How can an NCO maintain morale of the troops when the unit's OPTEMPO is so high, we ignore to train coach and mentor.

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 16:58:48 -0400

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 4:59 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 16:59:45 -0400

By leading from the front. What more can be asked of you.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 25 at 2015 5:05 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 17:05:05 -0400

It will be favorable if you had some down time with the troops, preferably incorporating some fun in it.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 25 at 2015 5:05 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 17:05:42 -0400

team building and praise...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 5:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 17:44:58 -0400

Need to get creative there, SGT. And idea....On weekends when there is no field op, nor any other "wonderful" tasker that comes your way, have your troops and you meet up somewhere on base and have a Team/Squad day. Let it be sports, or WT&D's, grilling, something. Take that time to teach, mentor and guide. You are in Germany, hit your MWR office and see if there is something y'all could do as a squad. The possibilities are there, you just need to look outside the box.

Response by SFC John Durham made Sep 25 at 2015 6:00 PM

SFC John Durham — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 18:00:03 -0400

NCO's lead from the front. Sometimes as leaders we don't realize that our morale is down and our troops feed off of us. Regardless of the units OPTEMPO, we as leaders need to look in the mirror and ask; am I part of the solution or part of the problem? Enthusiasm is contagious!!!!

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 25 at 2015 9:00 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:00:02 -0400

You need to build Esprit De Corps with whatever troops you are in charge of.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 9:11 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:11:16 -0400

I'm currently dealing with this in my unit. It seems that training statistics matter more than the actual training. Morale suffers, due in large part, because the Soldiers are not getting adequate or realistic training. Like any career, waking up, being excited to go to "work" is lacking in the Army. From the joke we call PRT to the basics, clearing a building, land navigation or drill and ceremony, the training just isn't there. It's sad to say but many of the NCOs that I have the privilege to interact with just do not know how to train anymore. Let's not forget the mind numbing, ungodly amount of online courses are now a quarterly mandate. The Army, not individual units have made Army training impersonal and computer driven when it needs to be in your face and Leader led. Just sayin'...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 25 at 2015 9:27 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:27:33 -0400

What is the deployment tempo for the Army? One year deployed one year conus?

Response by SFC Matthew Parker made Sep 29 at 2015 12:50 PM

SFC Matthew Parker — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 12:50:17 -0400

Sgt Uribe,
If your soldiers know there job then the high op-tempo is a chance to showcase your skills. Go into each field problem or training exercise and try to come out as the best squad, team or platoon. Competition with your peers can be a motivation factor.
I disagree we ignore training, coaching and mentoring. TCM is all the time, it's how you as a NCO carry yourself, the respect you show others and how you do your job. You can TCM just by coming to formation on time, being in uniform and how you communicate with your soldiers. Every time you do a pmcs, or conduct a pre mission check you TCM.
Next field problem put the specialist in charge of preparing the vehicles, have the corporal assist with the op-order and have the PFC navigate out to the field. Take every opportunity to conduct AAR's and that will build morale as well.
We didn't join the Army to sit on our ass, you joined to fix utilities equipment, so enjoy what you do. I trust you will be fine and will motivate your team.

Response by MSG Alfred Aguilar made Sep 29 at 2015 7:10 PM

MSG Alfred Aguilar — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 19:10:18 -0400

I have worked in a high OPTEMPO situation. I understood that there would be times when I would have to ask my people to go "above and beyond", so I when I could give them some slack I did so. They understood that I would not ask them to work if it were not absolutely necessary.

Response by SSG Gregg Mourizen made Sep 29 at 2015 10:23 PM

SSG Gregg Mourizen — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:23:21 -0400

Not an easy task.
Lead by example. If the troops have to do it, then get in there with them.
There will always be bitching and complaining. It comes with the job. But the troops should never hear their leaders complain and criticize the task. I have seen many leaders find creative, and not so creative outs. Everyone knows what Sargent's business and leadership task are. Your troops will know if you are full of it.
When there is free time or down time, that is your opportunity to boost moral. Getting in on conversations, showing you understand and care about the situation. Having get togethers and getting to know each other is important at all levels.
If your troops need something, show that you are doing your best to get it for them. Remember that they not only work for you, but that you work for them

Response by SFC William Hodges made Sep 29 at 2015 11:33 PM

SFC William Hodges — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 23:33:40 -0400

High OPTEMPO has always been a way of life in the Army and the other branches of the Armed Forces. IT doesn't matter if the operation is a contingency operation or conducting day to day operations in garison. In fact, the OPTEMPO, is probaly training in itself. The resl wuestion here is how you as a NCO and Officer insure thst the soldiers that you lead are trained and taken care of. It is basic leadership.

How do we accomplish this mission? NCOs and officers must lead by example. We never ask a soldier to perform a task that we are not willing to do ourselves. We set the standards and demand our subordinates to meet or exceed these standards. Whether it apperance standards, personal conduct, individual common skilld qualifications standards, or unit collective standards.

Break out the Soldier's Common Skills Manual. Make sure YOU know how to perform those task. Develop training plans and be prepared instruct and test your soldiers to meet the standards.

Get with your platoon leader/company commander's and delevope those combat collective skills for your particular unit. All units have them. NCOS Train the individual skills. Junior officers must train their platoons/company/battalion collective task. Do not let soldiers skip out of schedule training. Insure that when soldiers needs an appointment that those appointments do not interfer with scheduled training events. Schedule and conduct Sargent Time Training. When there is slow time conduct hip pocket training. Encourage soldiers to compete at soldier/NCO of the qauter boards. NCOs shuld competete for the Audy Murphy board. Remember, NCO's are always training their subordinatesand setting the standards.

Know when your soldiers weapon/APFT qualifications are due. Its your job to insure that your subordinate are physically fit and can operate the weapon system their assigned to. Resist the urge to pencil whip these qualifications in order to meet quartely unit standards. Make sure your soldiers are actualy qualified. Leaders must always tell the truth even when the truth is uncomfortable. Ther is nothing worse than a soldier or platoon reporting that they are qualfief in a weapon system when their not and they deploy to a combat zone. This will get soldiers killed. Remember Task Force Smith.

Leaders MUST KNOW THEIR Soldiers!!!! Know their families. Know of any medical issues. Know if their subordinates are having any emotional or financial problems. Council your subordinate on the standards and help them to achieve them. Help them with those personal issues. KNOW how to use the many different agencies in helping with these issues. Get the chain of command involved if necessary.

Are promotion points and PT test scores still used in determining a portion of NCO promotion point? IF NOT, IT SHOULD BE. This alone should help in getting these soldiers motivated to get more promotion points. Encourage your soldiers to go to airborne, air assualt and ranger school. You will get a better trained subordinate back thatis highly motivated.

I could go on and on about this subject. Being a leader is hard work. Some people are a natural. The rest of us has to struggle and keep working at it. Non Comiisioned Officers IS THE BACK BONE of the Army. It requires us to have high character. It is what make our military different than the rest of world. We are the ones that insurea that the mission is accomplish and our soldiers get back home safely.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 7:48 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 07:48:17 -0400

I think that we must never stray away from the Coaching and mentoring part of it.

Response by SFC Michael Hair made Sep 30 at 2015 8:53 AM

SFC Michael Hair — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 08:53:17 -0400

If you are breathing air into your lungs you are either learning something new, teaching something new or mentoring every day. More often than not you don't even know you are doing it. Keeping a smile on your face transmit positive energy to your troops. Positive attitude is contagious. Do we get tired and burned out, yes. It is our jobs as leaders to make max use of opportunity to pass on skills. A 5 minute hip pocket lesson on field sanitation to check feet. A high op tempo means you have more time than you think. Rotate the person doing the talking or training in a circle, group huddle. You will be amazed at the results when you get people engaged. Always keep it light and positive. You are the leader so they look to you for strength and the emotional tempo ;)
Carry On!

Response by Sgt Ronnie Mack made Sep 30 at 2015 9:03 AM

Sgt Ronnie Mack — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 09:03:00 -0400

I don't want to give a simple answer, but it is. You as a Marine, as a leader. You just do. We lead from the front. We lead by example. We may not always be the fastest and or smartest. As long as our troops can look ahead of them and say "I am being lead by a NCO of the Marine Corps"! I have no fear!!!! So to answer your question. You keep up the tempo because that's what we NCO's have done and always will since 1775!

Response by SGT Paul Thomas made Sep 30 at 2015 10:04 AM

SGT Paul Thomas — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 10:04:21 -0400

Sorry to say we need to turn the clock back!! We need old school NCO's back! Your NCO can not be your best friend at work... I had a NCO Sgt G. who rode my ass at work as a young pvt.He worked me like a mule. I respected him for that. He never cut slack on the job,but after work he was human.What I am saying we need old school NCO's .Untie there hands let NCO's do there jobs!!!

Response by SMSgt Cary Baker made Oct 2 at 2015 5:12 AM

SMSgt Cary Baker — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 05:12:04 -0400

Retired now - I have seen this before. As a SMSgt, and MSgt, I would walk into my work center and speak with my team prior to dispatching to the Minuteman missile field and let them know that this is the most important job in the world, that they will be transporting a nuclear weapon across Montana, ND, Wyoming, or Nebraska highways to put one of our nations nuclear weapons back on alert status so our nations leadership can bomb the crap out of somebody if required. I would tell them, that this is exactly what they were trained to do, and now this opportunity has arrived for them to shine and make their nation proud. I would go on and talk how much I wish I could join them today - that watching them perform on that silo would be watching "Poetry in Motion". Then I would send them off. And, sometimes I would clear my calendars and join them.