Miscommunication in the Workplace

Miscommunication in the Workplace

The miscommunication I have experienced with work is a recent one. The first week of February I received my orders to attend the traffic management and collision investigation school aboard Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas. The orders specifically stated that I was supposed to apply for funding that covers on-base lodging and that I request a single room due to the amount of work required during the course. So I applied and received funding for lodging and daily per diem for food. Early last week I was sent an email from the Marine Corps liaison here aboard Lackland Air Force Base, a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, regarding the rules and regulation for the Traffic Management and Collision Investigation School. The letter stated that Sergeants and below MUST stay in the barracks, where lodging is free, due to lack of government funding. It also stated in the letter that there would be no exceptions to this rule and if marines attending this school had already received funding that it must be paid back to TECOM (Testing and Evaluation Command) upon our return to our home duty stations.

Upon arrival to San Antonio I checked into the barracks aboard Lackland AFB. Knowing that I had obligations and responsibilities to the University of Phoenix and to my team mates in class I quickly checked for a Wi-Fi signal available in the barracks. Unfortunately, to my surprise, there was no signal at all. Since all marines here aboard Lackland AFB are temporary personnel, they do not provide cable or internet. This was a huge setback for me, given my new obligation taking online classes. During the check in process I was told, to my relief, that there were no rooms available and that I would have to stay in on-base lodging; which is essentially a hotel aboard base. This hotel is not free. I quickly contacted my chain of command here and notified them of the non-availability in the barracks. The Marine Corps liaison instructed me to check into the Gateway Inn (on-base lodging) and that he would ensure my TECOM funding was approved.

The very next day the liaison informed me that I must return to the barracks and that he had contacted the barracks and found a room I could stay in. I followed the orders and packed up all of my belongings again and headed back to the barracks. Returning to the barracks I was informed that there were no male rooms available. Immediately I contacted the liaison and informed him of what I had been told. He instructed me to stay in the female room until another male room became available. He told me that the Commanding Officer had ordered him to ensure that I was not staying in on-base lodging due to lack of government funding. I asked the Gunnery Sergeant to consider that I had substantial homework to complete in my college class with Phoenix and that the barracks does not provide internet. He said 'there is nothing I can do for you."

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