Is it logical to have an assigned 42A MOS qualified human resource specialist at the company level for admin?

CPT Jacob Swartout — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 22:43:02 -0400

Would it make more logical sense to have an assigned 42A MOS qualified human resource specialist at the company level for admin? As you know, units just train up someone in a different MOS to do administrative work. Would a change in the unit's MTOE to authorize this personnel move at the company level be something worth considering in your opinion?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2014 11:34 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 23:34:47 -0400

Sir, I think this is a great idea and needs to be implemented. Placing an experienced SPC or PFC as the admin clerk for each company/troop would be a boon for the administration side. I think it would definitely help alleviate paperwork going from a unit to higher.

Response by SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh made Jun 25 at 2014 6:34 AM

SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 06:34:44 -0400

As I've been told it does raise some issues when trying to do that. First would be experience level. As I see it the slot should be a 20 skill level. Reason being is that if you make it a 10 skill level there is no guarantee that you will get someone that is not straight out of School and putting a PVT in that position where they have to deal with senior leadership of a company is a bad idea. Some might say well just assign only seasoned SPCs to these assignments. My experience has been there is no such thing as a code that says you have to have X years experience before going into a slot. If the slot is coded for 10 level soldiers you will get Privates right out of school in those slots.

Second is manpower. We have an end strength in the Army (I know shocking) So if you create a new slot one slot has to go away. Now your talking about doing this across the Army. How many MTOE companies are there in the Army? That's a lot of Soldiers someone is going to have to give up to fill this requirement.

Even with these issues it's definitely a good conversation to have. My company has a 42A2O assigned to it because we are geographically separated from our Battalion. It works great as we get a lot of the support that we would normally not be able to get by having that Soldier there.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2014 1:31 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 01:31:25 -0400

SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh stated it very well. This is one of those great in theory, not very practical ideas. 42A is a low density MOS to begin with and while you may think a -10 level would suffice, the skill set of the person would most likely not be sufficient to do the job. It would take -20 level to ensure enough time in service to have developed the required skills to really be an asset. Even then, there is no guarantee. And you would have to either increase the Army end strength (good luck) or request to swap out an existing slot in your MTOE for a 42A slot. And this change would have to be agreed upon by EVERY major unit in the Army that uses the same MTOE structure (again, good luck in getting every Fires Brigade to agree on anything!). A more plausible solution is to have the company admin Soldier conduct low density training with the BN S1 staff at least twice a month. Most of what an admin clerk does is easily acquired skill that a seasoned Senior HR Sergeant (ahem!) could train them on.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2014 11:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 11:55:23 -0400

The MTOE in the Army is messed up, I am the only 88M30 in an MP BN. I currently serve as the HHD Operations Sergeant responsible for the training, admin, and day to day operations for a 75 Soldier Detachment. I have no training NCO nor a admin NCO. I have had 5 Sergeant's Major (incuding my BN and BDE) tell me I should not be in this position (Non MTOE). I have now been in position 32 months, had 4 Commanders, and 4 Detachment Sergeants. Tell me does that make sense? Sorry for typo's I am posting from my phone.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2014 12:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 12:31:42 -0400

Sir, I've always said that with the armorer's position.

Response by 1SG Charles Lyons made Jun 27 at 2014 9:59 PM

1SG Charles Lyons — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 21:59:17 -0400

I used to put my driver and the CO's driver to work! AND I ensured my PAC did their job! I even learned how to type memos, file documents, and issue meal cards. That was after they took the Personnel Specialist out of the company years ago!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2014 10:37 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 22:37:11 -0400

Sir, I totally agree. It makes everyone's job a little bit easier. When I was a BN S1, I had some non 42A company PACs. It is okay to train these high speed Soldiers on personnel stuff but the problem is they cannot get any access on any of the systems that we use because of the simple fact that they're not 42s. A simple PT or weapons update to me should be done in company level but BN always end up doing these little updates because they don't have access.