What are you doing for Sergeant's Time training?

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:27:54 -0400

I remember Sergeant's Time training meant getting off early in some units.

Are units conducting good enough training?
What do you do during this time?
Are we testing our Soldiers on their WTBD?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 11:30 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:30:03 -0400

This is a time to provide mentoring. WIth younger troops Ill talk about finances and the importance of completing their initial qual training. For my NCOs Ill drill education as well as enforcing standards. The topics range to whatever I fell is pertinent at the time.

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Mar 18 at 2014 11:43 AM

1SG Shane Hansen — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 11:43:01 -0400

Not good enough in the units I have been in over the past 18 years, but that is because we should always be looking for ways to improve, especially when training our young Soldiers.

I have my Soldiers train basic warrior tasks, specific METL tasks, general professionally/personally developing topics (e.g. finance basics, mutual funds, TSP and SDP) and also MOS specific tasks. Sometimes I have them get creative and do combination training. For instance, during downed aircraft recovery, we can incorporate basic warrior tasks such as establishing security, selecting a hasty fighting position, and also MOS tasks that deal with the specifics of recovery or repairing the downed aircraft. Sometimes you just have to get creative.

I will not let testing for WT&BD happen during STT, only training on WT&BD. Testing is and should be kept a separate event on the calendar in my opinion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 12:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:30:46 -0400

All day everyday

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 12:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:38:30 -0400

Working in TRADOC, I can't say that I have actually seen a SGT's time training in the past few years. I do miss it, but I guess when you are dealing with AIT Soldiers all the time, and they are already going through their own training, it negates the need for SGT's time. Maybe I'll see it again in the near future when I PCS!

Response by SGT James Elphick made Mar 18 at 2014 2:59 PM

SGT James Elphick — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 14:59:58 -0400

I don't know if this is still the case but when I was in the 82nd Airborne, Sergeants Time was banned because too much buffoonery had been conducted in the name of training. Not sure if it ever came back but from 03-05 we never had it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 8:39 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 20:39:23 -0400

Actually SFC Latimer I have not seen much STT or NCOPD being done at all in our operational units. In fact I think it's more of a tongue in cheek event. I hear talk about STT and I've seen it on the training calendar as well as DTMS but I have rarely seen it executed. I hold the BN CSM and 1SGs responsible for this. I plan to hold my 1SG responsible for my company's STT and NCOPD. Both of these are great training tools they are not being executed. Hopefully our return to Garrison and the push for the Army Profession will change all this.