What classes can I teach for young FOs?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 22:14:09 -0400

I'm a Specialist and my NCOs said I need to step up and start teaching the young FOs. I'm wanting to become an NCO and my own plan of action begins here. Any slide shows anything at all will help!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2016 10:17 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 22:17:47 -0400

Good luck!!! Have you gone to any NCO academies?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2016 10:20 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 22:20:58 -0400

The basics. In my experience proving to your seniors and subordinates that you have an excellent grasp of the foundations of being a Fister will make life, and follow on classes easier. The Soldiers you want to teach may have misunderstandings about certain doctrine from the .30 that you can clarify and put everyone on the same page. Once the basics are covered move on to bigger and more technical tasks.

If you're a JFO or have been to JFC you could incorporate some of the information you learned. CAS mission flow, AAA 5-Line, Air/Surface deconfliction and integration. The list goes on. Best of luck.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Aug 29 at 2016 10:50 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 22:50:42 -0400

Forget slides. Use task conditions and standards and a butcher block. Hands on training with actual stuff they will have to use.

Response by SGT Eric Knutson made Aug 30 at 2016 1:13 AM

SGT Eric Knutson — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 01:13:53 -0400

The best suggestion I could give is develop your own presentation. This reinforces your knowledge and shows you are serious. Start out with the things you wish someone and told you at the beginning, the tricks as well as facts that will save their lives and the lives of those they are supporting with their fire. Trust me, the kids can always seem to tell when it is a canned presentation, so make it your own. After you develop it, run it past your SL and or PS first so that it is correct, at that time they SHOULD give you pointers to make it the best presentation you can give. Doing it this way also gives you the confidence to go ahead and build other presentations and classes in your future.
Good Luck

Response by SGM Barry Kindred made Aug 30 at 2016 8:33 AM

SGM Barry Kindred — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 08:33:56 -0400

Response by SGT Patrick Moots made Aug 30 at 2016 12:27 PM

SGT Patrick Moots — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 12:27:37 -0400

Land Nav with an actual compass, map and protractor is becoming a lost art due to all the fancy gizmos and gadgets that soldiers use these days. Problem is what happens when those devices fail? I've seen a lot of young soldiers give me a deer in the headlights stare when I pulled out a map and asked them to show me where on the map we are and where we're trying to go. Teaching Basic soldiering skills is the key to being a successful leader.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 30 at 2016 3:36 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 15:36:42 -0400

As former FA NCO myself I am sure your NCO means that you should teach the younger Soldiers during the course of normal business. Look at your unit training schedule and see when you have section or platoon time and determine your expertise within that structure. Volunteer to provide a block of instruction to the group. If approved ask your NCOIC to sit with you and review the process and best practices when delivering such material.

Response by SPC Aaron Estell made Aug 31 at 2016 3:00 PM

SPC Aaron Estell — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 15:00:49 -0400

Power points are necessary, practice CFF

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2016 5:14 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 17:14:29 -0400

If you want to develop younger soldiers the best thing you can do is draw from your own knowledge and experience of your MOS. The little tricks you learned along the way and the things that you do to make you better at your job. Also being a good leader means you need to know those who follow you what their strengths are and their weaknesses. Train the weakness into a strength and re-enforce their strengths. You don't need someone else's slide show or presentation. You need to do those you self because all ant of that is is a re-enforcement of what you are saying. And most importantly to be a good trainer you need to make yourself the subject matterm expert. Make sure you know your job and excel at what you do.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2016 9:12 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 21:12:53 -0400

Ensure they understand the basics before you start off with more advanced knowledge like CAS and JFO techniques. Make sure they understand the 6 elements of CFF. I would make sure they memorize it. If not they will be stuck to there little books and have no clue. You need to make sure you know it to. Best way is to sometimes start at the bottom to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Make learning fun. Do a Fist jeopardy, or issue them a written test to see where they are all at. Tons of tests out there, plus you can tweak them up if needed. Maybe write your own.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2016 2:00 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 14:00:01 -0400

Extremely disappointed in the great ideas that fellow leaders have posted without giving you any actual assistance in developing training.
You have a couple options, you can access the Army Training Network and do a search for all these great ideas to get the performance steps and measures. Second, you can access the Fires Knowledge Network through AKO, down the left hand column search Field Artillery, and again search Reachback training materials, which will give you a list of powerpoints that are taught in AIT and at JFO.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 6:53 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:53:39 -0400

I used to progress (generally) through Indirect Fires, CCA, then CAS. Fisters have to know EVERYTHING about CFF and utilizing IDF before anything else. Once they master there respective skill level in this category I would move to CCA (believe this is called Army Attack Aviation now). Logically this is the next most vital knowledge. Last, I would turn them into JFO's. This is an important skill set, but we are not the primaries on CAS (JTAC).

I used this for my 2 1/2 years as an NCO. Mold your classes around this step model. I went to the point of creating "gate" tests for each skill set for my Soldiers. Pass one, move to the next.

Response by SGT Caleb Fontaine made Sep 14 at 2016 2:03 AM

SGT Caleb Fontaine — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 02:03:17 -0400

Whatever you do...teach the "why" of what you are doing. It's one thing, for instance, to know how to call for different fuses, but that does no good if they don't understand why. If you can get them thinking of why they do something you have built a foundation they can build from. Every FO knows the 6 elements, but you would be surprised at how many have no clue as to why we have them and why they work.

Response by SFC Kenneth Anderson made Sep 15 at 2016 3:16 PM

SFC Kenneth Anderson — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 15:16:22 -0400

SPC.

You should ask your FSNCO for guidance on the classes he wants you to teach i.e. SL1 / SL2 ect. (Radio / Polar / Shift) I don't think he would expect you to teach a class out of blind. For your presentation since this is your first class, butcher board and paper would work great, writing on butcher board paper will reinforce your knowledge of the subject, When writing use 1" / 2" block letters so your class will be able to read what you're teaching, 1st do it in pencil that way if you mess up you can erase it. When you have completed your presentation then you write over the pencil with a permenant marker. You can start with Task / Conditions / Standards on your assigned topic and use your 6-30 or 3-09.30 I think it what it is called now is always a great reference and you can't go wrong with your FM.
Make sure you get a date that your FSNCO wants you to do the presentation and the date he wants you to do your rehearsal. This will keep you from getting shotgun blasted when it is class time.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2016 7:57 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 19:57:49 -0400

For the younger guys make sure they can do a coordinated illum mission, and get them started on registration missions. You don't have to do it at a cfft just make sure they know the scripts for the coordinated illum mission and registration, and with the registration missions explain why it needs to happen and how to set up the sheaf. All of that can be done on a white board. If you're looking for stuff to teach them that's not arty related you can get into squad movements and SLOCTOP.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2016 11:18 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 11:18:09 -0400

The one thing that helped my guys was being able to break down and fully understand the 6 elements. That's the first thing I teach every new guy I get. Once you understand that, everything else falls into place. Use the FM 6-30 and 3.09-30.

Response by SSG Richard Reysack made Oct 4 at 2016 10:43 AM

SSG Richard Reysack — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 10:43:24 -0400

Teach them the basics of being an FO. First important thing is map reading. Target identification, terrain identification, estimating distance to the target. The most important two is map reading and terrain identification. Always the basics of call for fire there soldier.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2016 9:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 09:24:48 -0400

The army actually gives you the answers, you just need to know where to look. First, make sure they are amazing RTO's. When they are in FO posisitions, they will be responsible for at least one and need to know how to lead and train them correctly and effectively. Example, I had one of my FOs throw a red book at his RTO, then continue to sip his coffee and smoke cigarettes, after I had instructed him to train his RTO.

Adhere to doctrine! And start with the basics... If it isn't coming out of an FM, ATP, ADRP, ADP, Div Pam...... don't teach it until they fully know and understand. When they do, talk through additional TTPs and SOPs that may have been discovered to be a little more effective.

The 6 elements, Hammer that into them. Make sure that it can be completely broken down and understood, not just sitting there comfortably in the air conditioning, apply some stress. Make sure they know every fire mission thoroughly and by memory. NAVIGATION! Most fisters think they are master navigators but that is far from the truth a lot of times. FM 3-09.8 CHAPTER 3 SECTION 2!!!! It gives you all of the answers to that question. Make sure you know how to read it and use it, how to train the soldiers using that FM though. Do not try to jump into some collective task that your BN level personnel should be controlling. Focus on skill level 1 and 2 individual tasks and make sure they know how it applies or fits into the collective tasks. If you have to use practical exercises, make sure there are control measures. Give specific instructions that will result in very clear and divinitive answers. An example.. don't just give them an LLDR, tell them to get a grid to that building, and you don't even know the grid... I could probably go on all day with this stuff. I think you may have gotten the point.

Finally, leadership! Teach them leadership!! They are FOs, skill level 2, E5 position, responsible for other soldiers!! It is too often that I ask another NCO what TC 7-22.27 is and they don't know and sometimes even tell me it's not important!!?!? Get into 6-22, learn, know, and understand what it really means to be an NCO. Known servant leadership. Know the army's leadership model, teach your subordinates that stuff as well.

Okay and the final, finally.. don't just use the butcher block, task, condition, standard method. Don't just go the power point route, there are many ways to teach and you will have many individual soldiers that learn and respond differently, you have to cater to that. KNOW YOUR SOLDIERS!! Know their strengths and weaknesses, work with that. A suggestion also, let them teach you! Give them an assignment, a class. Have them research it, have them prepare it, have them present it to you and your team. Then control or moderate the class. Ensure that they are not teaching incorrect information and add to it as needed when they finish. This will force them to learn it and give you an understanding of how well they understand it so that you can build from there.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2016 6:52 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 06:52:12 -0400

Focus on basic tasks. Bust out a map and sit down with them. Verify that they can accurately figure out intersection and resection. Make sure they know the effective ranges of various weapons systems as well as danger close ranges for these systems. Also focus on when to use specific shell/fuse combos, and most importantly teach these guys some radio etiquette.

Response by SFC Anthony Iocca made Nov 10 at 2016 3:58 PM

SFC Anthony Iocca — Thu, 10 Nov 2016 15:58:14 -0500

FM 6-30 has it all in writing. Go over it provide feed-back and get feed-back. Cross talking will build confidence, confidence is detectable. A confident FO will not hesitate during a fire mission.

Remember; when you really care and want to send the "Best" send Steel rain.

Response by SPC Howard Parrish made Dec 5 at 2016 9:21 PM

SPC Howard Parrish — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 21:21:19 -0500

I know the job has gone high tech but most of the NCOs and Officers I served under appreciated someone who could read an actual map. Not just the light stuff they teach you in School at Sill, but really in depth. When high tech goes haywire someone has to be able to know where you're at and where you need to be. Good luck

Response by SFC Donald Lemay made Dec 9 at 2016 10:02 PM

SFC Donald Lemay — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 22:02:47 -0500

Make sure that whatever you teach, you know out cold, without having to think about it. Use the examples of the good teachers you had. Map reading, target location and navigation are very important. Don't worry about tactics and combined arms at the beginning. You may want to read FM 6-40 and think about things like not using polar missions (unless they are lazer polar) because in the manual procedures, if the FDC chart man forgets to move the pin from your location to the target grid, they will compute data to shoot at the OP. I know some say that's very old school but I've seen every computer break down and malfunction so manual procedures are good to know, once the basics are understood. Practice range estimation and compare it with points on a map. Go outside and train there. Ask your NCO for ideas. Use some suggestions others have posted.

Response by SPC Eric Fetty made Dec 19 at 2016 8:56 PM

SPC Eric Fetty — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 20:56:31 -0500

Teach them all the REDS for artillary pieces

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 2:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 02:49:45 -0500

Easy look at what the job description of an FO is, read and understand the .30 and jfire and teach what you've learned and know.

Response by SSG Patrick Condon made Mar 16 at 2017 2:18 PM

SSG Patrick Condon — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 14:18:22 -0400

we covered everything in 6-30 and 6-40 in my day. Never too early for a seasoned PFC or SP4 to start learning not just fire direction techniques, but also planning as well. Having an 11C background - 13F didn't exist when I enlisted - I also taught them FDC skills using a board, so they could work directly with mortars. Then came the field skills - moving on patrol, setting up a defensive position...because they were required to support both the infantry and the cav, they had to have those skills as well. Weapons training - not just theirs, but that which were found in the units they supported as well. We were always training.

Response by SFC Isaac Reyes made Apr 14 at 2017 7:49 PM

SFC Isaac Reyes — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 19:49:45 -0400

Teach them how to do the job with just a protractor ,pencil,map and a compass.
That's all nothing else.

Response by SSG Curtis Taylor made Nov 9 at 2017 2:31 PM

SSG Curtis Taylor — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 14:31:00 -0500

Mao reading, situation maps , radio pm, aircraft identification, and things like that are good lessons.

Response by SFC Steven Netzband made Nov 26 at 2017 9:41 PM

SFC Steven Netzband — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 21:41:14 -0500

I retired as a 13f40H. Teach the basics and reteach them. Map Reading is a key for any FO. Sand tables are a great way to teach as well. There are allot of tasks you learn from making them construct the sandtables; to simple call for fire missions and battlefield planning with your maneuver. I even had Pvts doing terrain sketches from sandtables. I had some high speed SPCs that can make an awesome sandtables