SSG Private RallyPoint Member 5450288 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I recently went to an LPD and was presented with a topic in which it was stated that the biggest problem we have in the military today is the lack of basic Soldiering skills. So my question is how as leaders at all levels do we effectively handle teaching and training our troops when from the top down we get told &quot;you cant do that&quot;, &quot;it&#39;s not your job&quot;, etc.? 2020-01-16T19:33:07-05:00 SSG Private RallyPoint Member 5450288

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I recently went to an LPD and was presented with a topic in which it was stated that the biggest problem we have in the military today is the lack of basic Soldiering skills. So my question is how as leaders at all levels do we effectively handle teaching and training our troops when from the top down we get told &quot;you cant do that&quot;, &quot;it&#39;s not your job&quot;, etc.?

2020-01-16T19:33:07-05:00 2020-01-16T19:33:07-05:00 1SG Dennis Hicks 5450341

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The simplest answer is you focus on your little bubble, train your troops, shield your troops from as much bullshit as you can and get used to taking ass chewing from higher. When you don&#39;t have support from above you make sure you support your troops under you and hopefully look up with other like minded leaders and maybe, just maybe better leadership from above.

2020-01-16T19:54:48-05:00 2020-01-16T19:54:48-05:00 MAJ Ken Landgren 5450405

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I insisted on cross training. Cross training increases flexibility and efficiency. I think the military&#39;s biggest impediment is leaders who do not know how to win some wars. I guess we are not to win all the wars we commit too.

2020-01-16T20:20:12-05:00 2020-01-16T20:20:12-05:00 LTC Private RallyPoint Member 5450407

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would argue that if the military is failing, it’s the product of failed leadership. Too many GOs try to micromanage at the platoon level.

2020-01-16T20:22:01-05:00 2020-01-16T20:22:01-05:00 MSG Brad Sand 5450462

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My question would be to whoever stated this is, &#39;What are you doing to improve basic soldering skills?&#39; I remember when I was in ANCOC and my fellow NCOs were commenting about how the soldiers then were lacking in discipline, motivation,....blah, blah, blah, and I remember the same basic statement being made by Socrates? Of course, he was right, and so were the my comrades, and the leaders saying the same thing about me back in the day and those leaders in the room with me, and you leaders today and those leaders tomorrow. IF leaders are failing, find the nearest mirror and give that sorry leader a good scolding, and have him start doing his job. I know he can. He is already seeking advice outside the box but he needs to hold his peers and superiors accountable, even more accountable than he needs to hold his solders. The fix really is easy to identify but much harder to put into practice because it starts with you.

2020-01-16T20:37:09-05:00 2020-01-16T20:37:09-05:00 LTC Kevin B. 5450472

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>&quot;Failing military&quot; = unsupported premise.

2020-01-16T20:41:36-05:00 2020-01-16T20:41:36-05:00 CSM Michael Chavaree 5450513

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>My success was achieved by mastering the basics and keeping my folks engaged, if I mastered my sphere of influence there was rarely guidance from “above”. Empower your team leaders, that is where the bulk of the work is accomplished.

2020-01-16T20:54:24-05:00 2020-01-16T20:54:24-05:00 CPL Gary Pifer 5450972

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would have challenged the topic and refused it...Our Military is tops in the World... and is not failing... Read and Watch about Gallant Eagle 1980 when the National Guard destroyed the 82nd Airborne... we were call misfits and failures.... back then...

2020-01-17T00:33:35-05:00 2020-01-17T00:33:35-05:00 1SG Private RallyPoint Member 5450975

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Back in late 2017 Marine Commandant General Robert Neller recognized this was an issue with the Corps. He directed units to &quot;..go back and do fundamental, basic Marine skills that they may not have in thier training plans. The focus on this is not to behind a computer screen or filling out Scantrons, but for NCOs to be training and evaluating their Marines at the small unit level.&quot; Part of his solution was to mandate new annual Battle Skills testing for all Marines. This was supposed to start back in 2018.<br /><br />Around the same time, I started to think about where the Soldiers in my own unit were in regards to AWT. I got together with my 1SG and we devised a plan to look into it. We started with an anonymous survey that asked the troops their rank, and to rate their ability or comfort level with common warrior tasks pulled from Commo, Survive, Lifesaver, Navigate and Miscellaneous categories.<br /><br />After we compiled the results we established a soldier development program that was rooted in the old Sergeant&#39;s Time blocks of old. Pulling together the Enlisted, we asked for volunteers and/or volun-told Soldiers to prepare to teach a block of instruction each weekend day of battle assembly. Some of the more &quot;field friendly&quot; tasks were reserved for Weapons Qual weekend.<br /><br />With our new first sergeant, this has evolved into NCODP. Under his direction and guidance, we are now teaching to our NCO peers who will in turn, teach their sections the next day or next weekend.<br /><br />We did this on our own accord and told the Commander that we will dedicate blocks of time on the schedule for Soldier development. He is all for it, for he knows it benefits the whole unit. We even invite the officers who want (need) refreshers to join the classes. If you are feeling that you are not getting the needed support on this I suggest going higher in the NCO support chain. But, and this is key to making these work, you need to have a good plan in place to present and convince the leaders that this can work and is beneficial to the unit.

2020-01-17T00:43:11-05:00 2020-01-17T00:43:11-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 5450984

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Start with trust. Train your Soldiers, then trust them to do what needs to be done.<br />With junior NCOs, give that young CPL or SGT the leeway to make some mistakes along the way in their path of learning.<br /><br />Unless a failure on their part is going to jeopardize life, limb, or eyesight, let them lead unencumbered by micromanagement. Trust them. Give them the endstate and let them figure out how to get there, but be supportive if they seek help or more guidance. Like <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="812300" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/812300-1sg-dennis-hicks">1SG Dennis Hicks</a> said, start with your bubble or sphere of influence.

2020-01-17T00:57:15-05:00 2020-01-17T00:57:15-05:00 CSM Darieus ZaGara 5451274

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I assure you from the SEL of the Army, his Boss, down to the Team leader you are authorized, no, obligated to train your Soldiers in any skill required to perform their duties. You are not, of course, allowed to treat them as recruits and try to break them down and build them into some mold you determine appropriate for your mission. <br /><br />I have never heard any leader tell a subordinate leader that cannot train their troops. I find it hard to believe that you can take your own comment seriously. You are derelict in your duty if you do not ensure your Soldiers are properly trained.

2020-01-17T06:19:20-05:00 2020-01-17T06:19:20-05:00 SGT Robert Wager 5451346

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No one is more professional than I. I am a noncommissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers. As a noncommissioned officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as &quot;The Backbone of the Army.&quot; I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers, and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the military service, and my country; regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.<br /><br />Competence is my watch-word. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind – accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my Soldiers. I will strive to remain technically and tactically proficient. I am aware of my role as a noncommissioned officer, I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All Soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my Soldiers, and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my Soldiers, and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.<br /><br />Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my Soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, noncommissioned officers, leaders!<br /><br />This!

2020-01-17T06:45:54-05:00 2020-01-17T06:45:54-05:00 MSgt Michael Smith 5452169

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think that since the very beginning of organized military activity the older, more experienced soldiers have consistently pined about young soldiers lack of discipline, laziness, and bad soldiering. I can imagine Spartan soldiers standing there with helmets and shields complaining endlessly about how their young soldiers just aren&#39;t what they used to be. they probably blamed their leadership and the government of Sparta as well. The truth is that it is all bullshit. You see them as you want to see them, but that doesn&#39;t define who they are. They become you.

2020-01-17T11:12:22-05:00 2020-01-17T11:12:22-05:00 SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member 5452221

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>There is a difference between basic skills and commond tasks. Training challenges differ by the unit type and company, to say the list. I would focus on the perspective of support companies and platoons where poor maintenance schedules, back to back field exercises, and other missions like staff duties......swamp time. We must also consider that certain trainings are not even in the priority list of some companies therefore, ....... The solution to this would be to ensure that before soldiers make it through BCT and AIT, they have spent enough time necessary to grasp these basic skills and tasks such that regardless of the unit in which they end up, they would be able to execute and they sergeang&#39;s time training block which is but for few hours, would be adding or refining those skills. Ultimately, units should lay out realistic goals, prioritizes their goals to also reflect the assignments given each company down to the platoon level -planning. I will summit that consistency would go a long way and lastly, Leadership should empower future leaders not only when things go wrong but put them in charge, provide them an end state and safety limits, step back, and let them realize projects. STOP DWELLING ON A RIGID PAST; even if that past is till relevant, it hinders growth and creativity.

2020-01-17T11:28:28-05:00 2020-01-17T11:28:28-05:00 SFC Bert Linson 5452539

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Define &quot;Basic Soldiering&quot;. Is it being proficient in your MOS? If so then the Army needs to bring back the SQT test for all E1 - E6. The Army is the only service that doesn&#39;t, as far as I understand, test Soldiers on their specific MOS after AIT.

2020-01-17T13:13:38-05:00 2020-01-17T13:13:38-05:00 SFC Casey O'Mally 5452591

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The Commander should be looking at METL. All basic Soldiering skills feed the unit METL somewhere. So if your slice (team, squad, battalion, whatever) is not sufficient in basic Soldier skills, you need to let the Commander know you need training time to support HIS METL.

2020-01-17T13:32:35-05:00 2020-01-17T13:32:35-05:00 CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member 5454061

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Well if you’re discussing the lack of Basic Soldiering Skills that is needed in today’s military I can only give you my professional opinion because today’s military is not the military of the past. Having said that, I recommend that as a Staff-Non Commission Officer in the Army, you do have a lot of clout. You can only work with the Soldiers that are under you. Train them in the Soldiering skills needed for your platoon, unit, company so on. Focus on what’s needed immediately, sometimes us folks in the leadership position may feel overwhelm, but your Soldiers will be the best if you’re the best. So make it happen.

2020-01-17T22:18:09-05:00 2020-01-17T22:18:09-05:00 CW4 Craig Urban 5454107

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You are right. After nam the Army was a joke. Ike was a Jerk. IRS want after Joe Louis. The never went after Ali. He was a criminal.

2020-01-17T22:48:09-05:00 2020-01-17T22:48:09-05:00 CW4 Craig Urban 5454108

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>same is happening now

2020-01-17T22:48:26-05:00 2020-01-17T22:48:26-05:00 CW4 Craig Urban 5454111

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I was a NCO. SSG in 3 years. Saving Pvt Ryan. BS. Saving Pvt Urban. But I did not have a Captain trying to find me.

2020-01-17T22:51:22-05:00 2020-01-17T22:51:22-05:00 CW4 Craig Urban 5454113

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Prince harry is a jerk. He should work at WalMart as a waiter

2020-01-17T22:52:08-05:00 2020-01-17T22:52:08-05:00 SGM Bill Frazer 5454295

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Better question- Justr what are you doing with your troops to ensure they are properly trained not only for their level, but at least the next higher level? That is the job of every NCO, don&#39;t worry about other folks do want you can in your realm, and hope that everyone else is doing the same.

2020-01-18T01:36:30-05:00 2020-01-18T01:36:30-05:00 MSG Danny Mathers 5456219

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Back in the mid 70&#39;s the Army came out with what was called Skill Qualification Test. It consisted of a book with all the skills a E-4 and below should know, a study guide and a list of 5 hands on skills to master. The unit would send us to the woods everyday to study the test. I took the study guide and went over all the skills listed from the manual. I spent 90% of the time on the written tests and 10% on the hands on skills. Most squads did the opposite. Months later when the results came back, my squad had the highest results in the Army, 96% and I placed 98% at my skill level. I was awarded my 2nd ARCOM. My point is not to state how smart I was but how smart I trained my Soldiers. You already know what skill they should have, train them to understand them spend any time time going over those skill as a group. If you do not process those skills then you will never bring them up to standards. Soldering is not easy, Teaching Soldiers is hard if you don&#39;t know what they have to know. If you can navigate by map and compass and teach your subordinate the same, then you can teach them any Soldier Skill..

2020-01-18T15:06:38-05:00 2020-01-18T15:06:38-05:00 CSM Felipe Mendez 5457710

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>What is basic soldiering skills??? What I have seen in the past is that NCOs tends to train BS training (easy for the NCO) and the soldiers get bore, or don’t care for such training... Leaders must training skills that improved the soldiers readiness and the unit’s mission... once in back in my days, as a SGM I was assigned to a support maintenance division (section), that had over 100 soldiers. This battalion had 4 divisions/ sections and each division/section had a SGM in charge. During my 1st day of “Sergeants time” training, I notice that only junior NCOs were the trainers and I didn’t see any senior NCOs around. I questioned why there weren’t any senior NCOs and was told that they “senior” never came to the training... I gather old my Senior NCOs and made them aware that from that point on, they will be in the section training and they will be the primary trainers. I informed them “seniors” that prior their training day, they will,brief me first on the topics been train on... right there and them, I was made aware why the “seniors” didn’t want to teach/train their soldiers.. These group of “seniors” lacked the ability to select the training topics that would make their soldiers more efficient in the unit’s mission. They selected training topics that were easy for them, but boring for the junior soldiers... sooo, I went back to the battalion’s mission, selected training that supported such mission and included individual training so my soldiers could participate more.... eventually, I got rid of some of those “dead weight” senior NCOs. The turn around of NCOs help change the “good old days”... but, as always, when thing we’re getting better, got my CSM nomination and move for my new Squadron and deployed/move to Korea... I always asked the junior soldiers, “how can we make our training better and more efficient” they always gave me an answer that was the beginning of a great unit assignment...

2020-01-18T23:26:33-05:00 2020-01-18T23:26:33-05:00 2020-01-16T19:33:07-05:00