What professional guidance can I provide to junior enlisted to help them grow?

SGT(P) Christopher Poole — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 08:47:09 -0400

Good morning everyone,

I’ve been trying to figure out ways, trainings, programs, etc, that I can share with the new soldiers/peers within my unit/section. For their personal and career progression in their contract.

For the few years that I’ve served, The work load/gained work experience (within my section as a 91D/91C) has been significantly low.

So far I’ve provided the soldiers with tools regarding to working on college courses, ways to build up promotion points & to seek other fields of interest for their next life decision (whether its ETS of PCS).

What other guidance/advice can I give them?

Thanks in advance.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jul 16 at 2020 9:29 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 09:29:44 -0400

You should research what they provide during in processing and expand on that. They should cover college, and some self development opportunities. You mention that MOS wise things are a little slow. Take that opportunity (with supervisory approval) to bring them up to speed in unit SOP’s advancements in your field, etc.

Response by Sgt Jordan Foster made Jul 16 at 2020 11:56 AM

Sgt Jordan Foster — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:56:11 -0400

You seem to be doing good. If you want a bunch of help from people that don’t understand know you come here. You are the only one walking in the shoes rite now and you seem to be doing a good job! Just keep it up and if your really pressed on how to help juniors.. set up an NCO PME or E-4 pme and talk about weakness and strengths and how you can get better. We don’t know you or see how you lead you will give yourself the best answer to this question. But best advice I can give is care about your juniors but don’t lose site of your own promotions helping others.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2020 12:29 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 12:29:05 -0400

Love me books!
If you don't have one, build one.
Getting them while they're young is ideal for Love me book creation. It makes preparing for the admin side of promotion boards straight forward and can highlight areas in your career that you might be lacking in.

Response by MSG Lance Kelly made Jul 16 at 2020 12:34 PM

MSG Lance Kelly — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 12:34:11 -0400

Look at your career and experiences to see what you have learned and where you would like to have seen someone teach you. Professional development such as correspondence courses and civilian education are big. Learning SOPs and other office procedures is important. Then look at leadership. In my career I have been disappointed many times by leaders who were simply promoted because they had the points but showed no real leadership quality. Teach them how to lead training related to your MOS and basic Soldiering skills. Teach them how to counsel by conducting various simulated positive and negative counseling session. Teach them about the UCMJ. Seek the help of other leaders around you within and outside of your MOS for ideas or training plans. In basic training we were given a "smart book" and any down time we were told to conduct hip pocket training. Think that way. What should they know? What do you want them to know? Do they know the chain of command or the structure of the command? Give them a scenario and see how they would handle it. Be a leader they trust and want to learn from.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jul 16 at 2020 12:49 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 12:49:54 -0400

SGT(P) Christopher Poole: Dear Christopher, if I may, indeed, address you by your first name: when I was a Squad Leader; in the Army; during an IG (Inspector General's Inspection); I stayed up for the last half hour; and, I buffed the hallway floor; in the Barracks. I did this so my Squad members could sleep a little while longer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2020 1:07 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 13:07:55 -0400

You can lead a horse to water.

Make sure YOU at the very least are keeping track of your efforts to help mentor other soldiers. So you get credit yourself for awards or promotions.

So many things are out there for jr enlisted it’s always being put right in their face but few take advantage of it.

The majority of my AIT class passed up the opportunity for 20 college units from the local community college just for completing 35F school. The only catch was a $50 fee.

Just make sure YOU aren’t bending over backwards for nothing.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2020 1:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 13:47:40 -0400

Force them to enroll in college and complete one class. Collegeore than anything else will provide the most long term benefit both in the Army and after. The Army will ensure they learn the technical and tactical skills necessary for their rank and as your rank increases those become less important. Just like your motorpool NCOIC can still get out and turn a wrench, but they don't because they have a more important skill set.

College education teaches time management skills and study habits which will help them learn new skills in the future. College educated Soldiers get promoted faster. College educated people make more money, live longer and with better quality of life, and make more healthy life decisions than uneducated people.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 17 at 2020 11:44 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:44:37 -0400

Cross train them.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2020 1:20 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 13:20:47 -0400

First, I like to commend you for having the mentality and being intentional about professional and personal developments for your Soldiers. Key is to start a dialogue with regular counseling to establish a running estimate on goals and milestones (professional & personal). Then really is about setting priorities, follow-up, and follow through. One will find that the more you do this the more focus areas will come up. It will be a very rewarding experience when you and your subordinates are both being developed from the process.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2020 10:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 22:32:34 -0400

Have you shown them the Army Career Tracker or the Army COOL website? Both of these website a wealth of knowledge that is often over looked and under utilized. Many are just ignorant to the amount of info that’s actually on these website because no one talks about these sites. They’ll be perfect for providing your Soldiers with direction and professional growth. It may even open your eyes to opportunities you didn’t even know existed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2021 1:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 13:35:09 -0500

Hey Battle it’s great to see leaders work to improve their younger joes careers. Here is my advice education and not just college or universities, any and all education. Especially financial education. Learn to use the benefits you earned so many to gain advantages over their civilian counterparts. Stay in constant communication back in their hometowns networks are more powerful than a college degree. Lastly don’t get out stay until you retire unless you have a full proof plan to make it out here.