Joint military training, education & assignments

2014-03-02T15:45:15-05:00

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!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2014 3:50 PM

2014-03-02T15:50:06-05:00

I have worked in a Joint environment for the past three years now. I think it has its pros and cons, just like anything else.

Some of the cons are that we get to learn how the other services conduct business. Being in a joint environment allows one to see everything from PT being conducted, to customs and courtesies, and even how normal duties are conducted.

I think the cons with the joint environment is that it can get somewhat confusing if each service maintains different standards and/ or procedures for doing business. As long as we educate service members on what the policies are, there should be no problem. In my experience, this has usually been done well. Ultimately, we all fall under the DoD, so we should shouldn't differ that much...

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2014 4:09 PM

2014-03-02T16:09:05-05:00

I currently work in a J5/7 shop. The letter grade I would give it is a B for
the shop (Air Force Boss) they understand it. Leadership is still trying to
wrap their hands around it and can’t quit figure out how the beast is supposed
to work. Most answers I get if I pose a general question is because that is the
way we do it in the army (asking the G3 for support or additional guidance).
Most leaders have a harder time thinking outside of the box if they were not or
are not exposed to outside services early in their career.

Overall we as slowly getting better at Joint operations just to the nature
of the last 12 years of deployments, but a person needs to realize that it is
only for a small portion the population in the Military that get to work in the
joint environment at the lower ranks and I feel it is only a selective few that
get to do it as they progress to the higher ranks until COL or higher. As a
whole I would rate it as a C.

What are we doing right? Well the development of Joint Embedded Training
Teams is defiantly a step in the right direction you take good properties from
the sister services and put the best team forward as possible. I worked on one
in 08 and it worked well.

We need to push for more joint education opportunities. This would help
foster lasting relationships for future assignments.

Response by SSG Roderick Smith made Mar 10 at 2014 11:26 PM

2014-03-10T23:26:36-04:00

The only experience I have was when I attended the Military Working Dog Handler Course at Lackland AFB. I would give that experience an A. My class consisted of service members from the Army, Navy, AF, and Marines. The instructors were diverse in the same way. It was new, but largely normal. I thought the whole operation was pretty smooth. Everybody understood general military customs and courtesies, so other than a couple brain farts, there weren't any issues.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2014 2:12 AM

2014-04-27T02:12:50-04:00

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!

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2014 2:18 AM

2014-04-27T02:18:38-04:00

Here are a few additional items to consider...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2014 5:47 AM

2014-04-27T05:47:20-04:00

The Best 2 weeks I had in the Army was with the Air Force, specifically at the Joint Fires Observer Course in Rammstein Germany. The course had a great conglomeration of Army fire Supporters (a SFC and MAJ), Army Aviators ( an Apache CW4), 3 Retired JTACs, 2 ALOs, and multiple bomber and fighter pilots. All of this was in a relaxed but fast paced learning environment. If all training could be as concentrated, relevant and empowering to soldiers for integrating with the rest of their DoD supporters then we would truly be a lethal force to be had.

I would also highly encourage this course be expanded and the audience widened from just 13F and junior 13As to 19Ds, 19As and even some 11As and 11Bs.

I cannot stress enough how great this program was.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2014 2:59 AM

2014-05-25T02:59:38-04:00

Here's a good article on joint education opportunities for both enlisted and officers at the National Defense University (NDU), read all about it here: http://www.citamn.afrc.af.mil/features/story.asp?id=123371270

Feature - Joint Education: National Defense University offers opportunities for officers and...

In today's complex global military environment, joint experience is absolutely essential for providing Air Force Reserve enlisted members and officers with the comprehensive knowledge, broad perspective and critical thinking skills necessary to serve in leadership positions. And with

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2014 3:16 AM

2014-05-25T03:16:13-04:00

A good feature article on Joint Officer Qualification, read all about it here: http://www.citamn.afrc.af.mil/features/story.asp?id=123334016

Feature - The Right Experience: For joint qualification, good experience is not necessarily the...

Through civilian employers, most Air Force Reserve members understand how important it is to work within the cultures of other corporations or organizations. Elected officials are equally aware and require senior active-duty military leaders to possess a "joint qualified officer" designation. Joint

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2015 2:43 AM

2015-04-16T02:43:14-04:00

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.

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Jul 22 at 2016 7:20 AM

2016-07-22T07:20:22-04:00

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.