Should the new Army Instructor Badge be available to all Instructors, not just NCOES personnel?

I do feel that more than NCOES Instructors should receive the Instructor badge. I have been an AIT Instructor for 2 years now and I definitely believe we have earned the right to wear the Instructor badge. We are not only going over and honing skills that are students already should know as in NCOES schools, we are teaching these Soldiers their future skill. Teaching students something that is totally new to them is a demanding task. There are many hours that are put in to this both before during and after the students have left. As to some of the posts I have read on this thread as they continue to do the times have changed. Now Instructors jump at the chance to go to the NCO Academy as an Instructor, and not as you may think to get the Badge but because of the slower optempo or some may even say the easier job. It is easier to Instruct a course that is more of a refresher than it is to teach a brand new class. If I started one of my classes with a question like, " Why do you think controlling hemorrhage is an important step in Combat casualty care? " , and then as the Soldiers started talking about it I just went to my office and started working on some admin stuff only occasionally popping out if the discussion got too heated or to stagnant. I would have a room full of students that learned very little that day. Do I feel one Instructor is better than the other because of where the work, no not personally. I feel no matter where that Instructor works as long as they give 100% to the mission and their students then they are deserving of wearing the Instructor badge. Now I feel that just because one has the title and the identifier of Instructor they deserve to wear the badge. A lot of those who are and have been on Instructor assignments do or did not want to be there and it definitely shows. So to those who just show up because they have to, and eek through the day doing the bare minimum a badge of honor may not be for you. The greatest reward to me is watching the Soldiers I have taught walk across the graduation stage. I am doubly rewarded when I hear stories and praises from Leaders in their units about how pleased they are with the performance and skill set of the Soldiers. If the badge never makes it to us lowly Instructors who teach Soldiers their new skill, then so be it, I see my badge every time I see or hear a new Medic's name in a story of how they saved the life of another in need. If any of you who read this find it hard to believe that an AIT Instructors' job is a demanding one and by no means an easy one, I'm sure if you call HRC and volunteer for Instructor duty they can find you a spot. Then after you've been on the job a few months please post your thoughts on the subject. Stay positive guys we know what we do on a day to day basis and there are many who are still able to, that are thankful.
Take care,
V/R
SSG Espinosa

I run the track (Phase II) portion of ALC for the 15Ts coming through school. I cannot speak for all MOSs, but for the aviation side of the house this badge only going to SGLs assigned to the NCOA leaves a pretty nasty taste in our mouths. Our academy SGLs only instruct the Common Aviation Maintenance portion of ALC which boils down to only 30% of the Phase II. The other 70% is instructed by PME instructors not assigned to the academy, yet we are not authorized to receive this badge (as of now). My concern is giving credit where credit is due. I support the above comments that all instructors should have been included in this. It seems a little ironic to me that the criteria required (IAW this new TR 600-21 dated Jul 13) seems to have been specificly created just to facilitate SGLs getting this badge, but the rest of us have met these requirement for years and years already. I have a hard time swallowing this as being labeled as a "pilot program" and that eventualy the rest of us will be included, but of course I may be wrong. We will just have to wait and see.

As of 4 March 2014, MILPER Message 14-058 was released and states the criteria for instructor badges. It mentions only NCOES instructors and has no reference for instructors at AIT. I am in a position that issues badges at the Transportation School at Fort Leonard Wood and the RFI has been sent to clarify such a badge. Currently, the badge is only going to be awarded to NCOES instructors. More to follow as I get verified information from the source directly.<br>

SSG Plato, as a proud holder of the 8 identifier and having put countless man hours into quality instruction for IET Soldiers as Cadre for over three years, I do agree that all qualified TRADOC instructors who served honorably and with professionalism should be awarded the badge. I know I would love to receive it. The only exceptions I would say are individuals who were removed from instructor positions for violations of values or outright misconduct.

I agree with every person in this column. I am an AIT instructor at Fort Gordon, GA. I have earned the "8" identifier. Lets analyze what a badge is and should be. A badge is not an award. A badge is a concrete identifier that shows everyone who sees it on you recognizes that you are an instructor. A drill sergeant worked next to me in Iraq. The reason I knew he was an drill sergeant is because he had a drill sergeant badge. The badge simply told me that he was identified as a drill sergeant. The qualifications for drill sergeant was clearly stated before he went to drill sergeant school. When graduate, you wear the badge. I graduated from Army Basic Instructor Course (ABIC), WHERE IS MY Army Basic Instructor Badge BADGE????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

I am currently stationed at FT Rucker,&nbsp; and I can tell you right now that we are in the process of fixing and requesting anyone with an "8" indentifier and is IAW TRADOCC regulation.&nbsp; I will post anything that I come up with as it happens.&nbsp; feel free to email me at [login to see] .

I think a better question is, "Should the Army be bothering with this?"<br>

I don't want another piece of metal to hang on my uniform, however, I have no idea why they insist on calling it an instructor badge when it's restricted to NCOES. There are a heck of a lot more instructors out there than just NCOES and we all go through the same courses, checks, and balances. And adding promotion points to it will rarely help anyone out. Unless somehow a Sergeant (E-5) gets a chance to teach WLC. I'm not saying it doesn't or won't happen, I'm just saying I've never seen it. To me, and please believe it's just my opinion, it's not needed or even wanted in most circles. In an age where everyone gets a participation medal, I don't feel like the Army should follow suit. We're not all the cream of the crop and badges should be reserved for Drill, Recruiting, and Career Counseling. That last one just makes it easier for soldiers to pick him/her out in a crowd. I think we should scrap the whole thing, just like the Distinguished Warfare Medal that drone pilots were going to get that was going to be senior to the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Some ideas are just bad, and as such need to be recognized for their lack of merit and disposed of properly.

I'm looking forward to my next assignment as an instructor and understand the importance they perform in the Army. However, am I the only person that thinks a badge is unnecessary for this job?

<p>i hole heartedly believe that the Instructor Badge should be given to all instructors that hold the SQI 8. My main aregument on this message is the fact that the Individual Development Program is used in all Schools, whether it be an NCOES or IET/MOS School. I believe that that other instructors deserve it more than the NCOES instructor. As an AIT instructor, I push through 2,500 students annually. Accordning to OD Reg 350-67, Ordnance instructors must complete 100 hours of instruction time, attend the "Systems Approach to Training Basic Course (SATBC), and have 6 satisfactory evaluations to receive our own instructor badge. For the Senior Instructor Badge we must complete 600 hours of instruction time; complete a course that covers the development, administration, and control of test; complete an advanced training course or civilian equivalent course that is 40 hours or more; make a revision to the lesson plan and must be approved; and receive 6 satisfactory evaluations. For the Master Instructor badge you must have 1000 hours of instruction time; must mentor at least 2 instructors for at least 6 months; complete 1 SFD course since attaining senior instructor; complete a civilian personnel sponsored course with 40 hours or more, or a professional development course;complete2 AIPD course; have a score of 90% or higher on tests in your area of instruction; conduct a seminar; submit a proposal on a topic of instructional concern; submit proposal for MI project. complete 4 training evaluations on Associate Instructors and Instructos; complete a project; and appear before a board for evaluation.

</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The NCOES instructos do not have to do need to do nearly as much as we do. theres is as follows:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p align="LEFT"><font size="2">FOR AWARD OF THE BAIB, SOLDIERS MUST MEET THE INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE B ABOVE; COMPLETE THE INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE E ABOVE; SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE 80 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION AS A PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR; AND COMPLETE THE INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE F ABOVE.</font></p><p><font size="2"></font>&nbsp;</p><font size="2"><font size="2"><p>FOR AWARD OF THE SAIB, SOLDIERS MUST MEET THE INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE B ABOVE; COMPLETE THE INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE E ABOVE; COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING PREREQUISITES: THE SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTOR TRAINING COURSE/INTERMEDIATE FACILITATION SKILLS COURSE AND THE SYSTEMS APPROACH TO TRAINING BASIC COURSE/ FOUNDATION TRAINING DEVELOPER COURSE; SUCCESSFULLY TEACH AT LEAST 400 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION AS THE PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR AFTER BEING AWARDED THE BAIB; AND COMPLETE THE INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION AND PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE F ABOVE. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><font size="2"><p>FOR AWARD OF THE MAIB, SOLDIERS MUST MEET THE INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE B ABOVE; COMPLETE THE INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE E ABOVE; COMPLETE ALL COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE SAIB, AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING PREREQUISITES: ADVANCED FACILITATOR SKILLS COURSE (AFSC) OR THE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-1 (FDP-1), AND THE EVALUATING INSTRUCTORS WORKSHOP; SUCCESSFULLY TEACH AT LEAST 400 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION AS THE PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR AFTER BEING AWARDED THE SAIB; AND COMPLETE THE INSTRUCTOR EVALUATION AND MASTER INSTRUCTOR BOARD REQUIREMENTS IN REFERENCE F ABOVE. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I believe the badge should not be depicted to only one type of instructor. If you are going to award someone an instructor&nbsp;badge then it should be for all instructors. Im sure that all the other schools who do not fall under NCOES schools would agree with me. </p></font></font></font><font size="2"></font>