Why do we cover GCSS in ALC instead of an individual class?

2019-01-30T10:25:41-05:00

Currently I'm in ALC, and the whole last week is dedicated to GCSS. This seems to be a huge waste of time, as the Army is paying 10 soldiers to be here when none of us have ever touched GCSS before and more than half dont plan too. Why not rip that portion out and have a dedicated GCSS class for those that are using/going to use it can attend?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 30 at 2019 10:49 AM

2019-01-30T10:49:32-05:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I can't speak to the actual POI, but GCSS-A is replacing all STAMIS, all compos. It will be inflicted upon you at some point. It's different than previous systems. It's a SAP based ERP. SAP is the gold standard of enterprise resource programs. It is also not intuitive. As a maintainer, you'll need it eventually. If you don't, you'll be supervising someone who does. There is no escape, you will be assimilated.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2019 11:04 AM

2019-01-30T11:04:36-05:00

The focus on GCSS in ALC is to prepare the now senior maintainer to effectively manage a maintenance program because according to doctrine the PLL clerk works for the Team Chief and not the BN Maintenance Chief, but because NCOs aren’t better at managing their supported commander’s unit the Maintenance Tech took over much to the degradation of the Army’s Senior Maintenance NCO’s. Your job is to learn how to properly manage your maintenance and insist that you not them run your maintenance as they are supposed to be there for support and not to run the entire maintenance for the Battalion or Squadron.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2019 10:18 PM

2019-01-30T22:18:10-05:00

Actually there are dedicated GCSS courses. I attended a 40-hour GCSS course last August for the unit supply user role. I'm sure there are also dedicated GCSS courses for maintenance users as well.

I think the intent of including it in your ALC is to avoid NCOs being pigeonholed into specific roles. Just because you don't plan on using GCSS doesn't mean you won't ever have to use it. While you probably won't learn everything you need to know about GCSS as a maintenance user in ALC, at least you won't have the "deer in the headlights" look if someone asks you about using GCSS later on in your career.