Staff Duty NCO during duty hours

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.

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...

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

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

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.

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.