J

Sunday, 03/08/2009 - 19:42

General Rodriguez, from what I have heard, is not stepping down because of pay issues. Also, the issues dealing with the female soldiers were not related to sexual harrasment, but instead gender discrimination which did not involve Rodriguez. The pay issues reported by the Houston media are not as clear cut as they seem. General Rodriguez when serving under title 10 (Federal) orders still remains the State's Adjutant General, and he maintains responsibility for that job, even when assigned another mission. An argument can be made that he is entitled pay from both the Federal and State Government when each entity calls on him to serve.

Jennifer Peebles

Sunday, 03/08/2009 - 20:24

J, Thanks for reading us and commenting. I made a scratch-through correction on the harassment/discrimination reversal you pointed out. Take care, Jennifer P. jennifer@texaswatchdog.org

Brian

Monday, 03/09/2009 - 11:59

You state that "Rodriguez then admitted he’d paid back $53,000 of it, about a third of what he owes." That is an inaccurate statement. In the interview he said that he owed $53,000, of which he's paid back about a third. The way you say it sounds like he owed a total of approx $160,000, and he's paid back a third. I am not defending what he did, but I think if you are going to report it, you should do it accurately.

Jennifer Peebles

Monday, 03/09/2009 - 12:32

Brian, You're right -- I goofed -- and I can assure you that we want report everything accurately. I've done a scratch-through correction in the story text to show the error and the correct phrasing. And we appreciate you reading us and taking time to comment here. Take care, Jennifer P. jennifer@texaswatchdog.org

Justice

Thursday, 03/12/2009 - 08:57

None of the general officers deserved to be removed. I am sure they have staff who do their pay documents and they depend on them to do this correctly. When this is investigated they will discover the double pay was a systematic problem and the generals before the current ones received this same pay. The true issue is the sexual discrimination. All of the generals were removed but they left that Wing Commander in Houston in place. He is still in charge of this Wing. How is this possible? The only reason the double pay issues made national news is the fact none of these general officers did anything about that commander in Houston even though they had several substantiated reports detailing his wrong doing. I am not justifying the double pay because if the generals were not entitled to the funds they should not have received them but I find it ironic that the double pay was identified to the governor's office in 2008 and he did not remove anyone until this news story broke. The story about the sexual discrimination broke the first time in 2007 and it is back again. I understand the money is important but is it more important that the military careers of females in the Texas Military. Governor, what message are you sending leaving this commander in place?

Jennifer Peebles

Friday, 03/13/2009 - 09:01

Justice, Welcome to the blog. We appreciate you reading and writing in. And I'd love to hear more from you (or anyone else) about the issues in the Guard. Feel free to e-mail me at jennifer@texaswatchdog.org. Take care, Jennifer P.

former female soldier

Wednesday, 03/18/2009 - 22:44

As a former female soldier in the texas Guard I witnessed how gender discrimination made a drastic change about my life and career in the guard. This is no joke or exageration the issues addressed on harrassement, bullying, gender discrimination were clear to me while in the texas army guard. The issues about g. rodriguez is just the beginning of a nightmare. I was a finance soldier and my job was to pay soldiers and made sure that it was done according to publications and regulations. Believe me, unless you are a first day private, you know when youre being overpaid. I just hope that these investigations not only will serve to protect future female soldiers but will also uncover the huge \"Fraud Waste and Abuse\" the texas guard has had. Not only general rodriguez did ignore his most intrinsic responsibilities but his actions had a direct impact/reflection on other leaders. I was disgusted on how some of my leaders gave \"tips\" to other soldier on how to get \"overpaid\". Example \"dont turn in your divorce decree, that way you\'ll keep entittlements at a higher paying rate, we will never find out.\" Some leaders didnt even know the regulations and just process what ever. These examples are endless. Many enlisted leaders in such positions should be fired as well, especially when they dont proctect and neglect U.S goverment monies. On the other hand, a more serious issue, in which I also experienced harrassment by two enlisted males in the office. On more than one occasion i received unwelcomed innappropriate sexual and degrading remarks, such comments were not work or occupational in relation. Unfortantely, he was one rank senior to me, so those who witnessed his comments did nothing to make me feel that he was wrong and such matters remained unchanged. complaining to my superiors was fruitless, one because they would always excused their behavior and no real change was made since they were friends or were too incompented to step up and deal with difficutl situaitons. These leaders witnessed these put downs and nothing was done. The atmosphere for this type of conduct and attitude seemed almost like \"normal.\" Complaining to my seniors was only going to bring more issues and the problem was only going to get worse. Again, they ignored or excused such conduct and complaining . It was as if the victim was victimize for sounded off and the prepertator made everyone else believe that \"she just a b..th\" and subsequently, everyone just ganged against a female (who once complained)... As a female my suggestions or ideas were not as good as the male. My self esteem, confidence and identiy were shattered. Career wise, i knew i wanted to be an officer, but after a few months in the texas guard I soon realized that this was an option. Most female officers in the guard were commissioned through ROTC and not the texas officer candidate program. Most candidate are males. I recently switch from army to navy hoping that in the navy things would be different. So far, things are going good. I found that not every male in the guard are bullies and i have had great leaders as well. (like, Col osborne and lewis), yet many who were at close range chose to do nothing about it and just watched. These leaders get paid to be leaders and professionals but unfortunately this was enough. The issues are profound and my story could go on and on about these issues, but now i am just glad that this is not going to be tolerated any further and we now have a voice over such issues that were once taboo.

Jennifer Peebles

Thursday, 03/19/2009 - 08:43

Former, Welcome to the blog, and thanks for taking the time to write to us. We would love to hear more from you -- or anyone else in the Guard -- about the problems there. Please e-mail me at jennifer@texaswatchdog.org. I'm also at 713-980-9778 if you would prefer to talk by phone. Take care, Jennifer P. jennifer@texaswatchdog.org