What is your perspective on NCOAs?

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:44:45 -0400

I feel WLC should be complete before pinning E-5 and should include more MOS specific course work. ALC should be complete before pinning E-6. There should also be more MOS driven NCOAs at every NCO rank up to SGM. I don't agree that the next exposure you get to MOS training after AIT is at ALC. For some, this is 6-8 years of no MOS training. As we move to a more professional Army, we should be provided with more professional training.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 10:48 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 10:48:40 -0400

Ideally you are working in your MOS at your unit. WLC is designed to teach/freshen up basic leadership skills that a new NCO needs. SLC is to teach more management skills than MOS as you will need to know more personnel management as a SFC.

I understand that some don't work their MOS in their units. Extended periods such as what you describe (6-8 years) is leadership failure in my opinion.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 11:32 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 11:32:52 -0400

I completely agree with SFC Gilley. You should be getting that training in your unit. If you are not you should be that CHANGE. Especially when we get empowered as NCOs and are in charge of STT.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2014 2:33 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Sep 2014 14:33:29 -0400

I believe this is a good question in which you will get a variety of different answers.
I believe NCOA schools provide the tools needed to help develop leaders. So in that I mean you get what you take from it. There are some things that I am sure that a lot of NCO's would say they would like to get at each course (WLC, ALC and SLC) or add to, or focus on more but as a Leader you have to gather that while your on the Job.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2014 4:19 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 16:19:11 -0400

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member, as much I believe this would be great, the problem is that the Army simply doesn't have the kind of resources this would require. I have however noticed that this is a pretty serious issue (which I've witnessed in my own MOS E1-E7) and one that I think requires 1) proactive self improvement, 2) engaged leadership and 3) knowledgeability of the duties and expectations of personnel in a more intimate matter.

For example, the MOS specific Soldier's Manual and Trainers Guide (SMTG) alongside the METL are my guiding factor in my current planning for a long term training plan for the Soldiers and NCOs I supervise. A problem I've noticed is that many NCOs, including E7s or higher, have never even heard of the SMTG or don't know where to find the METL for the SMs they're responsible for.

While it's not easy, it's up to the SM to reach out among their seniors, peers and even subordinates, to determine what they need to learn and how to get it... so they can then communicate that higher in order to acquire that training or experience.

I don't believe the rapid advancement of personnel through the ranks to blame either, but poor mentorship on what to teach, how to teach it and properly resourcing that training seems to be rampant in some organizations more so than others.

V/R
SGT Mullet

EDIT: Had to fix a thing or two...