Posted on Nov 1, 2014
Are the E9 Academies, such as the Sergeants Major Academy offered too late during a career?
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Consider whether or not the E9 Academies and other schools are offered too late during a military career. We pull E8s and E9s from the field in their prime, when they are needed most, when we might get the most out of their experience. Many bail if they are not then selected for promotion or higher level positions. ...Would the military be better if E7s were selected rather than E8s or E9s? Would that make better, more effective E7-E9s who could spend more time in the field at the prime of their careers? (in full disclosure I was selected as E7 (P) and found the course offered perspectives that were more useful soldiers earlier in their career that should have already been taught in other schools. Quite a few E8s and E9s had to unlearn old habits and for many it was too late...
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Posted 10 y ago
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SGM (Join to see) - I was thinking about this same questionn while commenting on your earlier question concerning Cols and the War College.
In today's dynamic range of deployments I am thinking attending the SGMs Academies would be beneficial to E7s. Or break out certain aspects of the Academy course syllubus and offer to E7s. During my days as a PSG or 1SG, we were not very much concerned with issues and perspectives that they face in today's military.
Unlearning old habits as you mention above is NOT and easy accomplishment. In the past we were concerned primarily with basically Germany and Korea. Today unit leaders have been immersed in conflicts in many different cultures (i.e. the many different cultures in the Middle East; Afghanistan Region; Africa; former Soviet Block Countries, and the list of humanitarian missions goes on and on (i.e. Operation OVD in Ebola affected Africa).
Unit leaders need more preparation and training that is part of the Academy. So I would say, develop a system to send earlier or develop a cirriculum to better train and prepare them earlier.
You mentioned quite a few E8s and E9s had t unlearn old habits, quite true; I also recall the days of small groups (E8-E9s) with 10-15 different answers, each one felt they were right and no one could change their mind!
In today's dynamic range of deployments I am thinking attending the SGMs Academies would be beneficial to E7s. Or break out certain aspects of the Academy course syllubus and offer to E7s. During my days as a PSG or 1SG, we were not very much concerned with issues and perspectives that they face in today's military.
Unlearning old habits as you mention above is NOT and easy accomplishment. In the past we were concerned primarily with basically Germany and Korea. Today unit leaders have been immersed in conflicts in many different cultures (i.e. the many different cultures in the Middle East; Afghanistan Region; Africa; former Soviet Block Countries, and the list of humanitarian missions goes on and on (i.e. Operation OVD in Ebola affected Africa).
Unit leaders need more preparation and training that is part of the Academy. So I would say, develop a system to send earlier or develop a cirriculum to better train and prepare them earlier.
You mentioned quite a few E8s and E9s had t unlearn old habits, quite true; I also recall the days of small groups (E8-E9s) with 10-15 different answers, each one felt they were right and no one could change their mind!
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SGM (Join to see)
Yes sir, 1SG McPherson...a lot of what we teach at one level really should be taught earlier!
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