As NCO's has our power base been taken to train our soldiers during sergeant's time because it's not ours to plan anymore?

2016-03-18T07:58:14-04:00

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Mar 18 at 2016 8:32 AM

2016-03-18T08:32:15-04:00

Yes, but reality is, there has been no time available to you or your commander in many years. It has been shown in several research and study's, there literally is not enough training time in a calendar year to perform ALL of the mandatory training on the books. As such, there is NO time for you the NCO as it is all accounted for already.
That said... unit by unit will choose to allow time on a training calendar for non Top down driven training... Wither those few precious hours are planned and filled by company commander, 1SG, PSG, or section leaders is a unit level decision. If your in a unit that does not allow any NCO input into the company training calendar, ask your self WHY? Is the company commander not allowed any non BN. BDE planned training? If he is allowed company planned time... WHY is he not seeking NCO input into what? Once you understand the WHY you can make a plan to affect it. ....or perhaps accept it's not there it be used at the company level

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Mar 18 at 2016 8:34 AM

2016-03-18T08:34:31-04:00

it depends on how much spine your 1SG has against a micromeddling BC. Most micromanagers I've seen will cave at the first sign of pushback. Having said that, the Section Chiefs must have good use for that time planned and ready to go. Objecting for its own sake is not enough.

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Mar 18 at 2016 8:55 AM

2016-03-18T08:55:05-04:00

Your power has been taken and given to a computer monitor in my opinion. The more of us that fight this ridiculous training mechanism maybe eventually they will give it back to NCOs to handle their business.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 18 at 2016 9:43 AM

2016-03-18T09:43:39-04:00

Power is generally taken, not given. The biggest factors seem to be the amount of responsibility you are willing to take, and your level of competence. I've seen SPC's who were more powerful within the unit than their senior leaders, and I've seen senior leaders who were functionally irrelevant. Rank is one thing, but the person underneath means so much more...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2016 9:55 AM

2016-03-18T09:55:02-04:00

I, sadly, have to say yes. A few months ago, during a BN UTB, we were reminded of the OPORD to start incorporating SGTs Time in our Training Schedules. We were told that the highers will not tell us when to do it, but gave us a list of the training we WILL be doing.

Response by SFC Eric Williams made Mar 18 at 2016 9:57 AM

2016-03-18T09:57:43-04:00

Every minute of the day is "Sergeants Time". You have 24 hours to work with today. Tomorrow you get to start over with another 24 hours.....the good thing is you get to repeat the cycle everyday as long as you wear the uniform.....use the time wisely. NCO's don't need a stage to make things happen.sssssSergeant

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2016 10:29 AM

2016-03-18T10:29:35-04:00

I do agree with this. but in a different context. In the Marines Corps with the hazing investigations that seem to start up daily we are being over scrutinized and any Squad down time training we do (like go out back and practice immediate actions and such) are put under a microscope and if any of the junior marines says they felt hazed your about to be put in front of 1stSgt. In the Corps it's not the time that is the issue, for us it's becoming the will and the drive. If every time I go out to teach my Marines how to clear a room I have to worry about my rank and pay getting taken away I'm less likely to do it, and I wont do it with as much motivation as I would before.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2016 1:04 PM

2016-03-18T13:04:33-04:00

I hardly see SGTs time anymore, not like when I was private for sure

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 18 at 2016 2:54 PM

2016-03-18T14:54:59-04:00

It gets worse when we involve units like AG and Finance as they have a full time mission except for Thursdays. Hence, it became important not to waste time when we have training opportunities.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2016 4:38 PM

2016-03-18T16:38:46-04:00

We brought it back in our BN. The 1st 2 complete hours of drill is deticated to SGT's Time. We put tables on our drill hall floor in a formation. 1 table for each section or squad. Us E7s verify the conduct of SGT's Time and no one goes anywhere. Our NCOs counsel, update info, complete NCOERs, and bring up any issues to get resolved by the FTS immediately.

Response by SFC Craig Dalen made Mar 18 at 2016 4:57 PM

2016-03-18T16:57:24-04:00

I have yet to be in a unit where at least the PSG didn't provide input. It is his job to evaluate the level of training his Platoon needs and can inform the Commander of the strengths and weaknesses of the Platoon.

Response by SFC Benjamin Harrison made Mar 18 at 2016 6:43 PM

2016-03-18T18:43:18-04:00

It is not that our authority has been taken, we as a whole have failed to properly utilize and safeguard it. Because of this, Officers have stepped into those leadership gaps that exist in order to accomplish the mission. As an NCO, this simple fact should light a fire beneath you to get back into the weeds with your Soldiers, get a training plan rolling and earn the right to have our authority handed back.

The task in having authority or "power" returned to us is simple though it takes some time and team work. First, when given the training plan, actually review it and ensure that if something is missing, overlooked, or could be done better, it is brought up during an IPR or even in a mere conversation with the Officer who created it. Over time, Officers within the unit will see that NCOs are involved, reengaged, and ready to lead from the front again. 2nd, we must ensure that we are leading everyone below us and influencing those within our peer group, the entire team of NCOs has to be on board. We know how to get the mission accomplished, we must also realize that it's a team sport and every eligible player must be held accountable.

Most importantly, those counseling packets we are responsible for need to be squared up. If we must be capable of counseling and mentoring our Soldiers in order to earn their respect. The biggest problems I have seen recently are those NCOs who are nothing more than a pay grade, they refuse to mentor and train their Soldiers. Simple tasks like PT/Accountability formations, we expect our Soldiers to be there 10 or 15 minutes prior yet if we are not there 30 minutes prior how can we verify who or who isn't meeting our standards?

We must know our profession, I see very few NCOs looking into ADRP 1, or any of the ADRP's for that matter. If we do not know our profession, how can we train our Soldiers in it? Lastly, look at the Blotter report for your unit and you may be surprised to see how many NCOs are failing to do the right thing. It only takes one NCO to screw up everything our brothers and sisters before us worked so hard to build. If we are unwilling to follow our leaders, obey their directives, live up to the Army Values, live by our Creed, then why should we any authority?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2016 10:08 PM

2016-03-19T22:08:49-04:00

I'd like to spin this around: What do NCOs want from Officers during a formal block of time to Sergeants time training. Specific training guidance, a plan, or just the time and rresources? The best Sergeants time training I saw was officer planned, Sergeant executed - but I always thought one of the purposes was to help NCOs develop as planners for deliberate training.

Response by SFC Boots Attaway made Mar 20 at 2016 11:26 AM

2016-03-20T11:26:00-04:00

IMHO, way to much time is spent on classroom training (death by powerpoint) than on hands on training. Put the troops outside for land nav (not GPS crap). Our soldiers are becomming to dependent on computers. What happens IF their electronics go down out in the field with no replacements? I will tell you what happens, they are SCREWED. As someone who has trained in both the OD army and the ACU army I know

Response by SSG Brian Kresge made Mar 20 at 2016 11:29 AM

2016-03-20T11:29:31-04:00

How is this true?
Across the past two decades, I've always seen Sergeant's Time training be derivative of the commander's intent, or relevant to training at hand. If the company was doing squad STX, we were focusing on relevant 10 level tasks. If we were doing platoon evals, we were doing training fundamental for that, and so on and so forth. If we were coming up on range time, we were and still are doing PMI for the weapon systems involved.
I don't know about many of you, but I get the "what" of the training from above, but then I get to do the how to make sure the terminal learning objectives are achieved. If it were left up to me solely to both come up with the training, I know many NCOs that are just not equipped nor in tune enough with our overall mission to establish training that is relevant to soldiers in their mission.
And it's not our job to come up with what we train, but rather to make sure our soldiers are trained, so that our officers don't have to worry about it.
I understand the possibility that my experience is not ubiquitous across the Army, but I'm reasonably certain that the experience indicated in this question isn't ubiquitous, either.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2016 11:30 AM

2016-03-20T11:30:36-04:00

This topic makes cringe. NCOs if your power has been taken from you, you seriously need to get it back. If your PL (or OIC) does not agree with you, explain to them through your knowledge and experience why it's important.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2016 11:53 AM

2016-03-20T11:53:48-04:00

If we did SGT's time training we wouldn't have enough time to meet the 20 monthly online training requirement to keep our commanders stats green, and our commanders are graded on their stats therefore we need to ensure our online training is done and our MRC is as close to 100% as possible.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2016 1:12 PM

2016-03-20T13:12:38-04:00

It's only going to get worse, the powers that be have let industry get their hooks in on training time. Now it's all about the latest and greatest skit, program or test to saddle the military with that has nothing to do with your actual job. Congress backs these because said industry drives jobs back home.

Response by SFC Joseph Dunphy made Mar 20 at 2016 2:03 PM

2016-03-20T14:03:55-04:00

Time is a resource, too. You talk to your commander, check on what the command emphasis is, and go from there. Just document it, so when inspection comes up, you can defend your position. You're not supposed to bite off more than you can chew.