Staff Duty NCO during duty hours

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 01:52:49 -0400

Staff Duty NCO during the duty hours is it really necessary? If you ever walk around your Battalion HQ you will see people in just about every office. With that in mind why is an NCO and one /two runners needed to be their a complete 24-hours. I know when I have BN Staff Duty I spend more time at my Motor Pool office or company then I do at the staff duty desk. So my question is should the NCO report in the morning to relieve the off coming NCO then leave a contact number? So that they could conduct his or her daily duties and be called if there is an emergency like the SDOIC? Then return after the close of business to complete the rest of the shift at Battalion?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2014 2:28 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 02:28:10 -0400

I am still trying to understand why the shift is 24 hours, when we know it is unsafe to drive after staying awake for that long...

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Mar 27 at 2014 3:33 AM

1SG Shane Hansen — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 03:33:23 -0400

I can honestly say I have never seen a true 24 hour staff duty during the week. In most of the units I have been in the SDNCO & Runner report at 16:30, get a brief from the CSM and assume duty at 17:00 until 09:00 when they back-brief the CSM on the goings on of the night.

Now on weekends, it is/was a true 24 hour duty though.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 27 at 2014 8:26 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 08:26:40 -0400

I experienced a few different manners in which staff duty has been handled: when I was a young Soldier and tasked as the runner, my SDNCO and I would report in at the appointed time in the morning and I would be posted as the phone answerer while the NCO would get briefed then go conduct his normal duties and then return to relieve me for chow and then finish out his duties prior to returning at 1630/1700. I have also experienced, while an NCO, both the runner and myself reporting at 1630 after conducting our daily duties (during work week)to assumed our duties. Then finally, mostly in TRADOC, I have experienced where the runner and myself report in and begin our duties at 0900 and both sit there basically for 24 hours, and this was as a SFC.....while I have seen CQ duty go away and then return again throughout my career, I do not foresee Staff Duty going anywhere as there are motor pools and facilities that must be safeguarded and checked during non-duty hours. The only change I would make is allowing for the NCO and runner to catch a few hours of sleep during the duty, alternating of course, so that when they are finished with their tour, they are less apt to get into an accident due to sleep deprivation, because normally even though it's a 24-hour tour, you are up usually 2 hours prior and then an hour or so afterwards.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2015 3:31 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 May 2015 15:31:40 -0400

The only on requirement during the week to be there 24/7 is your runner. Ncoic does the daily checks. Releases runner for lunch. And that is about it. I believe it's how CSM influences the duty policies

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made May 2 at 2019 7:25 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Thu, 02 May 2019 07:25:58 -0400

When assigned the Hospital I did NCOD and charge of quarters. I had a runner on both of them. I’d send the runner down to the barracks with a 2 way radio to check on how the CQ and runner was doing... check their log.. Hospital’s busy anyway.. I didn’t have a boring moment doing NCOD.. I was always trying to keep on a roll . The runner would handle the phone while I toured and I and them switched. So we stayed busy and before we knew.. the shift was over... we had a guy when in Calif. would get out and let the rain rinse his car down and he’d get out on his
Ladder as long as it was just a rain storm.. no thunder or lightening.. and have his car soap and sponge, and brush .. he had a big bucket of water too.. Base was funny about that car washing .. he used AmWay car soap which is environmentally safe.. well California is weird on that too..
If he wanted to wash his car like that have at it! .. we’d had storms and lightening is miles away and moving further.away.. so long as it’sfar enough I didn’t Have a prob.
Just quit if it’s coming our way. Some get so bent out of shape ...

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made May 2 at 2019 11:23 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Thu, 02 May 2019 11:23:05 -0400

Ours was there to stop folks at the entrance, announce VIPs and direct people to the correct location and generally keep rif raf from wandering around unescorted in the AO. Mostly a security function.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2019 9:50 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 09:50:16 -0400

Near as I can tell when I do staff duty the only thing I really do is call the building to attention and yell at ease. There is no point, now our staff duty also rolls into CQ after hours and I don't see the point of that either. You trust your soldiers to defend freedom or you don't. If they can't handle being in the barracks overnight then they are not needed in the Army. Everyone has a cellphone and can call the MPs as easy as CQ.

Response by SSG James Peterson made Jul 19 at 2020 6:23 AM

SSG James Peterson — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 06:23:13 -0400

When I was on active duty my BN staff duty NCO duties started at 16:30 and ran until 07:30 the following morning where as I turned over the keys and staff duty security check list to the BN liason

Response by SSG Greg Miech made Feb 14 at 2021 11:30 PM

SSG Greg Miech — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 23:30:00 -0500

We did not have a SDNCO during the business day and he would replace the runner for Chow. Otherwise the SDNCO will just be used a gopher for the field grade officers and such. Plus the NCO has work of his own to do.

Response by SSG Greg Miech made Feb 15 at 2021 1:37 PM

SSG Greg Miech — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 13:37:18 -0500

Not really needed as everyone is there. For rear detachment I can see it. Otherwise the headquarters needs to get off their lazy ass and do the tasks. For they normally have additional personnel assigned there from the companies.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 21 at 2021 5:24 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 17:24:21 -0400

This makes no sense in garrison. If the BN has a mission requiring 24 hour response capability, then I can see having an NCO at the BN HQ in the ops center after normal duty hours. Otherwise it’s a waste of manpower.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Mar 22 at 2021 2:07 PM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:07:19 -0400

Staff Duty should be discussed at the BN or Brigade level. It is still necessary? (And related questions.) When the CO makes a decision, then this decision should be briefed at the next All-Call. Leadership should allow Q & A, etc.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Mar 23 at 2021 11:01 AM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:01:47 -0400

During my time in Active Duty, SDNCO never started before 1600. Some unit CSM must think it is needed.