My unit just started doing Sergeants time training. What’s the favorite thing you’ve done for it?

2018-04-02T12:07:40-04:00

Medical Platoon practicing CUF and MARCH drills was our most recent Sergeants time training.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 2 at 2018 12:43 PM

2018-04-02T12:43:19-04:00

The CO had use do an FTX in a swamp area, doing both map and compass reading and we had to be within 10 meters of the objective. All day exercise.

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Apr 2 at 2018 12:52 PM

2018-04-02T12:52:26-04:00

Land Nav and repelling..MOUT is also a lot of fun, especially if your unit has access to a MOUT city..

Response by SSG Buddy Kemper made Apr 2 at 2018 3:01 PM

2018-04-02T15:01:12-04:00

Call me old school, but a good ol' 12 mile ruck was always a Thursday morning thing back in Campbell& was a groovy alternative to the standard 4-8 mile formation run. Then Sgt's time was classes/weapons maintenance AND hands on training. Everything from crew served weapons drills, to basic squad/Plt Infantry tactics (react to contact, linear or L-shaped ambush, assault of a trench line, etc.) It could be a smoker at times but looking back now, it made us sharper& we all got better. Lawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwd that stuff would KILL me now!!! God bless all you warriors. Strike and Kill!!! Currahee!!!

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Apr 2 at 2018 6:28 PM

2018-04-02T18:28:41-04:00

I think that you definitely need to switch it up. If you're doing STT once a week or so then you should switch back and forth between tactical knowledge and technical proficiency. Teach a mission related task one week and the next talk about how to properly write a counseling for something. The next week teach another combat related task and the week after that how about teaching the guys and or gals how the board process of NCOERs go. The sad part about getting promoted is that we are always taught how to do the combat or mission tasks but these little soldiers are left with their asses flapping in the wind when it comes to how garrison BS that will affect them greatly works.

Response by CW3 Jeff Held made Apr 2 at 2018 7:16 PM

2018-04-02T19:16:27-04:00

I used to enjoy preparing and assisting E3’s and E4’s to conduct training. I was with them every step of the way. Not only did it boost their confidence and earn the envy of their peers - the unit got stronger a lot faster!

Quality, consistent, and concurrent training is the key. We trained on specific th8ngs during ST but we viewed every day and every interaction as a learning / teaching opportunity.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2018 9:29 PM

2018-04-02T21:29:47-04:00

It is truly great that you are starting Sergeant's Time training again. I believe it is an important cornerstone to Soldiering, as well as both Soldier and NCO development.

I have always liked events that were either competition based, or a scenario/believable story explaining why the training was being done. I also like to mix the skill level one Soldier training with MOS specific training, like "maneuver under direct fire" being done as part of gaining fire superiority before doing TCCC, or filling a radio before calling up a 9 line.

Some things like extrication and casualty evacuation work well during PT, so do some NBC drills.

My strong suggestion is always to source the training well, simple training aids go a long, long way, a well prepared class is always better than a last minute piece of effort, and try to keep it interesting. Post any time or reach out directly if you ever need ideas or help.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Apr 3 at 2018 4:15 AM

2018-04-03T04:15:18-04:00

Timed weapons disassembly and assembly races. Both fun and team building. The winner of each weapon type gets to gloat while everybody else does pushups. Add on weapons cleaning afterwards. Best of luck!

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Apr 3 at 2018 9:44 AM

2018-04-03T09:44:22-04:00

See it ended the first time. I thought very poorly when I was NCO of the concept of Sergeants time. It was a joke then, and I doubt it has gotten much better. I can recall soldiers who had performed 24 hours shift down range at a Nuclear base having to stay the extra 6 hours it took for ST to get over with so they could be relieved, the moronic waste of time for soldiers in units with no equipment, couldn't use a classroom, couldn't be in the barracks, or motor pool, or anywhere else except in the dirt somewhere. Oh yeah those joyful events.

Response by SSG Matthew Koehler made Apr 3 at 2018 11:45 AM

2018-04-03T11:45:19-04:00

Yep, we did sgt's time on wednesdays, then got penalized for doing sgt's time because it took away from mission critical MOS support. CWO demanded extra time on Mission Essential MOS support.

Response by MSG Johnathan Mathes made Apr 9 at 2018 11:15 PM

2018-04-09T23:15:30-04:00

Best was doing live training on claymore mines and setting up targets and teaching guiding and making the training fun.. there. Is so much more than boring soldiers to death.. takes planning and coordination.. make it fun and educational

Response by MSG Lance Kelly made Apr 10 at 2018 1:35 AM

2018-04-10T01:35:36-04:00

When stationed in Germany we would go on a ruck march into the woods. When we reached our training point we would conduct whatever training was scheduled and then have a cookout. It was great team building.

Response by SSG Nathan Blair made Jun 5 at 2018 11:14 AM

2018-06-05T11:14:58-04:00

Just started?? When did they stop?? My favorite thing we did for Sgts time training was, after multiple deployments and constant field training, we did our normal every 6 months CTT training (no one wanted to do it, morale lacking a bit) but one of the NCOs got us pumped up to finish and finish well. Land nav was last around 15:00 or so. Unbeknownst to us, the old man (company commander and TOP, 1SG) had sprung for a company picnic with the mess sergeant cooking it all. The last point was through a group of trees to a picnic area none of us knew about on post. It was awesome. They had chicken, burgers, and ribs all BBQ, baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw, potato chips, watermelon, and cookies. There were wash tubs full of sodas, water and juice and a horse trough full of beer. We could each get two beers (unlimited everything else). It was awesome, morale shot through the roof after that. While we were training, the senior NCOs, the commander and TOP were all setting this up. Best training ever. The old man (with beer in hand) got everyone's attention, thanked us for all the hard work and effort we had been putting out and then proceeded to give us a 3 day weekend. Best training ever.

Response by MSG Kevin Elliott made Jun 7 at 2018 10:48 PM

2018-06-07T22:48:21-04:00

This is a great time to train your soldiers on individual and then small unit (fire team or squad level) tasks. There have been some great ideas given, but look to your soldiers for ideas. Pick their brains and incorporate competition and celebrate the winners. I used to argue with the 1SG because I would train to standard, and when we were done, we were done. If you have vehicles, do some driver's training. Look at cross training soldiers, so there is always someone to fill a position.
When I became a Platoon Sergeant, I tasked my Squad and Section Sergeants to develop their tasks for Sergeant's Time. If they didn't, I would break out some older tasks and add MOPP IV. The next time they were ready and submitted on time.