I was just promoted to E-6 into a new unit (Transportation) that doesn't even have trucks yet. Any tips on how to keep my soldiers engaged?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:22:23 -0400

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 2:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:25:57 -0400

Basic soldier task

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 2:28 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:28:46 -0400

Ssg Adair, I would start with going over the basics of a convoy with your soldiers. Using a blackboard or something like that. Go over basic information about doing a call for eod when there is an ied spotted.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 2:31 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:31:35 -0400

Focus on basic skills as rifleman. If you've knocked out all annual training while waiting for your vehicles, I'd consider honing your "blocking and tackling" skills as a soldier. Land navigation, small unit tactics, formations and movement, reaction drills, combatives, etc. If you have anyone qualified to each urban skills or particular specialties, go for it. Get them spun up on FRAGOs. Is it their primary job? No. Will it help them on today's battlefield where the front lines are blurred? It could, and God knows your troops will love doing something out of the ordinary, like kicking doors or practicing to bash someone's face in with their rifle butt.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Mar 23 at 2016 2:33 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 14:33:11 -0400

I have some idea of what that's like. If you aren't being tasked out for detail on top of detail, motivate them with their task and drills (even in the absence of equipment) as well as PT. Remind them that once they get their equipment, they will be expected to hit the ground running, so they better not get rusty.

Sidebar: What trucks are you getting?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 23 at 2016 3:00 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:00:35 -0400

You can pick a movie to watch with them like Blackhawk Down and discuss why things happened as they did. Go to a civil war site and discuss the battles if they are not too far away. Visit war museums. Throw a BBQ. Ask MEDEVAC pilots to fly your soldiers. Go on a long run and have a hot breakfast waiting. Play MOS trivia. This is assuming you folks are at the point of MOS training overkill.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2016 4:06 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:06:39 -0400

Don't know if this would be applicable to your situation, but I did a rotation to Hoenfehls as a new soldier. Our platoon sergeant was the only person in the platoon that had ever been a mech engineer; or had experience with tracks. While our assigned drivers were getting trained on M113s so we could be issued them, we spend hours a day, rehearsing mount and dismount, casevac and such. By rehearsing I mean guys walking in a grassy field making "brrrm, brrrm" noises. We rehearsed the gunner making sure it was clear to drop ramp, announcing ramp drop, etc. When we finally got tracks, we were darn near ready to rock.

Response by SSG Darian Jones made Mar 23 at 2016 4:51 PM

SSG Darian Jones — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:51:54 -0400

Began working on your platoon SOP. Get your initial counseling completed. Drill on convoy ops and crew serve weapon and engagement. And TCCC and Nine line. Land nav/BFT. That should keep you busy till your MTOE is up and running

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 23 at 2016 8:02 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:02:56 -0400

Lots of good responses out there. I'll add something that I seldom see but when I do, it's an effectiveness and morale booster. That is teaching the troops to understand what their contribution in Motor T is and the difference it makes. A plug of history on how and why they're at this point in time helps. So what's the big deal about moving stuff? Well, what went where and when, by what, etc. was called "linear programming" and it was Top Secret in WW2. Although you may know that driving some beans 200 miles vs. somewhere else from 50 miles may seem wrong, but in the overall flow of beans everywhere, that's what you may have to do. Besides it eliminated driving them 1000 miles. It really took off when the IBM 360 mainframe came out and an upstart called UPS took off because of logistics linear programming. FEDEX really zoomed ahead in the air transport business. Bottom line, ensuring any SM knows the difference they make in turn makes a big difference. Then the next thing is making sure they're on board for the transition game from no wheels to Hot Wheels.

Response by SPC James Dollins made Mar 23 at 2016 8:09 PM

SPC James Dollins — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:09:57 -0400

Comms comes to my mind, since you are trans.

Response by 1LT A. Uribe made Mar 23 at 2016 8:22 PM

1LT A. Uribe — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:22:17 -0400

Hip pocket training, try to find out what kind of vehicles you are getting and teach abilities, other issues you may deem necessary. Platoon SOP, TACSOP, how to properly read and fill out a 5988-E. Basic battle drills, and OPORDER with emphasis on actions on the objective.

Response by SPC Dale St. Pierre made Mar 23 at 2016 8:23 PM

SPC Dale St. Pierre — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:23:29 -0400

Ya, run errands, visit family. If the F*up ,life is hell. Also start driver packets. Current civ license, military license. Accident avoidence ,and any other cert needed for unit lvl stuff

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 23 at 2016 8:58 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:58:05 -0400

SSG Private RallyPoint Member Please read; "I am a Soldier Too", by Jessica Lynch. Train to avoid such a catastrophe!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2016 12:00 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 00:00:59 -0400

Uh, set up chairs exactly like the seats in various vehicles and have them pretend different driving scenarios!!! It's a thought, anyway. (We did that when our ships were in drydock. Had one Seaman Deuce who made a real good outboard motor sound!!!)

Response by SFC David McMahon made Mar 24 at 2016 8:46 AM

SFC David McMahon — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 08:46:52 -0400

The below are all good ideas but I would also stress the importance of your entire section being prepared for the equipment.

You should have an idea what's coming and the initial inventory requirements (and be set up for those) not to mention who gets what and where it will be staged (and of course all those requirements).

That may seem mundane but it is without doubt that once equipment arrives you probably will have little to no time before your tasked with missions.

Not to mention maintenance requirements for both initial acceptance and service requirements.

Of course, there's no reason why you can't do "two a day" PT sessions and implement common task training bases on your units METL.

I will tell you this, if your not employing your troops, the 1SG will so task their day accordingly.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2016 11:50 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 11:50:09 -0400

Transportation isn't just about driving and PCMS. Think a little broader. Use whatever recourses available (rollover simulation, etc.). Teach them how to write SOPs, how to prep for convo, MDMP...
You can always work on warrior skills.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 9:46 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 09:46:42 -0400

death by PowerPoint

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 10:56 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 10:56:18 -0400

Stop referring to your promotion as E-6, hopefully you put in what it took to earn your promotion to SSG. Own your new responsibilities and pull out some SOP's and review them with your joes together make them be part of the decision making process and have a base line of ground rules before you get too busy to establish any. If that is not enough hip pocket training for you MOS. figure out who you customer is. How do you support them. I usually supported the engineering battalion so if say you run their ammo, get with the aha and asp and become knowledgeable of the process before jumping in feet first and facing difficulties on your first mission. Recon your suppliers that you use to serve your customers.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 10:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 22:29:48 -0400

There are some self development material that you can find on JKO that they will need to get accomplished that will become a mandatory requirement later, I also suggest that you get a Promotion Board Study Guide and get your Soldiers prepared now Instead of later remember that you are responsible for what they do or fail to do. I suggest reading the Charge of the NCO and NCO Creed follow these and you will not have a question of how do you keep your Soldiers engaged.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2016 2:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Apr 2016 02:25:29 -0400

Some tough acts to follow here, excellent suggestions! One thing I would add is to get with your company leadership and review the most current assessed METL. That should give you an idea of the tasks your Unit needs to be proficient in in order to accomplish your specific mission and support your higher headquarters METL. Sounds like you have a golden opportunity to implement a training program from a blank sheet of paper.

Response by SGT James Hammons made Aug 19 at 2016 10:42 PM

SGT James Hammons — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 22:42:26 -0400

Training on basic military skills and motor pool operations and every now and again a game of football.