Does the current Structured Self Development course system efficiently promote Professional development?

SSD forces Soldiers to SELF educate...whether they decide to short-cut it (by Googling answers) or actually try to learn something, is on them and their career development.

I know a SPC who is on SSD-4, and how is that logical? It should be available when you hit the respected rank that requires said SSD course to promote. To respond to your original question Sgt., it is too easy. Maybe an actual course with leaders/teachers could actually teach the lessons instead.

Sir, it is a good genuine system, but with flaws e.g, it took me 7 months to complete my SSD because of the system being down and on going changes. I feel it is a newer SQT version, but never can replace the orginal system, because it dealt with MOS related task/skills.

Sir, you asked how we feel about it.  

I had compatibility issues depending upon which level I was working on. I did level I for knowledge and a refresher since I had already completed WLC before it was released. I use chrome routinely and didn't understand why it wasn't working so I tried IE and voila' it worked.
Since I had erroneously enrolled myself into level III initially I decided why not complete it as well while I had the chance. Since I had used IE for level I I naturally thought I would be required to use it also. Wrong again, I needed to use chrome to access things properly and IE was completely useless.
In overall terms yeah lots of user friendly issues with each level I took. I can't speak for level IV or V but I will presume they are not without issues of their own. I figure if *I* thought they were dry and lacked imagination what will a young Soldier half my age think?
As far as the content I learned and relearned several things while going through the lessons. And yes I actually went through them rather than cheating and checking the block. I figured all I'd be doing is cheating myself if I did it that way. My problem with this among other things is my own comprehension of the minor details. I am not normally able to spout off information off the top of my head about things I read about two years ago. Instead, I used the lessons and wrote down the references in my "book of cheat sheets" so I know where to go should the question arise. 
BLUF: All was not lost on me with SSD I or III but there are many tweaks that could be done to improve content as well as compatibility. 

I am not a fan of the SSD in general, some of the subjects they cover, you will recieve more formal training for. (ie, as an E7 my SSD covered Casualty Assitance Officer, I dint need to waste time at home, because if I'm assied CAO duties, I will have to go through the official Course.  However, as a NG Soldier, it can be used as a tool, as those who want to learn and be promoted, they will complete this on thier own time.  That shows dedication and self improvement, virtues of a leader.

It is a complete waste of time.&nbsp; The thing that kills me about the whole program is that someone at a very high level blessed off on this whole program.<br>

I think of SSD as being the latest block to check.  I don't need to know how many days after leave I may request a band.  SSD 4 appeared to be a lot of stuff, like D&C, that if I really needed to know it, I could reference it.  Do I  need a quiz on how to run a funeral?  Is that what's going to make me an effective war fighter?

I can only speak to A) My Soldiers' experience, and B) my experience with DL for my Captain's Career Course. 

My biggest issue with SSD are the typos and misspelled words. It may seem minute but it blows my mind these official, DA required courses were published without being proofread. 

When was the last time, or has SSD EVER been updated?  How does it stay current with accurate information?  How does it adapt to change?

The purpose behind SSD is a good idea with bridging the gap between NCOES courses. Unfortunately, it doesn't do that at all. The course work you learn in SSD is not applicable at the next level of NCOES and frankly is far more technical than the audience learning the material needs to be at. It's application and horrible page load outs leave me feeling as if I just suffered a fatality in mortal combat. The real idea behind SSD should have been to complete common core requirements so that when the leader arrived at their next NCOES they could focus purely on MOS specific training at the next higher grade not their current grade.&nbsp;

While everyhting in the world is slowly being automated and computer generated I cannot stress enought that you just cant replace what NEEDS to be taught in-house (WLC, ALC, SLC, unit ran leadership courses and so on). How do you expect soldiers to learn anything when you put it on a disk/computer box them in a corner and tell them to do it or dont expect a promotion. Its going to get to a point where theses courses will be treated like the 50 million other mandatory training classes we have to do......blow through the slides, check the block and charlie mike until next time around.

Honestly, I don't mind it. I actually did SSD I while I was attending WLC before it was required. It went over the same curriculum as WLC and that helped me make Commandant's list. I have already completed SSD 3 before they started the auto enroll. It was good learning what it had to offer, even though I am going to learn it again in NCOES. Even if it will be gone over again, I know it will be in the back of my mind so when that NCOES comes up, it will be like a refresher. It's good for Soldiers to know but I don't feel like it should be required as it is going to be taught again in school. I feel like it should be an option if that soldier feels like taking the initiative.

Forced completion of SSDs in one of my pet peeves. It's called Structured SELF Development. That being said, I encourage Soldiers to take care of business and I counsel them on the downline effects of either completing or not completing the SSDs. If they ask for advice or help I am more than happy to provide it. And of course try to work in time/resources for those who do want to complete it, without sacrificing mission. But if they don't complete an SSD course they can't complain when they aren't able to go to WLC or be considered for promotion.

If a Soldier doesn't have the drive to develop themselves, especially when they know it is what is needed to progress, they might not be mature enough at that point in time for the next level of leadership and responsibility.

I would rather have someone who was motivated enough to do what was needed for promotion than someone who is simply eligible because they were forced to do the requirement. It's like any of the other items that gain promotion points, they know what they need to do to be the cream of the crop and they get after it.

Absolutely not.

It is not the place for command teams to "force" their Soldiers to complete the course. It is a personal responsibility incumbent upon the Soldier to complete the course if he/she wants to be competitive for promotion. If the Soldier doesn't want to complete it then they don't want promotion period. I will caveat this by saying that command teams need to foster an environment which would enable the Soldier to complete the course and encourage subordinates to take those steps. People oftentimes confuse the necessity to motivate. I fear that the only reason why people are being forced is because the completion rates are reflected on NCO/OERs. Do they sincerely care if the Soldier completes SSD and is more knowledgable or simply that it's done so they don't get it reflected negatively on their evaluations? I won't force my Soldiers to do anything, but remind them of the potential effects, consequences, and ramifications should they make certain choices contrary to the counsel I provide them.

SSD means Structured Self Development. I think SSD1 should be "forced", but after that it should fall on the individual.

Well I don't think it should be forced to complete. I will say that when I was a company 1SG the SSD was still a self enrollment deal. I talked to my whole company and expressed the importance of it.  I did make every single Soldier in my company enroll for the appropriate level SSD that applied to them. I myself also completed SSD1,3 and 4 to show them that I was not above my own rule. I started an incentive program and had the Soldiers that wanted to participate give their completion status to their PSG by 1300 on Friday (or last day of the work week), the PSG would determine the highest level of completion for his platoon and bring that to me. I went over those submitted by the PSGs and whoever in the company completed the most for the week, would get Friday off the next week. My commander was in full support and added that we should give them a 4 day weekend once they completed that full course. Soldiers are motivated by free time and this also set them up for success once they were ready to make that next promotion step in their career.

In my previous unit, it came down the chain of command that the CSM had made it mandatory to complete SSD1. If it wasn't not completed by a set date, the CSM said the soldiers who had not completed it would be subject to UCMJ. Is this really allowed? I also agree with what SGT Keen had stated. The command group must be willing to give up the time in the training schedule to complete it. However, no time was given to complete SSD1.