Soldiers attending Military Schools: What are your thoughts about Soldiers having more input in what they want to do with their careers?

2015-05-05T16:27:11-04:00

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?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 4:34 PM

2015-05-05T16:34:23-04:00

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.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 6:29 PM

2015-05-05T18:29:08-04:00

I once had a SQDN CDR, who was Ordnance Corp, with a mustard stain on his jump wings. If Soldiers want to go, even to help boost their career, why not? After all, in todays Military, with the QMP and other factors that could end a career, why not let someone go to those to help make themselves be better competitively among their peers? It isn't a school per say, but anyone with a 68 series MOS can go for the EFMB, but will you ever see a Lab Tech or a PAD Specialist running around the battlefield patching wounds or calling 9 Lines? Doubt it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 5 at 2015 7:02 PM

2015-05-05T19:02:44-04:00

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

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2015 5:42 AM

2015-05-06T05:42:45-04:00

To be honest I don't think it makes any sense. It comes down to the operational necessity. There is no reason for some random guy to go to Ranger. Infantry and combat arms go to Ranger. It isn't a school for everyone. It shouldn't be. I am an infantry officer so I went. If I was a CBRN officer there really isn't a need for me to go.

Also, truth be said, people go to school for badges. A lot really don't care about the doing the duty associated with it. If they did they would be in an MOS where they would be going to school. If you want to be a Ranger go to an infantry unit or Regt. If you want to be a Pathfinder you should try to be in scouts. If you want to be Airborne try to go to 82ND or 173RD. It is your career so manage it. When I joined the Army I wanted to go to Ranger School so I became a 11B and then a 11A. Thatt is how it work.

Schools and badges aren't there for your career. They are there for you to do a job. Some of them are needed to progress like Ranger if you are infantry. If you are a 42A with pathfinder, HALO, and Scuba how is that going to help you. That operator in SF needs those school.

I just see this as I want flair so I look cool and then they will think I am high speed. But isn't it funny how the school mentioned all have badges. What about Sniper, Mountain Warfare, Repel Master, Master Fitness, Master Resilience, Master Gunner, Armored Recon Course, RSLC, or any of ther other schools out there. That is because it is not about the school. It is about the badges.

Some schools hold more value than some realize. You can ask some like SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member about what ranger school meant.

Response by MSG Morgan Fiszel, CPCM, CFCM made May 6 at 2015 5:57 AM

2015-05-06T05:57:48-04:00

It's usually about slots and $, not the authorization.

Response by CW4 Abdulaziz Bulling made May 6 at 2015 8:30 AM

2015-05-06T08:30:43-04:00

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.