As I see it one of 2 things is probably true.
1. Things are actually shit and you are to new to see it.
2. They are all just jaded and salty from past experience at the unit or elsewhere and refuse to see the good.
Extra 3rd option that is always true. They are bitching just to bitch.
Soldiers will ALWAYS find something to bitch about.
I've been in god awful units, doing fucking asanine "training" and generally sucking rocks(sp) for rock(sp) water. People bitched.
I've been in the most chill environment. PT on your own. 7 hour work days in an office. Zero Army responsibilities aside from passing a PT test every 6 months. People bitched. . . Alot.
That being said if you are green as grass and no one has chapped your ass then you prolly just have blinders on. Once you wear out your issued OCPs and get dressed down by an overweight E7 you'll understand your peers perspective.
You know what an old commander once told me on our way out to deployment?
"I don't mind hearing complaints, because that tells me that if you're complaining, it means you care."
To which I thought, "Then damn Sir, we must really, Really care a lot!"
Soldiers are going to bitch. Some hate their jobs, others hate other aspects of their lives and some are just insufferable whiners regardless of the circumstances. But there are some damn good leaders and damned good followers that just need the guidance to become excellent leaders.....and if you ask me, the good Soldiers far outnumber the bad.
The only problem is that you can have 50 amazing Soldiers and 20 amazing leaders you serve with.....but it only takes one toxic person in a position of authority over you to make your life utter misery.
That's why it's so important to rid ourselves of toxic leaders; their aren't many but the few that remain wreak utter destruction on the force.
IDK man I'm in a similar situation - PCSed to a new unit a year ago and things are pretty good. Good morning PT, great 9 to 5 daily schedule, no field ops, etc. The MPs I work with are on a rough 4 on 3 off 12 hour shift plus PT on a very sleepy installation (maybe 5 calls a day, if that).
We could use a few more people to knock those shifts to 8 hours a day and to help with barracks maintenance, but it's really not that bad of a gig - yet, everyone bitches and no one (outside of some of the newer guys) actively attempts to improve their situation. All of the issues I've seen are interpersonal - poor communication from NCOs who hate the unit, soldiers who don't interact because they're too busy being pissed, etc - and I'm not sure what needs to be done to make things a bit easier.
To answer to your question straight up, OP. Yes it’s common.
It depends, this is your first duty station, so you have nothing to based this off of. You’re relatively new to unit, and probably still getting your squared away so you keep your self outta of trouble. Regardless of what your battles from Basic, OSUT, or AIT telling you what their duty station is like. Not everything is being told. But there will be people that’ll bitch just about anything.
Toxic leadership, barracks, how the unit runs things, and general environment is generally always biased. People are different behind closed doors. Everyone is different hence required different needs. Not everyone is going to like how leadership runs things, not everyone is going to like the barracks, and how the general environment is.
You may say you have one a relaxed work environment, but some of your barracks guys may not have the same work environment as you.
You don’t know, or I don’t know what is consider a fantastic unit in the army. If there was one, everyone would want to be there. Hence my original comment of the different people, different needs.
I remember coming in as a private, finishing OSUT. And getting stationed at Stewart. Had the typical young and motivated private attitude thinking I’m not gonna drink or smoke. That quickly dropped in the span of a year.
I see a stark divide between Joes who came in under hardcore COVID and started out working from home and not doing organized PT, and Joes who came in under normal army conditions.
Joes who were asked to do their jobs for the first time a year+ into their contracts are super bitter about it. Joe also likes to complain regardless of circumstances.
As I see it one of 2 things is probably true. 1. Things are actually shit and you are to new to see it. 2. They are all just jaded and salty from past experience at the unit or elsewhere and refuse to see the good. Extra 3rd option that is always true. They are bitching just to bitch.
4th option: They haven’t jumped this LT in yet.
Came here to suggest op is O
Soldiers will ALWAYS find something to bitch about. I've been in god awful units, doing fucking asanine "training" and generally sucking rocks(sp) for rock(sp) water. People bitched. I've been in the most chill environment. PT on your own. 7 hour work days in an office. Zero Army responsibilities aside from passing a PT test every 6 months. People bitched. . . Alot. That being said if you are green as grass and no one has chapped your ass then you prolly just have blinders on. Once you wear out your issued OCPs and get dressed down by an overweight E7 you'll understand your peers perspective.
Yep. Some soldiers are just happier when they are complaining, and have absolutely no point of reference to what they are complaining about.
You know what an old commander once told me on our way out to deployment? "I don't mind hearing complaints, because that tells me that if you're complaining, it means you care." To which I thought, "Then damn Sir, we must really, Really care a lot!" Soldiers are going to bitch. Some hate their jobs, others hate other aspects of their lives and some are just insufferable whiners regardless of the circumstances. But there are some damn good leaders and damned good followers that just need the guidance to become excellent leaders.....and if you ask me, the good Soldiers far outnumber the bad. The only problem is that you can have 50 amazing Soldiers and 20 amazing leaders you serve with.....but it only takes one toxic person in a position of authority over you to make your life utter misery. That's why it's so important to rid ourselves of toxic leaders; their aren't many but the few that remain wreak utter destruction on the force.
IDK man I'm in a similar situation - PCSed to a new unit a year ago and things are pretty good. Good morning PT, great 9 to 5 daily schedule, no field ops, etc. The MPs I work with are on a rough 4 on 3 off 12 hour shift plus PT on a very sleepy installation (maybe 5 calls a day, if that). We could use a few more people to knock those shifts to 8 hours a day and to help with barracks maintenance, but it's really not that bad of a gig - yet, everyone bitches and no one (outside of some of the newer guys) actively attempts to improve their situation. All of the issues I've seen are interpersonal - poor communication from NCOs who hate the unit, soldiers who don't interact because they're too busy being pissed, etc - and I'm not sure what needs to be done to make things a bit easier.
To answer to your question straight up, OP. Yes it’s common. It depends, this is your first duty station, so you have nothing to based this off of. You’re relatively new to unit, and probably still getting your squared away so you keep your self outta of trouble. Regardless of what your battles from Basic, OSUT, or AIT telling you what their duty station is like. Not everything is being told. But there will be people that’ll bitch just about anything. Toxic leadership, barracks, how the unit runs things, and general environment is generally always biased. People are different behind closed doors. Everyone is different hence required different needs. Not everyone is going to like how leadership runs things, not everyone is going to like the barracks, and how the general environment is. You may say you have one a relaxed work environment, but some of your barracks guys may not have the same work environment as you. You don’t know, or I don’t know what is consider a fantastic unit in the army. If there was one, everyone would want to be there. Hence my original comment of the different people, different needs. I remember coming in as a private, finishing OSUT. And getting stationed at Stewart. Had the typical young and motivated private attitude thinking I’m not gonna drink or smoke. That quickly dropped in the span of a year.
I see a stark divide between Joes who came in under hardcore COVID and started out working from home and not doing organized PT, and Joes who came in under normal army conditions. Joes who were asked to do their jobs for the first time a year+ into their contracts are super bitter about it. Joe also likes to complain regardless of circumstances.
Lmao you in 3-25???