Posted on Mar 7, 2015
"The 60% Soldier..." What are your thoughts on this?
26K
105
46
18
18
0
Saw this on a friend's FB post. I like a good debate, so I am going to share it here. Read it through, then read my reply. What's your thoughts on this?
THE SIXTY PERCENT SOLDIER
We DO NOT promote Soldiers simple because they are eligible. DA form 3355's submitted for the 60% Soldiers. 60% Soldiers show up for the APFT to just pass; do common tasks to pass, and shoot their assigned weapon just to qualify. They don't compete for NCO or Soldier of the month, Sergeant Audie Murphy, SGT Morales, They do not volunteer for Airborne, Air Assault, Jumpmaster or Ranger School, or any other professional training such as Recruiter or Drill Sergeant. They seek out and hide for years in TRADOC or AC/RC assignments; they even hide out in their unit of assignment. Then have the gall to ask where my MSM or my ARCOM is? The 60% Soldier will know there are drugs in the unit, maybe even do drugs and drink excessively with junior Soldiers, but stand in every Friday safety brief and pledge to do the right thing. They are often caught in violation of AR 670-1. They grow sideburns and keep their appearance just under regulation. I hear them ask the question in the APFT push up line, "How much to get 60 points?" I am often told that they do their job well and that we should give them a chance. Well I'm here to tell you, that they get paid to do their job well. They are promoted because they give 200%, seven days a week, not 60%, 4 to 5 days a week. Soldiers deserving of promotion must be already setting the example. They must do push-ups and sit-ups for the full 2 minutes, run as hard as they can to always better their last time, and they must think and concentrate to shoot expert; after all, who will train tomorrow’s expert, todays marksman? Who will lead their teams and squads through vigorous PT, todays APFT score of 180?
As your 60% Soldier defends your perimeter, he's only good for 36 seconds of the final 1-minute attack. He only hits 6 out of 10 incoming enemy soldiers. He only remembers 60% of his MOS and individual training. Let’s hope part of that 60% is the First Aid you need on the battlefield.
Your good promotion candidate should already be in your NCOPD class. He should be learning to instruct and train. He should admire and emulate those appointed over him and not selecting 60% Soldiers for promotions.
Go ahead; promote your 60% Soldier today. I hope he's your 60% First Sergeant tomorrow.... -author unknown
Response:
If the army wanted everyone to make 270 on an APFT, they should have set that as the standard. If sideburns are truly a no go, but it's just "hidden" in the reg - it should have stated clearly not to have them - don't give Soldier the option. Don't "volunteer" for hooah schools? Well...shame on the army for making said school optional then. And shame for drinking with juniors and building a bond...who cares that they do it every weekend? Seems like they are able to make it a ritual because no ones driving drunk and getting hauled off to jail, meaning they are adhering to said promise on Friday's safety brief.
Passing is passing. 12 mile road March in 3 hours or the megatron that came in under two. On training stats, no one knows who got a 300 or a 180 - it's just total # who passed. Ever sat in command and staff? Then you know what I'm talking about.
People should push themselves to the max because THEY are ambitious and want to. Because they have a desire to master everything the army has to offer. Otherwise, that individual is literally only upholding the standards - which is exactly what the Army is about, and upholding standards in itself is all over NCOER bullets and reason TO promote. "Sets an example to subordinates by consistently passing the APFT". Strong bullet comment...eh. Factual, and indicative of maintaining compliance with army standards? You bet!
If soldiers are supposed to pull 300s, shave it bald and skip their family to be TDY for school every three weeks then it would be in a regulation; not a 180 standard, not "no lower than the lowest opening of the ear", and schools wouldn't be optional and require a packet.
This 60% Soldier mentality stuff is in some hard-ass' "secret how-to-be-hooah-like-me reg" that counters all published Army standards.
THE SIXTY PERCENT SOLDIER
We DO NOT promote Soldiers simple because they are eligible. DA form 3355's submitted for the 60% Soldiers. 60% Soldiers show up for the APFT to just pass; do common tasks to pass, and shoot their assigned weapon just to qualify. They don't compete for NCO or Soldier of the month, Sergeant Audie Murphy, SGT Morales, They do not volunteer for Airborne, Air Assault, Jumpmaster or Ranger School, or any other professional training such as Recruiter or Drill Sergeant. They seek out and hide for years in TRADOC or AC/RC assignments; they even hide out in their unit of assignment. Then have the gall to ask where my MSM or my ARCOM is? The 60% Soldier will know there are drugs in the unit, maybe even do drugs and drink excessively with junior Soldiers, but stand in every Friday safety brief and pledge to do the right thing. They are often caught in violation of AR 670-1. They grow sideburns and keep their appearance just under regulation. I hear them ask the question in the APFT push up line, "How much to get 60 points?" I am often told that they do their job well and that we should give them a chance. Well I'm here to tell you, that they get paid to do their job well. They are promoted because they give 200%, seven days a week, not 60%, 4 to 5 days a week. Soldiers deserving of promotion must be already setting the example. They must do push-ups and sit-ups for the full 2 minutes, run as hard as they can to always better their last time, and they must think and concentrate to shoot expert; after all, who will train tomorrow’s expert, todays marksman? Who will lead their teams and squads through vigorous PT, todays APFT score of 180?
As your 60% Soldier defends your perimeter, he's only good for 36 seconds of the final 1-minute attack. He only hits 6 out of 10 incoming enemy soldiers. He only remembers 60% of his MOS and individual training. Let’s hope part of that 60% is the First Aid you need on the battlefield.
Your good promotion candidate should already be in your NCOPD class. He should be learning to instruct and train. He should admire and emulate those appointed over him and not selecting 60% Soldiers for promotions.
Go ahead; promote your 60% Soldier today. I hope he's your 60% First Sergeant tomorrow.... -author unknown
Response:
If the army wanted everyone to make 270 on an APFT, they should have set that as the standard. If sideburns are truly a no go, but it's just "hidden" in the reg - it should have stated clearly not to have them - don't give Soldier the option. Don't "volunteer" for hooah schools? Well...shame on the army for making said school optional then. And shame for drinking with juniors and building a bond...who cares that they do it every weekend? Seems like they are able to make it a ritual because no ones driving drunk and getting hauled off to jail, meaning they are adhering to said promise on Friday's safety brief.
Passing is passing. 12 mile road March in 3 hours or the megatron that came in under two. On training stats, no one knows who got a 300 or a 180 - it's just total # who passed. Ever sat in command and staff? Then you know what I'm talking about.
People should push themselves to the max because THEY are ambitious and want to. Because they have a desire to master everything the army has to offer. Otherwise, that individual is literally only upholding the standards - which is exactly what the Army is about, and upholding standards in itself is all over NCOER bullets and reason TO promote. "Sets an example to subordinates by consistently passing the APFT". Strong bullet comment...eh. Factual, and indicative of maintaining compliance with army standards? You bet!
If soldiers are supposed to pull 300s, shave it bald and skip their family to be TDY for school every three weeks then it would be in a regulation; not a 180 standard, not "no lower than the lowest opening of the ear", and schools wouldn't be optional and require a packet.
This 60% Soldier mentality stuff is in some hard-ass' "secret how-to-be-hooah-like-me reg" that counters all published Army standards.
Posted in these groups: 
Promotions
Promotions
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 35
12
12
0
SSG Jacob Wiley Excellent discussion starter, and I like your response (though I predict a lot of people wont.) This is a situation that we all encounter on a fairly regular basis.
One of my First Sergeants kept a small poster on the wall behind his desk. "When you joined the Army, you volunteered to meet our standards." He would point to it when talking to those young men and women that weren't quite cutting it. When I started as a platoon leader, I was full of piss and vinegar. I had fire in my veins, and I was upset when my Soldiers didn't push themselves to meet their potential. That poster on my First Sergeant's wall cuts both ways.
People join our organization for a lot of reasons. To serve their country, pay for school, receive training in a trade, provide a paycheck for their family... There is no 'right' reason. They all volunteered, they're all willing to make the sacrifices the nation requires of them, and they are all expected to meet our standards.
I don't get angry with the Soldiers that I perceive to be underperforming anymore. Instead, I question what motivates them. I question how their leadership is engaging them. I try to figure out what it's going to take to push them to excel. For some, excelling in the Army is not something that's important to them. That's okay.
Regarding promotions, we have standards and promotion policies in place for a reason. Up to Specialist, I think meeting the Army standard is good enough. Most Soldiers are young and they don't quite know what direction they're going in life yet. A good NCO will help them find that direction, and push them to be the best that they can be. Maybe that is with the Army, maybe it's not. Once it comes to Sergeant though, we have a board for a reason.
One of my First Sergeants kept a small poster on the wall behind his desk. "When you joined the Army, you volunteered to meet our standards." He would point to it when talking to those young men and women that weren't quite cutting it. When I started as a platoon leader, I was full of piss and vinegar. I had fire in my veins, and I was upset when my Soldiers didn't push themselves to meet their potential. That poster on my First Sergeant's wall cuts both ways.
People join our organization for a lot of reasons. To serve their country, pay for school, receive training in a trade, provide a paycheck for their family... There is no 'right' reason. They all volunteered, they're all willing to make the sacrifices the nation requires of them, and they are all expected to meet our standards.
I don't get angry with the Soldiers that I perceive to be underperforming anymore. Instead, I question what motivates them. I question how their leadership is engaging them. I try to figure out what it's going to take to push them to excel. For some, excelling in the Army is not something that's important to them. That's okay.
Regarding promotions, we have standards and promotion policies in place for a reason. Up to Specialist, I think meeting the Army standard is good enough. Most Soldiers are young and they don't quite know what direction they're going in life yet. A good NCO will help them find that direction, and push them to be the best that they can be. Maybe that is with the Army, maybe it's not. Once it comes to Sergeant though, we have a board for a reason.
(12)
(0)
SGT Jim Z.
Excellent response CPT Andrew Reed and you are absolutely right, young soldiers may need guidance and boils down to the leadership. Some soldiers will need less guidance and motivation from leadership while others will need more it human nature.
(2)
(0)
9
9
0
I will also add in response to your correspondent's post he demonstrates an attitude that I often see in the Force (and here on RP) that TRADOC assignments aren't things that "real" Soldiers do. However, the ARMY thinks that the institutional Army is important, otherwise there would not be a TRADOC in existence. The viewpoint that some Soldiers aren't "real" Soldiers because you don't respect the billets that the Army created and placed them in is both short sighted and toxic to a functional organization.
(and a separate issue from whether or not some Soldiers sham in them....)
(and a separate issue from whether or not some Soldiers sham in them....)
(9)
(0)
LTC Barry Hull
He didn't state that Soldiers who are in TRADOC assignments are 60% 'ers. His point was regarding those who hide there. Soldiers should rotate into and out of TRADOC assignments, not live here.
(2)
(0)
9
9
0
I challenge you to consider whether we should allow the 60% Soldier to remain in service or allow them to complete their honorable service as we assist them through the transition process.
I believe it took a 70% to pass my college classes with a D average, was it the same for you? If you happen to continue your professional education, you will find that those 70% classes most likely will not transfer to an accredited school, should they accept a mediocre student into their institution? While 60% might be the minimum standard, should we embrace/accept mediocrity in our ranks? And, if the individual has the ability to do much more than 60% but chose not to, then we should consider the Warrior Ethos "I Will Never Quit".
Are you fanning the flames of debate or do you yourself stop at 60% and insist the same from your Soldiers?
http://www.army.mil/values/warrior.html
I believe it took a 70% to pass my college classes with a D average, was it the same for you? If you happen to continue your professional education, you will find that those 70% classes most likely will not transfer to an accredited school, should they accept a mediocre student into their institution? While 60% might be the minimum standard, should we embrace/accept mediocrity in our ranks? And, if the individual has the ability to do much more than 60% but chose not to, then we should consider the Warrior Ethos "I Will Never Quit".
Are you fanning the flames of debate or do you yourself stop at 60% and insist the same from your Soldiers?
http://www.army.mil/values/warrior.html
The following is the Warrior Ethos
(9)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
the army dosnt fight to just win a war we fight to decisively win a war. its in human nature to be better then thy neighbor the idea of meeting the minimum is fine and dandy but if your goal is only the minimum are you really living? as a child I once got in a fight got my ass kicked. didn't want to "strap" with that bigger older kid any more I learned my lesson. he was better than me I couldn't surpass that minimum in my life until I realized that he as well has a minimum I can fight and strive to better then his minimum and I was. he tried to jump me again the hours of blood sweat and tears fighting and training. I know that became long winded but full circle.... as kids we almost never loose politely many times we come up with excuses and say ill get it next time ill be better because I am better. but as we get older we change to I made it "good job"... I think any solider who applies bare minimum to be the 60 percent will fall short one day and the 60 percent will get some one killed. I train as a professional not as an armature. I don't think any other professional or athlete is really happy being the first loser. its not a matter of saying hey fuck off because you only met the standard its more like why are you content with this level of shit?
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google