Should Platoon Sergeants be removed from Squad Leader’s Rating Scheme?
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">I PCS’d last week on the same day that my new BC declared
that EVERY Squad Leader will now be rated by the Platoon Leader, NOT the
Platoon Sergeant. So now every single E5 or E6 serving in a Squad Leader
position rating scheme is as follows: Rater – PL, Senior Rater – Company Commander,
Reviewer – Battalion Commander. </font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">This is the first I’ve heard of this (I was in my last unit
4 years so maybe things outside of my unit changed and I missed it) so I’m wondering
is this something that is starting to spread around elsewhere?</font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I FEEL that by
removing the PSG from the rating scheme we (as NCOs) are surrendering that
power over to officers. For years I’ve witnessed the struggles between O’s and
E’s where one side wants to be more hands on while the other side tries harder
to pull it away. I also FEEL that it’s taking an extremely valuable piece of
professional development from those Platoon Sergeants. I have more than 12
months rated PSG time prior to coming here in which I rated numerous different
Squad Leaders and that’s truly the time I learned the most about NCOERs and quarterly
counselings.</font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">I can go on and on about how I feel about the subject. But I
just want to know if this is something that’s sweeping through the ranks or if
this is an isolated event taking place where I am now?</font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font>
NCOER
Senior Rater
I have a serious issue with placing a 1LT, possibly even a 2LT into an immediate rater position when most may have only a year or two of experience and even less knowledge of that SLs job or what is the learning curve or progression of that SL professionally. And to remove any and all NCO leadership from the rating scheme is not fair to the junior NCO for mentoring and progression of training by a senior NCO for that SMs future.
I completely disagree with this action and would be very surprised that the CSM would be or was in agreement of this policy, while they don't write them, they do advise on them. It doesn't sound to copasetic to me along what I have seen, done or even assisted with over my career.
It is events like this that have always pissed me off when I hear that "We NCOs are giving up our power...." etc, I never, in the 26 years I served, ever heard of any PSG not rating the SLs, or in tanker terms, the TCs. I as the tank PSG rated the 2 other TCs as well as the PLs gunner and mine while the PL served as the Sr Rater and the CO as the reviewer. I, as the PSG, was the SME of the tank platoon, the PL was normally a fresh out of the schoolhouse individual that knew very little about how to tank, it was my job along with the commander to teach this youngin how to tank and to lead the platoon. Believe me, having taught ABOLC for the final 2 1/2 years, when they leave to go to their units they are just as raw as Soldiers leaving OSUT/AIT, in short they don't know shit!
I am sorry that this has happened to you, but am glad I do not have to worry about experiencing this myself.
Getting into semantics here. The PSG is the mentor for the PL. PL is first in the Squad Leader's Chain of Command. Where as the PSG is the SL's senior in the NCO Support Channel. Chain of Command is the channel through which Command Authority travels and as such takes precedence over the NCO Support Channel in determining who has primary responsibility when supervising and assessing the performance and actions of the Squad Leader.
Don't get me wrong, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter to me whether the PL or the PSG is doing the rating as long as the NCO is being dealt with fairly and receiving an appropriate evaluation and professional development. At the end of the day, it is at the Commander's discretion who is in a Soldier's Chain of Command, NCO Support Channel and in his rating scheme. I have seen it done both ways, and it has been both effective and ineffective both ways. A smart Soldier writes his own regardless of the scheme, failing that, they are very involved in the drafting.
1–5. Command
a. Privilege to command. Command is exercised by virtue of office and the special assignment of members of the
United States Armed Forces holding military grade who are eligible to exercise command. A commander is, therefore,
a commissioned or WO who, by virtue of grade and assignment, exercises primary command authority over a military
organization or prescribed territorial area that under pertinent official directives is recognized as a "command." The
privilege to command is not limited solely by branch of Service except as indicated in chapter 2. A civilian, other than
the President as Commander-in-Chief (or National Command Authority), may not exercise command. However, a
civilian may be designated to exercise general supervision over an Army installation or activity (for example, Dugway
Proving Ground).
b. Elements of command. The key elements of command are authority and responsibility. Formal authority for
command is derived from the policies, procedures, and precedents presented in chapters 1 through 3.
c. Characteristics of command leadership. The commander is responsible for establishing leadership climate of the
unit and developing disciplined and cohesive units. This sets the parameters within which command will be exercised
and, therefore, sets the tone for social and duty relationships within the command. Commanders are also responsible for setting the training of subordinates.
For us in recruiting this came as a surprise to us when it started to happen a few years ago
SGT Unger, when asking how can an Officer mentor a NCO? I pose the question to you in reverse, how can a NCO (PSG) mentor an Officer (PL)? There is a term that I really agree with which is "Leaders business" because that PSG should know just as much about an OER as he does about a NCOER, or an ORB the same as an ERB. How can a NCO (PSG) mentor that young Officer (PL) if he doesn't know DA PAM 600-3 as well as he know DA PAM 600-25?
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