To my senior NCOs, how are you able to balance career progression and plt/squad integrity?

2019-07-04T16:55:50-04:00

I'm planning on going back to school to get my Associates, and then my Bachelor's degree, but how do I do that AND put my future soldiers' needs before my own?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2019 5:07 PM

2019-07-04T17:07:06-04:00

SPC,

Before you ask that question, where's the conflict of interest? Your goal is to become to best leader you can be, becoming stagnant does you no good. Your future soldiers are going to be impressionable in some way, shape, or form....if you don't manage your career, you can't expect them to do the same.

Response by SSG Jason Neumann made Jul 4 at 2019 5:19 PM

2019-07-04T17:19:37-04:00

There is no one else who is going to help you progress in YOUR military and civilian education. Just like your team leader and squad leader should have done is give you guidance, purpose and direction. It is up to them or yourself to take that advice and either go with that advice or add to. There will be some long nights since you will have to do that on your OWN TIME to better yourself. I would tell your leaders you are planning on furthering your civilian education but just know that will be on your time. They can work with you but if you don’t let them know that you want to better yourself then they can’t really help you.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 4 at 2019 5:28 PM

2019-07-04T17:28:25-04:00

The close fight is your education and focus more on education. The deep fight is leading soldiers. Is that what you are asking? How to be a good leader?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jul 4 at 2019 6:15 PM

2019-07-04T18:15:58-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member: You have to learn to budget your time, Specialist Fakatou.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 4 at 2019 7:05 PM

2019-07-04T19:05:00-04:00

Your aiming point should be focused on a Bachelor’s degree. Skip meeting requirements for an AA that will consume time.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2019 7:14 PM

2019-07-04T19:14:06-04:00

Well.. I decided to not overload myself and do one class at a time. Now it will take me about 6 years to finish a bachelors but mind you I retire in 12 so it really isn’t an issue as long as I’m still in.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2019 7:32 PM

2019-07-04T19:32:41-04:00

Dispatch a LMTV, load Soldiers, take Soldiers to education center for briefing you coordinated ahead of time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2019 8:35 PM

2019-07-04T20:35:26-04:00

Work is work, your time is your time. Sometimes work spills over to your time but it comes with the job. Taking care of your soldiers and taking care of your education will most likely not mix with each other. Don’t over think it.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jul 5 at 2019 6:14 AM

2019-07-05T06:14:02-04:00

You are not an NCO yet, ensure you balance your duties with your course load. When you become an NCO you continue on that path. However, there may be semesters that the mission load will be to great for you to do both and you must choose your Soldiers and duty over personal goals. Thank you for your service.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2019 8:03 AM

2019-07-05T08:03:33-04:00

24 hours in a day brother

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jul 5 at 2019 8:48 AM

2019-07-05T08:48:07-04:00

I learned the mantra: Mission, Men, Myself. Mission is first, always. Then worry about yaking care of your Soldiers. Once your Soldiers are taken care of, than you worry about you. Doesn't mean you don't or shouldn't take care of yourself, just that you make sure you have ytaken care BBM of the mission and your Soldiers, first.

Now, you never know when taking care off mission or your Soldiers is going to take a random night of not going home to 2300. For that reason, I recommend self-paced and/or online courses. I also cannot recommend CLEP tests highly enough. Study on your own, no coursework, and take a test when you are ready - BAM! 3 credits. Also, don't tru to be a hero. Take them one at a time. Slow and steady wins the race.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2019 2:06 PM

2019-07-05T14:06:09-04:00

You have to make the time, no one will care about your career more than you. You will probably only be able to take one or two classes at a time. Plan your classes around training cycles. Those high tempo events make schooling difficult. You also have military training you need to attend this stay competitive, dont put it off. Take that vacation and go to your school. I call it a vacation because you're not in charge of anyone at a school.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2019 10:30 PM

2019-07-05T22:30:41-04:00

Long hrs

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2019 1:02 PM

2019-07-06T13:02:48-04:00

SPC Elisha,

Listen to the advise below, pursue a Bachelor degree, credit hours give you promotion points.
As a junior leader in what I am assuming is a BEB you should have plenty of time. Your focus as a leader should be “taking care of your soldiers” but how do you “take care” of them? Training. That’s how. I had a BDE CSM explain that concept to me and it changed my view a lot. Yes, ensure your soldiers are well rounded individuals but as soldiers, be a brother/sister in arms not a father/mother.

Don’t be the soldier that assumes the only time they have to complete tasks (personal or Army related) is at work.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2019 1:55 AM

2019-07-07T01:55:07-04:00

Balance is key. You have to develop to develop other people. Set goals stay focused. You got this.

Response by SSG William Zopff III made Jul 10 at 2019 12:22 PM

2019-07-10T12:22:56-04:00

SPC Fakatou, I completed my bachelors degree while on active duty, was a squad leader when I started. As an NCO, You make extra time for your own development. I picked a university located at a possible future assignment. As my degree work progressed, so to did my career. During GWOT I changed jobs to a Platoon SGT, then requested an assignment as a service school instructor. Moving from Fort Campbell to Fort Sam Houston happened to become a Radiology NCO/Instructor, that desired future assignment. I had never asked for any assignments before; asking for the instructor position put me in a position to give back to the ARMY. Teaching soldiers was rewarding for me. Ultimately, my family absorbed the sacrifice of me completing my degree. Every decision we make and act on has a cost!

Response by MSG Micheal P Floyd Jr made Jul 15 at 2019 10:55 AM

2019-07-15T10:55:49-04:00

Going to school begins with Community College, and once there you progress further. Always have your C.O. sign off on this venture because it gives him/her Command over your success. Your Class schedule MUST be approved by your C.O., so keep it one day during the week and as-long-as necessary on Saturday. Online classes do help. Once success has been achieved, invite the C.O., and TOP to the graduation. Top will discuss Leadership School (for N.C.O.s) with your C.O. prior to discussing it with you. After this venture seek approval for University Studies for your Bachelor Degree (same process outlined above). After a successful academic achievement, strived to attend Advance N.C.O. Leadership School. By this time in your career “Master Sarge” will be within reach.

Response by SGM Jeff Bullard made Sep 15 at 2020 11:06 PM

2020-09-15T23:06:13-04:00

The mission first, your Soldiers Always.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Sep 16 at 2020 12:54 AM

2020-09-16T00:54:23-04:00

Biting off more than you can chew?? This is a simple question, Take 1 or 2 classes at a time. Yes, it will take longer for the degree; however, it does not interfere with your JOB--building a cohesive squad/platoon. Also, your career progression will require you good annual performance evaluations. You can do it, JUST have a plan. It took me 12 years to get a BS and during that time I had 6 PCS [Japan, California, Germany, South Carolina, Korea, and Illinois] and that did not include deployments. Good Luck.