How Many of you have noticed Sergeants Time Training disappearing in your Unit?

SFC Kevin Carpenter — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 13:00:30 -0500

I for one have never got to experience this since I have been in the military.  There are probably many things that I have missed out on and valuable information that I have not been informed of!

Response by SSG Matthew Thomas made Feb 11 at 2014 1:05 PM

SSG Matthew Thomas — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 13:05:55 -0500

During my time in Germany with the 1st ID we conducted SGT time every Wed. This was a time to Train, no BS details, just train. and every week we built on the prior weeks training. I loved it. After PCSing in 06 I never saw a dedicated time for SGT time training, just more hip pocket training. Hip pocket is great but having more time to put together the training makes for better content training.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 1:46 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 13:46:56 -0500

SGT Carpenter,

We conduct STT every week and as the 1SG My instructors brief me their training a week prior. I like to hear and see the same training their soldiers are going to receive just in case I could give a few pointers and to make sure they have all their resources. I also feel like if the instructor briefs me he/she may gain more confidence by doing this. It is also my job to make sure the Risk Assessment has been completed.

V/R

1SG Haro

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2014 2:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 14:06:13 -0500

There was a time when this was conducted on a regular basis and good luck trying to get out of it because it didn't happen. At the peak of the two wars and as the OPTEMPO of the Army increased to manage two conflicts, a lot of units started getting away from it. What we saw in Europe was that units were training all the time anyways, and instead of Sergeants time, there became one four day every month to include months with no federal holiday in order for Soldiers to have some down time to themselves and their families. I don't know how accurate that was, that was how it was explained to me. I will say that now, every Friday we train. It maybe on tasks that we do all the time to ensure we don't get complacent or it maybe a way to introduce us to something new and innovative. Whatever you do though, training should never cease.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2014 10:59 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 22:59:35 -0500

STT seems to be an event on the Training Schedule that is becoming less and less significant across the Army. At my last unit, it was non existent...I NEVER in three years conducted STT( I was not a Sergeant at that unit). Here, we conduct STT, everyone knows what is going on on Thursdays..BUT..it seems as if EO, SHARP, UAs, side missions, etc. take precedence more and more. If this was a dedicated time, I feel as if the Soldiers, as well as NCOs would all benefit from STT even more.

Response by SFC David Harris made Feb 16 at 2014 11:22 AM

SFC David Harris — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 11:22:28 -0500

I always took it upon myself to conduct Sergeants Time when things were slow. I was in a Commo Unit in the reserves before taking an AGR position. Training is an absolute paramount to unit cohesion. If your soldiers are not trained and trained properly, then how are you as a leader going to expect them to perform when the times come. Sergeants Time is to me a time to bond with your soldiers in order to know the strengths and weaknesses of each individual. I think you will see a slow return to this issue as things wind down. Lord knows I butted heads with Generals, Sergeant Majors, and all those above me. I won a few and at the same time lost a few. The one thing I never lost was the respect. Even if you only have a few minutes here or there you can always do some hip pocket training. Train them SGT Carpenter!!

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2014 5:02 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 17:02:29 -0500

somebody school this Marine on what this STT is all about!

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Feb 25 at 2014 5:16 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 17:16:08 -0500

We do ours the second Thursday of each week.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2014 5:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 17:29:44 -0500

ha? what sgt's time lol

Response by SGT James Blue made Feb 26 at 2014 4:55 PM

SGT James Blue — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 16:55:54 -0500

I always kept the mentality that we train how we fight. So I tried to incorporate as much training during PT hours as I could. That way you could throw in scenarios during PT and make people think on their feet. As for a formal Sgt's time, I doubt the Army will ever go back to it.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Feb 26 at 2014 5:11 PM

MSG Gene Potocki — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 17:11:23 -0500

This was the one scared training day (Thursdays) during my tour at Fort Riley. All other items that needed to be done during garrison activities took place during the other work days of the week.

Seeing as I was the Detachment NCOIC (1SG) in a Long-Range Surveillance Detachment, most every day was STT. The Team Leaders and their Assistant Team Leader's ran most of the daily training, unless there was some other planned event from higher.

Response by SPC David Wyckoff made Feb 26 at 2014 5:11 PM

SPC David Wyckoff — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 17:11:30 -0500

Sorry to hear that Sergeants Time has diminished with time. We used to either conduct SQT or CST (smart book) training. As a young PVT I can't recall how many times I heard, "Negative, Private you are a no-go at this station, stand by for remedial training". Never failed to learn something new every Thursday.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 7:05 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 19:05:15 -0500

STT was great when conducted. As an NCO, one should not wait until Thursday to train their Soldiers. Training is a 24/7 job and it is as simple as putting it on a training calendar and just doing it. Bigger events take more coordination but if you plan accordingly, you can accomplish some great training. If there is a block of time on the training calendar and nothing is planned, don't be reactive and wait for someone to tell you what to train on....be proactive and plan and coordinate with your unit and train, train, train!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 7:10 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 19:10:26 -0500

As a young Airman I was introduced to STT when I deployed in support of the Army during OIF. Many NCO's in my career field adopted the idea and it's something we still continue to do at my base!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 7:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 19:33:33 -0500

When I was a young NCO - we conducted STT every Thursday. When I was a PL/XO troops conducted STT every Thursday. When I was a CO CDR, the unit conducted STT every Thursday. That was blocked off time on the training schedule and the only person that could change that was myself or the BN CDR. I can't remember one time where I changed the training schedule or nixed it.

A lot of that probably has to do with the type of units you are/have been assigned to and your MOS.

I think that you will see, now that we are getting out of AFG, STT return and more emphasis placed on it…like we used to.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 9:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 21:04:51 -0500

If STT has disappeared from your unit it is a failure on the part of leadership (sorry so harsh). STT is the premiere time designated for nothing but WTBD training and it is mandated to be performed.

Sure every minute you are with your soldiers is an opportunity to train on one thing or another but STT is an uninterrupted five hour block dedicated weekly and placed on training schedule for specific training that needs to be conducted IAW the CDRs training guidance.

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Mar 8 at 2014 10:16 PM

CSM Mike Maynard — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 22:16:26 -0500

It's up to the leadership. In our Bn, we do STT every Thursday. That 5-hr block includes Warrior PT and is considered "Prime Time" training where we limit appointments and outside distractions so that NCOs have all their Soldiers to train with.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 30 at 2014 11:20 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 11:20:25 -0400

They fell by the wayside for a long time due to the OPTEMPO units were facing, but should be brought back with a vengeance!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2018 1:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 13:38:59 -0500

When 1-6 CAV was stationed in Korea, this was harped on to the extent that the training became repetition. We did more commo, convoy training, and PMI than needed. And it got boring. And, as everyone knows, when the training gets boring, the Soldiers stop caring.
Once we returned, we got at it as much as we could, but in an Aviation unit it is all about flights and maintenance. Everything else is expendable. The training happens with minimal people, but there is a high level of inexperienced Soldiers in my formation right now. This Germany rotation will be a prime opportunity to work on this.