Should Enlisted Soldiers have strategic planning classes for their career?

2017-04-20T10:44:26-04:00

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Apr 20 at 2017 1:28 PM

2017-04-20T13:28:45-04:00

YES! So many Soldiers would benefit and finally they could understand what it takes to have a career,
and just maybe this would encourage those who really want a career in the first place, like me.

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Apr 24 at 2017 9:51 AM

2017-04-24T09:51:10-04:00

Absolutely for SNCO's to advance. They are trusted advisors to senior leaders and they lead their units in the direction of the Nation. They need to understand the impacts of strategic decisions for their soldiers, their units, and the nation.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Apr 24 at 2017 10:09 PM

2017-04-24T22:09:46-04:00

Yes and no. I believe that for NCOs it would be a great addition to their toolbox. However, lower enlisted; I think that would be a waste of time and money. You never know if those privates are going to be staying in the military past their first enlistment or if they are ever going to get promoted higher than E4. If either of those are the cases then the army loses out on the time and money that it took to give them skills that the army never got a chance to capatilize from.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2017 7:16 AM

2017-04-30T07:16:15-04:00

I'm actually kind of disappointed in these responses. There is a program to help plan for soldiers futures, it's called, "developmental counseling." If you're a leader and not sitting down and planning with your soldier, then you are showing them you're not invested in their future. Strategic planning is the long-term version, and while they might not have a goal, a good leader and mentor should be trying to help them discover those goals, even if they are to get out of the military and attend school.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 16 at 2019 4:24 PM

2019-12-16T16:24:24-05:00

I truly think the time invested will pay dividends as it will change their perception of warfare and the big picture. They can learn several paradigms that makes war and battles more understandable. Here are some paradigms:

- Principles of war are timeless principles on how to wage war and battles. (objective, offense, mass, economy of force, maneuver, unity of command, security, surprise, and simplicity, and objective)

- The Trinity: Passion of the people, Military acumen, Rational government. These are considered the base variables for a war. This can be applied the American Revolution, Afghanistan, and other wars.

- Mao's steps to a successful revolution which can be applied to the American Revolution, Afghanistan, and other wars.
1. The movement starts with the elite in society.
2. Build a cadre.
3. Gain support of the people.
4. Provide governmental services to the people.
6. Conduct asymmetric attacks due to the small size of the force.
7. Build the force into a peer army.
8. Defeat the enemy army and the government.

- Revolutions of Military Affairs (RMA) is an essential key weapon, technology, and doctrine that will give us an edge in a war. For the Germans in WWII their RMAs were the tanks, mechanized infantry, and combined arms approach to fighting. Our RMAs were air craft carriers, amphibious landings, and the P-51s.

- Doctrine. How doctrine impacts wars. An example is the Marine Corps doctrine of amphibious landings before WWII suited them well for the war.

Finally this is not exposed much but how do we win wars in other ways. The answer is often the attrition of vehicles, planes, soldiers, supplies, and our ability to decisively engage the enemy to continue the attrition.

Response by Cpl Phillip Brame made May 8 at 2020 11:21 AM

2020-05-08T11:21:59-04:00

NO because mine is not to reason why mine is just to do or DIE.

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made May 9 at 2020 8:05 AM

2020-05-09T08:05:19-04:00

I think they should. When a new officer arrives in a unit, he or she will be mentored and guided in their career. This one thing that I feel I should lacking in the junior enlisted. Not if has to do with the amount of junior enlisted in any unit in comparison to the amount of officers. But it would be nice for them

Response by SSG John DeLore made May 9 at 2020 9:41 AM

2020-05-09T09:41:17-04:00

Soldiers should have more control over their careers. Being beholden, not only to “Needs of the Army”, but mainly to a Branch Manager who only sees what is on paper, is ludicrous and a major cause of so many good Troops leaving early.
DA Select assignments should be, somewhat, stopped and allow soldiers to request/bid/apply for them
If a Soldier is getting nowhere in their Field/Branch, allow them to seek MORE opportunities in an SMOS/AMOS if already “Q”Ed. Holding the hostage because of unverifiable “Branch Shortages” is detrimental to the good of the Force.