Posted on Mar 2, 2014
Joint military training, education & assignments
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So, what is your experience in the 'joint world,' have you trained with your sister services, or attended Joint PME? All things considered, in your opinion how well do you think the DoD doing in the areas of joint training, education, and assignments? If you were to assign a letter grade to the effort, what would it be... and why? Also, what do you think we're doing right, and what could we be doing better... and most importantly, 'how' can we go about instituting/implementing positive change? For those things that require attention, what specific recommendations can you offer, and how can we implement positive reform in these areas? Please feel free to share any articles, resources, links, photos, videos or anything else necessary to help tell your story; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!
Joint Service
Training
Education
Military Career
Culture
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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The only joint training/education experience I have had was at DLI. Honestly, I really enjoyed it. I was only there for 9 months but I liked that bond that we had within our own branch and then when the branches crossed over to stick up for each other. I had a Marine that was a complete jerk to me because I was Air Force, then when I found out how his fellow Marine pretty much shut him down in my defense that really stood out to me.
Not only experiences like that, but also to see how the different branches take care of their people. It was interesting to see the contrasts- from PT for the Army to how the Navy decides who gets what language. I had my opinions on how the Air Force could take some advice from the other branches on our practices, not that it will amount to much coming from an E-4.
I would say that as an overall, I would give it a B also. What could improve it to an A? If you are going to compare things between branches, don't just compare. Find who has the best system or solution for an issue and use it. Don't just say "Well hey that makes sense." and keep on with what you are currently doing.
My biggest example would be the difference between how the Air Force issues languages and the Navy (this is based on what one Seaman told me how they get their language orders). The Air Force (from my experience) has you take the DLAB at MEPS. You pass, go to BMT, and at the end of BMT you go through two binders. One that has all the languages offered and one that has all the bases CONUS and OCONUS. You choose I think 10 languages you would be interested in and 8 CONUS and 8 OCONUS bases you would be interested in. If the language you want and the places you want to go line up with what the AF needs you get it. If not, you get put where they need you. The Navy on the other hand does it this way-again this is according to the Seaman I spoke with so if it is different now, please forgive the discrepancy- they take the DLAB, then they are given the list of languages that they qualify for according to their grade and they choose from those. I suppose it is similar that if they don't need the language they choose then they will get something else within the category they qualify for.
It would be beneficial for the AF to follow the Navy in their practice because the Navy places you according to your ability and desire, instead of solely based on the precept of pass/fail. If you choose according to both of those requirements, it is more likely you will grasp the language you are given reducing the failout rate. I scored a 105 on the DLAB was almost given Russian, but instead was reissued Arabic-Levantine. The Seaman who sat next to me in class scored a 180 on the DLAB. After I failed out, the Army Sgt in charge of our school house asked why I was in that class. Arabic (regardless of dialect) is a Category 6. I should have been in a lesser category like Spanish according to him. I couldn't agree more.
Apologies for the long response sir. Thank you for your time.
Not only experiences like that, but also to see how the different branches take care of their people. It was interesting to see the contrasts- from PT for the Army to how the Navy decides who gets what language. I had my opinions on how the Air Force could take some advice from the other branches on our practices, not that it will amount to much coming from an E-4.
I would say that as an overall, I would give it a B also. What could improve it to an A? If you are going to compare things between branches, don't just compare. Find who has the best system or solution for an issue and use it. Don't just say "Well hey that makes sense." and keep on with what you are currently doing.
My biggest example would be the difference between how the Air Force issues languages and the Navy (this is based on what one Seaman told me how they get their language orders). The Air Force (from my experience) has you take the DLAB at MEPS. You pass, go to BMT, and at the end of BMT you go through two binders. One that has all the languages offered and one that has all the bases CONUS and OCONUS. You choose I think 10 languages you would be interested in and 8 CONUS and 8 OCONUS bases you would be interested in. If the language you want and the places you want to go line up with what the AF needs you get it. If not, you get put where they need you. The Navy on the other hand does it this way-again this is according to the Seaman I spoke with so if it is different now, please forgive the discrepancy- they take the DLAB, then they are given the list of languages that they qualify for according to their grade and they choose from those. I suppose it is similar that if they don't need the language they choose then they will get something else within the category they qualify for.
It would be beneficial for the AF to follow the Navy in their practice because the Navy places you according to your ability and desire, instead of solely based on the precept of pass/fail. If you choose according to both of those requirements, it is more likely you will grasp the language you are given reducing the failout rate. I scored a 105 on the DLAB was almost given Russian, but instead was reissued Arabic-Levantine. The Seaman who sat next to me in class scored a 180 on the DLAB. After I failed out, the Army Sgt in charge of our school house asked why I was in that class. Arabic (regardless of dialect) is a Category 6. I should have been in a lesser category like Spanish according to him. I couldn't agree more.
Apologies for the long response sir. Thank you for your time.
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SGT Beth Day
Commenting four years later -- but this topic interests me. I went to DINFOS -- Defense Information School. It too was multi-service, at the time located at Fort Harrision (Which makes me old. LOL). DINFOS is where they crank out journalists and broadcasters.
I truly enjoyed it. I admit it felt more like a college experience than it was a military one. One reason was because of the blend of services (although we all had our own company), but the other was because there were so many there getting a secondary MOS. Only about half of my class, from what I can remember, was directly out of basic training/boot camp.
Like SSgt Post, I think it deserved a B. (Also like her, my info is old, so if it's wrong, mea culpa). There were definitely things that one service did better than others. Again, the Navy led the way (I was Army). In the Navy, you automatically schooled and awarded BOTH MOS -- print and broadcast journalism (note: the first several weeks of both classes are the same, general Public Affairs training). I was told this was because Navy folks often had to be in an environment, such as a ship, where they did it all.
From my personal experience, I think all services should adopt that. I went as a print journalist, but when there, voice qualified as a broadcaster. So I was told I would stay for the other class. Right before graduation, I was told there was an URGENT need for print journalists in Germany, so I was pulled from broadcast class.
So I get to Germany, my first assignment, they were reorganizing, my slot lasted, literally, 3 months. I was then transferred to VII Corps HQ where I was double slotted. Then AFN (American Forces Radio) called desperate for a broadcaster. I was lucky enough to go, but had to OJT on what I was supposed to have been trained on in the first place. BTW: My boss was an AF Tech Sgt.
Then I ended up at Fort Riley, as a broadcaster, because they didn't have one when I got there, and they saw I had been at AFN. Then finally, a REAL broadcaster arrived and I was sent to be a print journalist, something I had never really done in my entire time in the service. I ended up in the National Guard later -- doing both jobs and TRYING to get an OJT officially approved for broadcasting. No go.
So, sorry again for a long ramble, but I later found out this happened to others, which supports my theory that all of us should have been trained in both MOS.
I truly enjoyed it. I admit it felt more like a college experience than it was a military one. One reason was because of the blend of services (although we all had our own company), but the other was because there were so many there getting a secondary MOS. Only about half of my class, from what I can remember, was directly out of basic training/boot camp.
Like SSgt Post, I think it deserved a B. (Also like her, my info is old, so if it's wrong, mea culpa). There were definitely things that one service did better than others. Again, the Navy led the way (I was Army). In the Navy, you automatically schooled and awarded BOTH MOS -- print and broadcast journalism (note: the first several weeks of both classes are the same, general Public Affairs training). I was told this was because Navy folks often had to be in an environment, such as a ship, where they did it all.
From my personal experience, I think all services should adopt that. I went as a print journalist, but when there, voice qualified as a broadcaster. So I was told I would stay for the other class. Right before graduation, I was told there was an URGENT need for print journalists in Germany, so I was pulled from broadcast class.
So I get to Germany, my first assignment, they were reorganizing, my slot lasted, literally, 3 months. I was then transferred to VII Corps HQ where I was double slotted. Then AFN (American Forces Radio) called desperate for a broadcaster. I was lucky enough to go, but had to OJT on what I was supposed to have been trained on in the first place. BTW: My boss was an AF Tech Sgt.
Then I ended up at Fort Riley, as a broadcaster, because they didn't have one when I got there, and they saw I had been at AFN. Then finally, a REAL broadcaster arrived and I was sent to be a print journalist, something I had never really done in my entire time in the service. I ended up in the National Guard later -- doing both jobs and TRYING to get an OJT officially approved for broadcasting. No go.
So, sorry again for a long ramble, but I later found out this happened to others, which supports my theory that all of us should have been trained in both MOS.
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SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM
I would suggest that all Officers and Nco's get an assignment to a JOINT service billet. This is an good example of a broadening assignment!
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As this is one of those topics that we need to encourage maximum discussion, here are a few other related topics to consider; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!
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Col (Join to see)
Who has served in multiple branches of the military? | RallyPoint
I followed my father and brother (and best friend) into the Marine Corps ('93-'97) and then wanted to improve the Army a bit so I transferred to the Army in 1997.- Marine Corps (1993-1997)- Army (1997-Present)
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Col (Join to see)
Joint Service/Joint Environment---Leadership Differences/Observations | RallyPoint
After serving on a Combined Joint Task Force Staff---I observed and acknowledged several differences pertaining to responsibility, leadership, and overall differences amongst my superiors, my peers, and subordinates. For the most part, it was just pure differences in the way business is carried out and the atmospheric changes related to having team members from different backgrounds, experiences, and levels of...
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COL Robert White
I see this as a step in the right direction compared to when I was in. I feel it builds inter-service cooperation and friendships. I wish we had more of it!
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Sir: Thanks for posting all of these. What is the definitive guide to joint qualification? I'm about to finish my first joint duty assignment, so I'll have the 3A additional skill identifier, but what do I need to do to become "joint qualified"? I've looked and looked and haven't found the answer.
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LTC (Join to see)
DODI 1300.19, E2.19. The version I have is 2010, so there might be a new version, but the JQO requirements are similarly stringent. It's much simpler for active duty. Hope you get your JQO soon!
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MAJ (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) Thanks--I found a version from 2014 on http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/130019p.pdf
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