Posted on Apr 3, 2016
SGT Kristin Wiley
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"Successfully completed all SFL-TAP courses" doesn't sound like a great NCOER bullet. So I'm looking for any recommendations for how to write bullets during an NCO's transition period from Active Duty. Activities during this time included reintegration into the unit after a 6-month TDY, holiday stand-down, unit reorganization, leave, and transition.
Posted in these groups: 1efa5058 NCOERMilitary civilian 600x338 TransitionArmysgt SGTArmyssg SSG
Edited >1 y ago
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LTC Psychological Operations Officer
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"Displayed all of the characteristics of a short timer to the highest degree. "

"Consistently demonstrated the work ethic of a one month left NCO while still five months out"

"Transitioned so well that most in unit never realized he returned from 6 month TDY in the first place".

;)
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LTC Psychological Operations Officer
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SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas - thanks. But I just changed some phrases from my retirement OER from officer to NCO, so I really can't take any credit.
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SGT Kristin Wiley
SGT Kristin Wiley
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LTC (Join to see) Funny, but I hope I'm never the NCO that receives those comments.
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LTC Psychological Operations Officer
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SGT Kristin Wiley i'm just wondering if the transition process is as time consuming and long as you described, if the NCO can really be considered to be performing his duty position during that time. You know the way job descriptions say "responsible for blah, blah, blah..." ; was he actually still responsible for any work product or supervisory duties during this time? Or was he essentially considered out of the job and transitioning?

The reason I ask is that if he wasn't actually responsible for any of the job duties listed on the NCOER, than maybe the transition period should/could be considered nonrated time. I have no idea if the reg addresses that, but it sounds like you are basically trying to write an NCOER for a NCO whose only duty is outprocessing. If he performed no work under his official job title and responsibilities, then it seems odd to rate him as such during transition.
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SGT Kristin Wiley
SGT Kristin Wiley
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The primary responsibility was transitioning, not out-processing. Out-processing is completed near the end of the transition process. Transitioning itself is a very time-consuming process that's supposed to be started 12 months out. In this case, it wasn't started until 5 months out due to mission requirements. Combine that with the unit reorganization, holidays, and leave, and that leaves less than 3 months to complete the transition process. Once most of the transition requirements have been completed, the SM can request to start out-processing.
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LTC Psychological Operations Officer
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SGT Kristin Wiley - sorry, then, I can't offer any advice. The current system of transitioning appears to be way more involved then anything in my frame of reference from long ago. I can't even imagine a soldier being told 6 months before his ETS that his primary responsibility is to get ready to be a civilian. Does someones replacement show up 6 months earlier than the soldiers departure date so that someone is doing his job while he is transitioning fulltime? If a soldier is completely relieved of their job responsibilities months ahead of time, then it seems like they should get a change of duty NCOER that completes his time as an analyst or whatever his job is. Then if his sole responsibility is transitioning he could get an NCOER for that "duty".

But as I said, I'm afraid I can't really grasp the concept of a soldier being allowed to be "short" officially for six months with no job responsibilities, so I got nothing.
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SGT Kristin Wiley
SGT Kristin Wiley
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LTC (Join to see) It's their primary duty, because the requirements are federally mandated. The transition program is a commander's program, and the chain of command can get in a lot of heat if the soldier isn't given time to complete the requirements. Some requirements are unique to the soldier and take longer to complete. (ie. medical, VA claims process, etc.). The soldier won't have the support system once they transition out, so as part of the effort to set soldiers up for success, reduce Veteran unemployment/suicides, etc, by ensuring soldiers have the skills to find employment, and understand the resources available to them prior to leaving the service. We are also 45 minutes away from the nearest base with a transition center. I imagine if we were closer it wouldn't require as much time. From what I understand, they are changing the program so there's career milestones that are completed throughout several years of service, rather than a lump sum prior to leaving. This will likely help streamline the process.
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MSG Special Forces Senior Sergeant
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SGT Kristin Wiley - very impressed with your conceptual understanding of this process, most senior soldiers have no clue. And yes as you have stated in one of your posts the percentages are briefed monthly to the garrison CDR and the lack of participation is always discussed.
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CPL Jay Strickland
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How is he preparing his team ? Is his senior junior enlisted ready and prepared to take a leadership role ? Is he training his replacement NCO ? If so how well ? Is he still sending his soldiers to the boards ? IS he making sure his soldiers can go to college ? or take optional training ? There are items an ETSing NCO can do that just get by and things they can do to excel. Encourage him to excel so when he leaves the team benefits and there is minimal hiccups in the change of responsibility.
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SGT Kristin Wiley
SGT Kristin Wiley
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CPL Jay Strickland Those are good suggestions if we were in a typical unit. There are no junior enlisted, the replacement got a DUI upon arrival and lost his clearance so there's no train-up that can be done. The rest of those things will be mentioned, but I'd rather not have cliche bullets that essentially state an NCO did what an NCO is supposed to do. I would like to write measurable comments, but I don't know how to phrase them specifically for these transition activities.
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SSG Paul Headlee
SSG Paul Headlee
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Nice answer!
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SSG Paul Headlee
SSG Paul Headlee
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SGT Kristin Wiley Is this guy about to PCS or ETS? If the latter, nobody out here in The World cares. I can personally vouch for that. If he's staying, well the onus is on him. I would be looking to max my p.t. test; shoot expert as a tag-along when another unit qualifies; enroll in college; work community service projects like Special Olympics, area beautification, volunteer at a nursing home; find and help a veteran in need, etc. There's a lot of things he can do to help his own situation. Its nice of you to show concern but its his responsibility to excel.
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