK/NAME}, this counseling is to request your professional assistance with regard to a significant issue that is impacting the ability of our ______{INSERT ELEMENT SIZE SQUAD, PLATOON, ETC).  to complete its mission and/or is adversely impacting morale of the element. Specifically you do not possess ______________{ INSERT Clothing or Equipment For Example: the complete Army Service Uniform (ASU).  The mandatory date to have this _________{INSERT CLOTHING OR EQUIPMENT} is  No Later Than ________{INSERT DATE FOR EXAMPLE 4^th QTR FY 2020}.

While I cannot require you to purchase these/this item(s) ahead of the mandatory possession date, I am requesting from one professional to another that you obtain this Clothing/Equipment in order to assist the unit in accomplishing its specific missions that require this Clothing/Equipment. For example:  __________{INSERT MISSION FOR EXAMPLE: Funeral Detail}.  Without this Clothing/Equipment I cannot fairly task individuals assigned to our _________{INSERT ELEMENT SQUAD, PLATOON, COMPANY, ETC.} as higher HQ has dictated that such activities will only be accomplished by individuals who have the new Clothing/Equipment.  This can lead to perceptions that the workload is not being distributed fairly and could impact the morale of the team. I fully understand that your current Clothing/Equipment is still valid until the mandatory possession date.

I also understand that purchasing this item could potentially be a financial burden.  There are methods in which we might be able to reduce this hardship.  For example we maybe be able obtain paperwork through the supply sergeant to purchase the Clothing/Equipment through a monthly payroll deduction {ENSURE THIS INFORMATION IS VERIFIED}.

Should you choose to wait until the mandatory possession window, I fully understand.  However I want to make you aware that you must have the Clothing/Equipment No Later Than ______{INSERT DATE/TIME).  I or the unit will conduct an inspection to ensure all members of the element have the required Clothing/Equipment at this time.  Failure to have the specified Clothing/Equipment by ______{INSERT DATE/TIME) for the _____{INSERT ELEMENT SQUAD, PLATOON, COMPANY, ETC.} mandatory inspection could result in administrative action and/or punishment under the UCMJ.

Regardless of your decision I need you to provide me with a decision on when you plan to purchase the required Clothing/Equipment.  I also need to know if you envision any financial difficulty with regard to this situation so that we can get out in front of this issue before the mandatory date.  We will incorporate your responses into the Plan of Action for this counseling.

I greatly appreciate your time and consideration regarding the contents of this counseling.

Summary

Now there are a couple of things to keep in mind.  If you have a Soldier ETSing during the mandatory timeframe or the 1st QTR of 2015…are you really going to make the Soldier go out and buy over $500.00 worth of Clothing/Equipment?  That they will likely never use or at the most use once/twice!  Make sure your actions are reasonable and rationale.  I would also encourage you to coordinate this action with a Senior Leader (Platoon Sergeant/1SG) and the IG.

Reference Information.

Link:   http://www.army.mil/asu/alaract.html

ALARACT 202/2008

8. THE ARMY WILL PLACE THE NEW ASU ITEMS IN THE SOLDIER’S CLOTHING BAG FOR INITIAL ENTRY SOLDIERS IN 4TH QUARTER, FY 2010. THE MANDATORY POSSESSION DATE FOR THE NEW ASU ITEMS IS 4TH QUARTER, FY 2014.

Double Check

I have also sent this information to one of our SME’s for a double check just to make sure I have not missed anything and that I am on track.  If anything changes you will get a follow up email.

Hope this Helps

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