Posted on Dec 8, 2013
Does the current Structured Self Development course system efficiently promote Professional development?
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Seems unfair since all you really have to do is go to Wiki Answers and get the answers. The website seems like it is non-user friendly as well.
SSD
Professional Development
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 80
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I think the Commanders constantly get nagged about not having soldiers 100% on school stuff to include SSD. So in order to get the monkey off their backs they put it on the Soldiers.
I think Soldiers should get at least an hour a day to work on it, that's what my current command does anyway. And while it may not be important to the Soldier at the time they may discover down range that they want to continue on and are going to be delayed in that until the work is done. I know it's time consuming and I question whether I really learned anything from it, but the Army says I need to do it so it is done.
I think Soldiers should get at least an hour a day to work on it, that's what my current command does anyway. And while it may not be important to the Soldier at the time they may discover down range that they want to continue on and are going to be delayed in that until the work is done. I know it's time consuming and I question whether I really learned anything from it, but the Army says I need to do it so it is done.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC,
At what point is a Soldier responsible for his/her own actions or inaction? We often forget that young Soldiers are not kids. The more we enable them by taking away personal responsibility the more we are limiting their development as leaders.
At what point is a Soldier responsible for his/her own actions or inaction? We often forget that young Soldiers are not kids. The more we enable them by taking away personal responsibility the more we are limiting their development as leaders.
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MSG (Join to see)
I'm not suggesting that Soldiers aren't responsible for their own actions, and I agree that enabling them does take away from personal responsibility. However as leaders it is our responsibility to step in if a Soldier isn't doing their job. I look at SSD as part of a soldiers job because it is something the Army says we need to do. When I worked in the S3 shop in my previous unit I had to put slide decks together for my commanders conference calls and one of the main topics was SSD. My Commander had to explain why each soldier who was not 100% on SSD for whatever the reason. He got tired of it, counsled Soldiers across the board and gave them the required resources to do it. At a certain point it's not so much enabling as self preservation. If I don't want to keep answering for a soldiers actions or lack there of I need to step in and force their hand. I could be wrong in my thought process.
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SFC (Join to see)
Thank you for your response. You hit on a point that I mentioned in an earlier post. Why should a commander waste his time explaining why PFC Snuffy did not complete SSD?
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I would agree that commanders should put some sort spotlight on this. But at the same time, if it is that important to them that the Soldiers complete it; then the command group must be willing to give up the time in the training schedule to complete it.
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SSD has its pro's and con's for me I did learn some new things; along with how to do a few things I thought I knew better. It also had some lessons in their that we as leaders use on a day to day bases. However every leader is different and the lessons I believe could be removed another leader could say they needed that lesson.
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I think SSDs are the greatest military course ever!!!!!
I now know how to lead my soldiers and do my job!!!!!
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One disappointment? You get all of this information from the SSDs, but there is no way to reference it. Once you graduate, you're locked out. It'd be great for graduates to still have a Quick Reference link.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSG Stanley, you can do one of two things. The first is fairly obvious which is to download the regulations from the site or from the APD site. The second is a bit unorthodox but it still works. As you go through the slides in one of these type of classes, take a picture of it with either your camera or phone then download the pics into a folder on your computer. I do this quite often if the subject is worth saving.
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Personally, I think for the lower echelons it is a good tool. I'm speaking only from my experience, but I think the higher levels are a bit common sensical. I was super motivated before it was blocked, thus allowing me to complete through SSD IV. As a lowly SGT, I did learn a little bit, but most of it was common knowledge. I also think it may be better if it were a continued thing rather than a one time completion. This day in age, so much is changing that I'm sure the SSD IV would be much more evolved and relevant in the future. I would actually be ok with it being something done every other year or so. I also feel that initially, so much emphasis should not be placed on it. I could be a dirtbag that completed it and thus have an advantage over a better leader that did not. The modules contained were not make or break. I do feel that SSD I should still be required to be promoted to SGT, though.
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I think SSD is beneficial towards NCO development. I finished up SSD3 last summer, and I learned a few things from it. I did get frustrated with technical problems using the website, as I had to repeat a few lessons because it crashed. Overall, it was a good experience though and I did feel it helped me out.
One thing I wish it gave me the option to do was to 'test out' of certain lessons. There was the occasional topic that I was already familiar with and didn't get much out of it. I would have liked the option to take the quiz without having to sit through the training. I also understand that this may not always be ideal because there could still be something that I didn't know about a subject, regardless of how familiar I may be with it.
In the end, I think that as long as technical issues with the website are worked out, requiring Soldiers to complete the SSDs to qualify for promotions is a very good thing. They cover very relevant topics that one might not experience on a day-to-day basis, but need to know if they want to be effective leaders.
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MSG (Join to see)
Testing out would have been good. Also, being able to go back to questions on the test would be good when testing.
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MSG Kepler,
We had a big push last year to knock it out, at first I was apprehensive but then I found that it was a great tool. It helped renew my knowledge that I had let slip away. The other Platoon Sergeants had the same thoughts.
V/R
1SG Haro
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SSD is a good tool to bridge the gap, or in layman's term, continually educate oneself, on NCOES topics...you keep learning.
Because it's 'forced', Soldiers will (and have) initially rebel; that's just human nature. Over the next year or so, SSD will improve (content and connectivity) and Soldiers will get into the routine...all will be right in the world.
Because it's 'forced', Soldiers will (and have) initially rebel; that's just human nature. Over the next year or so, SSD will improve (content and connectivity) and Soldiers will get into the routine...all will be right in the world.
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MSG (Join to see)
Properly executed and relevant NCOPD can do this as well or better than SSD ever will in my opinion.
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I think this is a good thread for those we are trying to get to join can see the substance of some things we discuss between us as current and former military, soft spoken as well as informational and mentoring types of postings.
We also have fun at times while remaining professional.
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