Pressure on Soldiers completing SSD

Education. we have to educate our troops on the importance of NCOES schools if they are serious about their military career and want to advanced to the next higher rank. We have to get them out of the old mind-set and into the new Army way of doing business, this will require constant reminders, education and counseling.

Personally I think a lot of NCOs and Soldiers are wavering on the SSD until the Army figures out who they are gonna keep and who will hit the streets. Uncertainty often breeds contempt and or laziness, the ones that want to continue serving and climbing the ranks will do the right thing. Just drive on with what you are doing brother and hopefully it will sink in to the NCOs to get off their asses and do what is needed. "Treat 'Em Rough!!"

So I ran into this awhile ago but at the time SSD was still open enroll what I did was sit down for Two days at lunch and knock out whatever SSD my soldiers were supposed to be doing for their rank. Then when I completed it for myself I used the fact that I would not ask/make them do anything I haven't/wouldn't do myself talk. This worked out for most of my Soldiers the one's that it didn't work for I counseled because SSD is now a requirement to go to NCOES. Some people will counsel and then put a bar on a Soldier because he is not doing his job with is completing the Course then once they complete the course and the first review for the bar comes then have the commander remove it. I'm not a fan of that by have seen that work also.

If an NCO is serious to advance his/her career then they will complete the required training o advance. I believe that if you want to be promoted then you will get it done. The requirements are not difficult to complete and the NCO has plenty of time prior to becoming eligible for promotion. I understand the difficulties that there are with the blackboard system but the help desk is there if the soldier needs them. It falls on the soldier to take care of their careers. We as senior NCOES need to encourage them to complete but we can't stand over them nor do it for them.

Counseling! A lot of Joes do not understand how the ARNG EPS system works, and the prerequisites that are required for promotion to their next rank. NCODP can take care of a lot of this , but this must entail their TL/SL/PSG sitting knee cap to knee cap with them to fully explain what the system is, how it works, and where that individual Soldier stands in the mix. Counsel to your expectations and timelines, follow up, and counsel again with whatever results the Soldier has at the end of the expected timeline.

When they see their buddies, especially ones junior to them, run up to the Commander to get promoted, they can't bitch and moan when they themselves don't get promoted.

Whether or not they care about their career, it's up to us NCOs to show them we care about their career progression!