Have ANG units created NCO handbooks to help with the logistics of the drill weekend? How to map network? How to install key programs?

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 10:32:40 -0500

We have a ANG CE Sq. of about 70+ with some great NCO's. But it seems like every drill when we ask for their training plan, EPR's, Award Bullets, DTS vouchers, etc., the biggest challenges are the small stuff. Their time gets eaten up by installing Outlook, mapping to the network, finding key AF Forms, other basic procedures and protocols. Have other units created unit specific checklist to help?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2016 11:09 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 11:09:12 -0500

I think the key is being organized and empowering subordinates to take care of some of the small stuff you seem to be sweating.
Many of the issues you bring up should be taken care of during in-processing. A strong unit sponsorship program and a quality checklist go very far towards solving admin issues.
I also see leader issues. Knowing where your subordinates are and what they need is NCO leadership 101. If you are seeing issues out there in the formation, it is likely because they are underemphasized (or my personal nemesis, miscellaneous items are ALL important... so there never is a priority).
DTS is often the step child. For this item and many like it, a additional duty-appointed NCO to run down the eaches is a godsend for company-grade leaders.

In short, don't try to do it all yourself. Leverage your men and women to make things happen and then verify and praise success.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2016 11:44 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 11:44:12 -0500

We run into a lot of the same issues. It seems like every month the path to the squadron printers needs to be remapped or some other comm issue. Also when you only accomplish a task like DTS or awards once or twice a year(never mind that the procedure often changes more regularly than that) it is kind of difficult to perform them quickly. Drill weekends are always a mad scramble to get everything accomplished and this issue was identified as a huge time suck.

We developed a series of quick reference hand outs and keep them in our orderly room. When someone has a common issue, we just point to the wall of instructions. This approach as eliminated a lot of the bottle neck and freed up a great deal of time during UTA as well as pushing responsibility to the member to get their tasks accomplished.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2016 10:04 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 10:04:30 -0500

Seems to be an Air Force computer system issue, I believe it happens everywhere. Like DTS not loading, Arows not loading....

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2016 9:59 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 09:59:49 -0500

This is an excellent question. We were faced with this challenge as well. One of our Sr. NCOs came up with a "HOW TO" book. When the notebook would disappear (in someone's office) we put it all on a networked drive. All of the documents that Comm, Finance, Travel, Mil Pay as well as Tongue and Quill and OPR/EPR handouts are in the "HOW TO" folder. Now, when someone asks for help with a routine issue, we say "have you looked in the "HOW TO" folder on the "Y" drive? By putting this info in one place, folks can access it more quickly. I hope this helps.

Response by 1stSgt Scott Osander made Nov 22 at 2016 7:55 PM

1stSgt Scott Osander — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 19:55:44 -0500

I've never known this to be much of a problem. Our IT guys seem to keep the PC's up and running without a lot of input from the users.