Do you know your units mission? And not just what you do on a mission.

CPT Russell Pitre — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 05:15:49 -0400

There is this thing that all units should have. It is called a METL or a Mission Essential Task List. It is supposed to tell you what how to prepare you unit for your unit's mission set. I know as an officer I knew it. I pushed it down and tailored training to cater it but sometimes I talk to soldiers and they don't even know what I am talking about. I see it around a lot all over the place.

Your job in your unit is not your unit's mission all the time. If you are infantry then you are most likely in an infantry unit and in that case you it may be the same. When you are not infantry you unit's mission might not be to close with and destroy the enemy.

How do these units even train their soldiers for their units mission when they don't know what their units mission should be? Just like when I worked with Engineers. I think they got this down packed. They are different types of Engineers. They new what their mission was and worked toward it. I just don't understand how some units waste time training on something that isn't even supported in their mission set.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Aug 13 at 2015 5:29 AM

SFC Stephen King — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 05:29:10 -0400

We as leaders must train Soldier's to understand their METL. I break the mission down as a hierarchy in my case a Division has a mission all sub units have a mission that is derived from the top. The Units mission is tasked in individual tasks at the Soldiers level and STT, Sergeants Time Training is a centered around the mission. This is a simple way of explaining METL Crosswalk. As NCO'S go through their NCOES the understanding of this is explained so we can take the Commanders mission and intent and be able to convey the purpose of our individual training and the direct reflection of our mission.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 5:29 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 05:29:59 -0400

As the primary unit trainer I have to be familiar with our METL.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 5:45 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 05:45:06 -0400

That is a challenge in itself really. In the war on terror we have seen units perform so many didn't missions that they get confused what they really are. If you are Parachute Riggers but your company was deployed for a year to do convoy security in Iraq, which did happen, would their METL change? Not really but their mission did change. They are different. No matter what they do they are still a Rigger Unit. Now when they are still deployed I believe they should still work towards their METL, that is if they were able too. But when they are given a mission like this they should primary be training for that also. After the deployment they will be going back to being a Rigger Company. That is what they are and that is where they should be focusing their resources.