Posted on May 5, 2015
Soldiers attending Military Schools: What are your thoughts about Soldiers having more input in what they want to do with their careers?
6.44K
17
22
3
3
0
Many Soldiers request to attend schools like Ranger, Airborne, Air Assault, Pathfinder etc. They request to attend these schools for the experience, qualifications, and maybe even the prestige that goes along with them. However, many Soldiers are denied attendance because it doesn't hold any positional or operational necessity for them to go. It seems like Air Assault school is the only school that the Army/Leaders will send Soldiers to without having this necessity. I think Soldiers should have a bigger part of the decision making on what they would like to do with their careers.
I have heard numerous leaders say "It's your career. You need to be invested in it", but when they do just that they are met with resistance and excuses. I say if a Soldier wants to attend a school and they meet all the requirements to go then send them to that school. We focus a great deal on civilian education and its importance, but what about the importance of military training and qualifications?
What are your thoughts about Soldiers having more input in what they want to do with their careers?
I have heard numerous leaders say "It's your career. You need to be invested in it", but when they do just that they are met with resistance and excuses. I say if a Soldier wants to attend a school and they meet all the requirements to go then send them to that school. We focus a great deal on civilian education and its importance, but what about the importance of military training and qualifications?
What are your thoughts about Soldiers having more input in what they want to do with their careers?
Posted in these groups: 
Ranger
Ranger
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
2
2
0
Unfortunately we are in a business so that would not make much sense to send Soldiers to schools that they have no operational necessity for. Would microsoft send there accountant to computer programming school no. It does not make sense there are plenty of schools in the military for Soldiers to attend and unfortunately the prestigeus ones are not of need for all Soldiers. I wish this was not true but it is and if one wants them bad enough they can reclass and move to a field where it is needed that is always an option.
(2)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
I agree. I think there is a lot of wanting flair. Everyone wants the Tab but they don't want to be a Ranger. There is a difference.
(0)
(0)
Suspended Profile
Everyone is correct, that it comes down to operational necessity and dollars; but in government ROI should not be the major deciding factor for commitment to organizational investment. Those who seek out opportunities for warfighter training are hard chargers that will likely be successful in any job. The service needs to understand the investment already made in development of the individual is sizable and should push for the funding necessary to continue individual skill enhancement.
1
1
0
In the NG soldiers have lots of input about schools they want/don't want. Problem is money.
I am in a combined arms battalion there are 4 slots for either Airborne or Air Assault I can't remember which, and none for the other. But if you want to go to Master Gunner school as a E-5 you go ahead. Oh, and they are always look for guys to go through a field sanitation course
I am in a combined arms battalion there are 4 slots for either Airborne or Air Assault I can't remember which, and none for the other. But if you want to go to Master Gunner school as a E-5 you go ahead. Oh, and they are always look for guys to go through a field sanitation course
(1)
(0)
SPC (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) Well not much I'll grant you that. But that may change in a year, at least for me! But we don't even get that many Mech Leader slots. Money is so tight right now our new guys that finished basic after October can't even go to AT
(0)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
That may be more of an issue with your state. We have been able to send guys to Ranger and Mech Leaders. I have been to Ranger, our XO went to Air Assault, and another PL went to Mech Leaders. I should be going to ML next. We are looking for NCOs to go to Ranger next. What happens is when a guy fails a school the state won't send anyone after that. I question how many guys has your state sent to Ranger and how many passed. It may have been a long time ago but I am sure they sent someone. That person's success, or lack there of, is what is affecting your state.
(0)
(0)
SPC (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) had a NCO do it about a year ago that I know about, he graduated. PA has one of the biggest Guards in the country so it maybe is it just trying to spread the "love". Or may be my Training and Readiness NCOs just don't want me to miss AT lol.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google