Are young leaders still taught training development and management?

SFC Siva Williams — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 18:37:28 -0400

I saw this on a Facebook page and I had to pause and wonder how this young NCO managed to get by without SGT's Time. The question he asked also led me to believe that he lacks the basic understanding of training development and management. Are young leaders still taught how to develop and menage training at the squad and platoon level?

Here is the Facebook post.

"Kind of embarrassed to admit this, but here goes.... I have never been in a unit that participates in sergeants time training... I just got texted that we would be doing it and they want me to come up with some stuff. My questions: what are some good types of training for STT? I know I can reference FM 7-22.. Kind of wanted your personal examples. Thank you!"

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Sep 3 at 2014 7:16 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 19:16:22 -0400

Wow... this is a new one! I know I've been retired for a while now (since 2006) but Sergeants Time was always a priority in all the units I was in since it was (re)implemented (and I can't remember exactly WHEN that was).
My first question (more out of curiosity than anything) is what unit(s) has this guy been in?
Really sounds like a leadership failure, at MULTIPLE levels, to me.

Response by SGT William B. made Sep 3 at 2014 7:46 PM

SGT William B. — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 19:46:20 -0400

I'll be the one to bite the bullet here SFC Siva Williams. By the time I was promoted on deployment, I had already missed out on any NCOPD that was conducted within the unit. To date, I've never been asked to participate in anything like Sergeant's Time Training or something similar (to be fair, I'm also in limbo with transitioning back to my original unit; somehow, I'm still on my cross-leveled unit's UMR).

The unit I should hopefully be returning to is really big on it though, and I'd be willing to bet that we have the best set of 35M NCOs in the MIRC. If one of them can't mentor me as I get back to drill weekends, I'll be seriously surprised.

EDIT: I'd say I feel ashamed, but if there's one thing that I've learned so far, it's to not feel embarrassed about not knowing something. Just buck up, get with someone that does, and get to learning.