Posted on Jan 26, 2015
Applications open: Be a general's enlisted aide
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"Applications open: Be a general's enlisted aide"
Today I stumbled across an Army Times article, which suggested my fellow NCOs were going to have an opportunity to become a General's Enlisted Aide. While enlisted aide duties vary from one general officer to another, duties usually include:
• Maintaining the general's uniforms.
• Planning and executing official military social events.
• Daily meal preparation, to include menu development, shopping and storing of rations.
• Administrative requirements and record-keeping of finances.
• Household management, to include the upkeep of a general's assigned quarters.
• Perform other tasks that assist the general in the performance of his or her official duties.
What are your thoughts?
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2015/01/26/enlisted-aide-program-army/22365103/
Today I stumbled across an Army Times article, which suggested my fellow NCOs were going to have an opportunity to become a General's Enlisted Aide. While enlisted aide duties vary from one general officer to another, duties usually include:
• Maintaining the general's uniforms.
• Planning and executing official military social events.
• Daily meal preparation, to include menu development, shopping and storing of rations.
• Administrative requirements and record-keeping of finances.
• Household management, to include the upkeep of a general's assigned quarters.
• Perform other tasks that assist the general in the performance of his or her official duties.
What are your thoughts?
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/careers/army/enlisted/2015/01/26/enlisted-aide-program-army/22365103/
Army
Humor
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 13
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As a 1LT, I served as an aide de camp to a one star. Most of the posts so far are negative so I figured I would try to argue positives of an enlisted aide opportunity (just for shits and giggles). Here goes:
- The quality of experience in being an aide (officer or enlisted) varies based upon how the GO uses the aide. If the aide is used as a gopher then the experience can suck. If the aide is used as another set of eyes and ears then the experience can truly be broadening and enhancing. I was fortunate to have the latter experience and went from seeing company level operations to seeing Regimental (Engineer Regiment) level operations as a 1LT.
- Most of the posts view the position as a gopher position and menial tasks. Look at this from another viewpoint, do we want GOs to plan and execute their own social events such as New Year's Receptions which can be done by an NCO or company grade officer or do we want GOs focused on truly strategic issues? Most of the posts thus far view the NCO pay and duties as a waste. Which is more wasteful, an enlisted aide doing the things shown in the original post or a GO spending time doing what an NCO or company grade officer can do? Ever wonder why the President has a body person? Know what a body person is/does?
- If you argue that social functions such as New Year's Receptions (there are others but this is a recent example such as Dining Ins, Dining Outs, Commandant Receptions) should not be done in the first place then how exactly do you propose that we teach the upcoming generations our customs and traditions? If customs and traditions are not important then why do you salute? walk to the left of a senior? Give the greeting of the day to a superior?
- Answer honestly. If you have a DA photo coming up, do you have an officer or an NCO check your uniform? I am not ashamed to say that I go to a senior NCO (and preferably a former drill sergeant) every time to check my uniform before a DA photo.
- A lot of this goes to basic time management. The more that an officer or enlisted aide can do for a GO then the more time is freed up for that GO to do what only that GO can do. How many trips must GOs go on and how much time would they have to spend coordinating air/ground trans, lodging, meetings, and what not?
- The quality of experience in being an aide (officer or enlisted) varies based upon how the GO uses the aide. If the aide is used as a gopher then the experience can suck. If the aide is used as another set of eyes and ears then the experience can truly be broadening and enhancing. I was fortunate to have the latter experience and went from seeing company level operations to seeing Regimental (Engineer Regiment) level operations as a 1LT.
- Most of the posts view the position as a gopher position and menial tasks. Look at this from another viewpoint, do we want GOs to plan and execute their own social events such as New Year's Receptions which can be done by an NCO or company grade officer or do we want GOs focused on truly strategic issues? Most of the posts thus far view the NCO pay and duties as a waste. Which is more wasteful, an enlisted aide doing the things shown in the original post or a GO spending time doing what an NCO or company grade officer can do? Ever wonder why the President has a body person? Know what a body person is/does?
- If you argue that social functions such as New Year's Receptions (there are others but this is a recent example such as Dining Ins, Dining Outs, Commandant Receptions) should not be done in the first place then how exactly do you propose that we teach the upcoming generations our customs and traditions? If customs and traditions are not important then why do you salute? walk to the left of a senior? Give the greeting of the day to a superior?
- Answer honestly. If you have a DA photo coming up, do you have an officer or an NCO check your uniform? I am not ashamed to say that I go to a senior NCO (and preferably a former drill sergeant) every time to check my uniform before a DA photo.
- A lot of this goes to basic time management. The more that an officer or enlisted aide can do for a GO then the more time is freed up for that GO to do what only that GO can do. How many trips must GOs go on and how much time would they have to spend coordinating air/ground trans, lodging, meetings, and what not?
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SSG(P) Lulz Sec
Sir, people do not seemed concerned of the position and role, but rather the allocation of NCO's to fulfill it. Every NCO would benefit more from leading junior soldiers over this assignment if given the choice of one or the other. The quality of NCO's they will most likely get will be flaky and not promoting ahead of their peers. I think for a young officer or even WO, this is awesome and should stand the test of time, just not for any young NCO.
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SSG(P) Lulz Sec
Sir, missed the PMP part, so yes let's recenter our mass on this target and look at it from the Army's business model and the numerous issues it has with PM principles and practices. I truly think every leader from PSG up should at least go through some form of course from PMI, maybe I can apply as an aide and tell my GO to push it to congress :)
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG(P) Lulz Sec -
That is farthest from the truth. The selection and board process is very strict. You must be the cream of the crop to even be selected. Again, you are working in a highly visible duty. And do your homework, historically, the Enlisted Aide selection rate for promotion at the 6/7/8 level is out of this world. Hands down a VERY rewarding Broadening Opportunity. It's NOT for everyone, and most wouldn't hack the demand of the position, but to each their own. Stagnation is a killer....
That is farthest from the truth. The selection and board process is very strict. You must be the cream of the crop to even be selected. Again, you are working in a highly visible duty. And do your homework, historically, the Enlisted Aide selection rate for promotion at the 6/7/8 level is out of this world. Hands down a VERY rewarding Broadening Opportunity. It's NOT for everyone, and most wouldn't hack the demand of the position, but to each their own. Stagnation is a killer....
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I think this is a dated position that should be left in the past. We have a hard time purchasing ammo yet we can pay a staff sergeant $60-80,000 a year to be a generals maid/butler. This is the type of waste that sickens me.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG over 10 depending on BAH makes 60 give or take. Well over if married especially if you figure in what you save on insurance. That's gold these days. It feels like I'm wasting money by being single with no kids, but then I see how much is left over after bills. Lol
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I just came up with the idea of trying to get a junior enlisted aide for myself. Since I cook 90% of my meals, I won't require meal prep, but I could use a lucky PV2 or PFC to help me with my uniforms (much harder now that we don't shine boots or iron our fatigues). I would require this person to go on pogey bait runs during AT, clean my weapon and TA-50 and other tasks I might require.
Any takers?
Any takers?
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