Should the New Instructor Badge use previous NCOA Certifications to further back date the Award

There is a rapid action change coming in a few months that will open participation in this program to all instructors (minus civilians and officers). I just attended their Evaluating Instructor Workshop ran by the TRADOC program manager. It was a very insightfull class and also is required to have to be able to evaluate instructors using the rubric within the regulation that governs this program. Although every schoolhouse has their own internal instructor recognition program, the Army's Instructor Development and Recognition Program (IDRP) is a stand alone program, and is completely voluntary. I am glad that it is finaly filtering down to everyone else. As for previous "credit" as an instructor, the program mananger told us in the workshop that only instructors that are currently assigned as instructors and performing instructor duties can participate in this program. Prior tours as an instructor do not count and you cannot be awarded the badge for such.

I believe it should. I also believe that if you are serving or have served as an AIT instructor that you should rate the badge as well. Any course that requires you to get on the podium and teach should 1) require you to go through ABIC and 2) be awarded the instructor badge upon being awarded the "8" identifier. That would mean that DSs and former DSs like myself would probably receive two badges since ABIC has been incorporated into DSS and you receive both the "X" and the "8" skill identifiers upon graduation. I guess the rule should also state that if you are going to be assigned as a Drill Sergeant that you must wear the DSIDBDGE while serving in a DS capacity, but if selected to serve as an instructor then you can choose the badge you want to display on your uniform seeing how Drill Sergeants are instructors.