Should the Army bring back Sergeants Time Training?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 08:24:27 -0400

When I was a fresh-faced Soldier right out of BCT/AIT, I got to my first duty station (Fort Hood) and every Thursday was dedicated to Sergeants Time Training. We would do Common Soldier Tasks (now called Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills), MOS related training, or things of the nature and I really enjoyed it. It was a chance for the junior leadership to take control and run things, as well as a chance for squads and platoons to really bond. Nothing else could happen on those days; no sick call, no appointments, nothing.

Do you feel the Army (or military as a whole) should bring back this way of training? Please take some time to expand on your answers if you can/will.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 9:15 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 09:15:43 -0400

The idea behind it is great but it becomes a check the block function when placed on the training schedule. The S3 wants to inspect it, someone wants to question what is being trained on, etc.

When it is the team chief training his Joes on METL and Warrior Tasks then its a win.
When it becomes an officer led event, its a fail.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 23 at 2015 10:07 AM

SGM Matthew Quick — Sat, 23 May 2015 10:07:46 -0400

STT is not happening? Must be a Leadership thing.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 10:17 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 10:17:22 -0400

It is one of the non-negotiable items on the training schedule after redeployment and reintegration.

Response by MAJ Ray McCulloch made May 23 at 2015 12:38 PM

MAJ Ray McCulloch — Sat, 23 May 2015 12:38:24 -0400

I never thought Sergeant's Time Training went away. Every installation I have been assigned to (with the exception of one) observes STT, there just isn't any uniformity (Wednesday here, Thursday there, done by 1500 at one, 16 00 at another). I personally think STT is an important training schedule item that gives the NCOs of a unit the opportunity to do so much to professionally develop their Soldiers, including coaching and mentoring. My personal opinion regarding STT is that "Big Army" should take note and formalize it. Specify what day, and the length of the time. That way, no matter what installation you go to, you don't get confused over when, where, or how long training is to be conducted.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 12:43 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 12:43:58 -0400

I didn't know it ever went away. My unit does it every Thursday.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 1:25 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 13:25:50 -0400

When did the training stop? The last Brigade I PCS'd from was still conducting Warrior Time training with low density MOS training happening every 3rd Thursday of the month. Maybe every BDE, Division and Corps is different when it comes to this training but in the almost 17 years that I have been in, every unit that I have served with has conducted either Sergeants Time Training or Warrior Time Training.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 2:07 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 14:07:04 -0400

My unit does it every week. I guess we never got the memo cancelling it.

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 23 at 2015 3:21 PM

SGT Richard H. — Sat, 23 May 2015 15:21:28 -0400

Absolutely! Sergeants time was one of our most valuable training resources because it gave us time Focus on our squad and its individual training needs and team building.

Response by SGT Nathan Huff made May 23 at 2015 3:26 PM

SGT Nathan Huff — Sat, 23 May 2015 15:26:48 -0400

When did it ever, end?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 3:16 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 15:16:53 -0400

Did it ever go away?

Response by SSG Charles Holleran made Feb 2 at 2016 9:36 PM

SSG Charles Holleran — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:36:33 -0500

I served at a time when Sgt's Time was done and was important. There needs to be time when the soldiers are present during duty hours to learn skills and do training that will ensure team building and unit success, in my opinion.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 16 at 2018 1:29 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 01:29:04 -0400

Been doing it every week for 19 years. What Army are you part of?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2018 1:07 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 13:07:57 -0400

I agree with everyone else’s comments, it never stopped. If it did, my Soldiers must be off doing who knows what and my NCOs are in on it? I’ve witnessed STT first hand just this year. Is it the quality it once was, I’d say “No”.

Response by SFC Wendell Pruitt made Nov 5 at 2018 12:14 PM

SFC Wendell Pruitt — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 12:14:20 -0500

The formal Sgt's time in my day was a total waste of time, A paper exercise and nothing more. The Training schedule was published and not a single minute was give for preparation for whatever training was to be conducted, If you were lucky the task to be trained required minimal equipment or could be set up quickly on the fly, In the worst case the CSM or Commander arrived just as Training was to start and the ass chewing started for failure to be on task although you were very much trying to get things done in spite of the obstacles over which you had no control.....