Time Management. Why is it so difficult to establish for short term planning?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:27:33 -0400

Time Management. IMO probably 2 of the most important words we as Leaders sometimes forget. Why is that? We can have Leaders meeting at Co level and up and establish training, mission requirements etc for 5 yrs out, but when it comes to daily and weekly, and monthly planning it seems it fails miserably. Yes I understand last minutes "hey you" comes up, but overall there shouldn't be a issue.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2016 10:30 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:30:57 -0400

It's a collective effort from Leaders at ALL levels. It doesn't matter how squared away the platoon is if the Company or Battalion command team insists *mandatory training* or *task* needs to be completed ASAP and does this too often. Too many monkey wrenches are equivalent to a soup sandwich. Lack of communication and prioritization only make it worse.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2016 10:31 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 10:31:09 -0400

To add. The reason I'm bringing this up is one of the topics posted here about what time of day to do PT. Some of the responses mentioned not enough time in afternoon. And also just a overall question.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2016 1:25 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 13:25:21 -0400

Technology has outpaced our ability to adhere to a rigid training schedule. As we are bombarded with requirements (work, training, on line training, event attendance, commanders priority, etc) and everything is Priority #1 so nothing is more important than the last fire we are trying to extinguish. The ability to reach out and text or call someone at all hours no matter where they are has significantly degraded our need to adhere to a training calendar. In most units I have been in the last 10 years the long range training calendar has become like the Pirates Code (more of guideline really). That's not to say everything was carved in jello. Just saying we are more flexible then in years past.

I think this may also be a result of GWOT. As the hybrid threat environment demanded a flexible ever changing response to the enemy, we as a military became "adaptable, agile and mobile". We started to for go some of the doctrinal boards, bureaus, cells and working groups that produce the short/long term planning required for less flexible training calendars. I expect as the pendulum swings back toward a force on force fight these will re-emerge which will codify some of the garrison requirements that we have not exercised recently. In the mean time, I encourage you to use the tech we have, but also remember that message sent does not equate to message revived.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 27 at 2016 6:45 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 27 Mar 2016 18:45:54 -0400

I will blame the LTs and NCOs for not having their crap together.