How do Marines record individual tasks in field training?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 10:41:20 -0400

Army guy here looking to understand how Marines track training at the squad level. The Army does warrior tasks and scores each task as a go / no-go. There is a DA form for field expedient squad book that looks like an excel sheet with names and task titles. Specifically I'm looking at MCO 1553.10 infantry tasks. How is it transported back to garrison for input into the training system?

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 16 at 2016 10:45 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 10:45:00 -0400

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member great question, standing by for responses. Great opportunity to learn.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 16 at 2016 11:06 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 11:06:45 -0400

"Forms? We don't need no stinking Forms!"

I'm positive things have changed since I've been out, but we follow more of a "plan and do it" model than a "record it" model.

Develop the training schedul which highlights what we are going to focus on.

Execute.

Those who aren't at "proficient" level will usually find themselves repeating said tasks more (as will their leadership).

We carry "leader books" just like the Army, and skillsets fall under pro/con so it's incentivized knowledge, just like PFT & Rifle qual.

We're just not as "formal on the backend. We use our PME system in lieu of it.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Apr 16 at 2016 11:16 AM

Capt Tom Brown — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 11:16:16 -0400

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member All I can speak to is how it 'used to be' 'back in the day' there were no such forms or any training tracking at any company level in the infantry. This may seem awful by present day standards but we managed somehow to incorporate infantry tasks in everyday field exercises. Marines learned basic infantry skills in boot camp and infantry training, which at the time was a 20-30 day infantry training course everyone went through right after boot camp, regardless of MOS. That was it. Now I am going to have to look up MCO 1553.10 and see when it is dated and contents. Maybe things are getting more modern. (One can just see the training NCO pencil-whipping those training records.)

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Apr 16 at 2016 12:52 PM

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 12:52:06 -0400

I was in the infantry in the mid/late 1970s. Those that did not complete the task had bruises.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 16 at 2016 12:55 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 12:55:23 -0400

Must be a memorized deal.

Response by SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint made Apr 16 at 2016 12:56 PM

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 12:56:49 -0400

If the expectation is to be complete, and you go to war with those Marines, why do you have to have it on paper? They are either a go or a no-go. I had a company commander who housed NCOs who were not 1st Class on PFT...in their pup tent in the center of the outside area of the H-Frame buildings. They got some wind protection, but they also were motivated to get their score up there.
H co, 2/6 had very few non-1st class PTers.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2016 9:06 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Apr 2016 21:06:21 -0400

Sir, I have been a squad leader and a section leader. The way it should work is someone that wants to test his Marines to standard can go onto MCTIMS. It's a Marine Corps site for training. There a squad leader can choose a task he wants to grade his Marines on. For this example it's use preform remedial action for the M16A4. That is an individual based task so it is part of the 1000 level tasks. The higher the number, the greater the number of personnel involved. so from there he can print off a sheet. On that sheet it will have every step that the Marine being graded has to preform. Same as army pass/fail go/nogo. Once the Squadleader is done he can then take that and go back into the site provided above and log all of the names of the Marines that conduced that training on that specific date. Then those sheets should go into the Marines respective training jackets. So now there is a had copy and a computer copy of everyone that passed or failed the task on that day.

Response by SSG Dr. John Bell, PhD. made Apr 20 at 2016 10:31 AM

SSG Dr. John Bell, PhD. — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 10:31:21 -0400

I have served in Marine Corps as a SSGT (60's and 70's) Enlisted Marines were graded on Proficiency and Conduct Markings. This was maintained at unit level. Counted for promotions. I don't know if it is still used. Graded on a 1 4 or 1 to 5 level. If I remember correctly.

Response by SSG Dr. John Bell, PhD. made Apr 20 at 2016 10:38 AM

SSG Dr. John Bell, PhD. — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 10:38:29 -0400

I also spent 12 years in the Army. SSgt. From coming from Marines. As most of my time was spent attached to a medical unit; we spent more time training to the SQQT than doing any thing constructive. A lot of wasted time standing around in the Motor Pool trying to look busy wiping the paint off our old trucks. Repacking medical chests or painting rocks for the headquarters. Field training was a joke. Most of our leaders had never been in the field. Most came from Medical centers, When I left Germany I was slated to go to a Med Center. I called and requested to go to National Traing Center, Ft Irwin. Got it and loved it. Was an OPFOR member for 2 years.

Response by Sgt Frank Rinchich made Apr 20 at 2016 12:12 PM

Sgt Frank Rinchich — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 12:12:08 -0400

when did all this paper work come into play, I was in the Corps in the 50,s you either did or you didn't , if you didn't you kept at it till you did , no paper work just hard ass work. that's why at the time you didn't have under trained Marines. you kept at it till you were trained and passed any test given. You stayed in the water till you could swim, you fired your M1 till your shoulder felt like the dough boy, you went out in the day and came back at night by feeling trees and landmarks, when it came time to end the training only one form per Marine, read passed.

Response by LtCol Mac McCarty made Apr 20 at 2016 12:28 PM

LtCol Mac McCarty — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 12:28:58 -0400

I'm basically repeating what my brothers have said below. Instead of forms, we rely on Fireteam Leaders, Squad Leaders, Platoon Commanders and Company Commanders to do their jobs. Amazingly, when you tell someone "The [fireteam leader, squad leader, platoon commander, company commander, battalion commander, regimental commander, division commander] is responsible for everything his unit does or fails to do, and leaders accept that ethos, you get to spend time in the field, training, rather than wasting time filling out CYA forms.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Feb 6 at 2018 1:25 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 13:25:05 -0500

Marines are kinda small... when i was in we didn't do the paperwork as much... but you keep running into the same faces over and over again through the years. reputations travel with the men. especially when you are in a fairly small occupational specialty.

if a man is less than optimal (a dirt bag), he and his 'direct report' will continue to perform the task required until it is done in the correct manner. this may require 'extra instruction'.

folks who can't/won't perform don't last. there is incentive for the 'direct report' to insure his folks are squared away... it reflects on his Fitness Report under 'leadership'.

things tend to happen the way God and the Commandant desire.