What would you do to improve professional military education (PME)?

2015-06-24T08:56:18-04:00

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 9:06 AM

2015-06-24T09:06:48-04:00

From a financial point I would recommend just going pure correspondence.

If we are going to continue in residence we need to add more history, customs, and culture. To much is being lost and it shows in the attitudes of the newer generations of Airmen. We have moved to far away from the time when being an NCO was considered a profession and not a job.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 24 at 2015 9:16 AM

2015-06-24T09:16:12-04:00

I've actually been giving this A LOT of thought over the last few weeks.

It's my belief that at the end of our initial service (approximately 4 years), and completing the associated PME (usually NCO and equivalent Officer level), the service member should have the requisite "credits" for a College Level degree. I'll focus on the enlisted side for a moment, because it is easier to explain, but I "believe" that the Officer side would scale as well.

It takes 60~ Credits to get an AA/AS/AAS and 120~ for a BA/BS. That includes all general education level credits. Over the course of 4~ years, our PME should provide enough ACE qualifying courses to provide a Degree in "Leadership" or at least a Focus/Major in "Leadership" when the requisite general education credits are attained (Math, English, etc).

As a Marine, I was required to take courses like Fundamentals of Marine Corps Leadership, Corporals Course, Sergeants Course, SNCO Course, among others. I believe the Army and other branches have similar level PME, just named other things. Why can't these courses be accredited by ACE and appear on our JST? (I believe many are now).

We also have the Marine Corps University, and there are other University level courses out there offering programs in such things like Information Management, or even the Service Academies. We have entire Commands dedicated to Training & EDUCATION. Let's put our money where our mouth is, and actually generate certificates, and diplomas.

The student would still need to prove things like Technical Writing (often covered by an MOS School, or a DANTES), basic writing (Covered by a CLEP or a college course), and would have to apply to a college to get a degree, but... if we make it easy to get a degree because we are sending them to schools that are actively giving them one... maybe, just maybe we'll have more people take advantage of it.

Response by Jordan Gaudard made Jun 24 at 2015 10:29 AM

2015-06-24T10:29:25-04:00

Take away computer based training! I may be speaking for myself, but no one wants to do it, and I think you retain less off computer based classes. You learn the questions and answers, not the material. We have plenty of CBTs anyway, with the yearly mandatory training and then jr enlisted have CBTs to get promotion points. If it is important for me to know as a leader, then it is important enough to put in a professional military school that I sit in a classroom with an instructor.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 10:48 AM

2015-06-24T10:48:29-04:00

I would make all Airmen attend ALS (in residence) for starters. I saw those that came back actually grew from their training and experience. Whereas I never saw that with the ones (including me) that did it through correspondence.

1. Our History is a big part of our legacy, but unless it has some relevance on leadership keep the history lesson to a day or two.
2. Ensure the students truly understand the supervisory process and how they fit in the Enlisted Force Structure. Then, make them understand the next level.
3. Turn EPME into Joint Schools between the Services. WE can learn a lot from our Sister Services and they can learn a lot from us. And if this cannot happen, at least force All Air Force Personnel to attend USMC and Army NCO Courses.
4. Let it be less about Honor Graduates and more about teaching how to be supervisors and managers
5. Teach both Management and Supervisory Skills
6. Allow Fortune 500 Company CEO’s, CFO’s, and HR Managers to come in and explain their leadership skills and how they manage.
7. Do away with the Correspondence Courses and make all personnel attend in residence.
8. Make NCO Development Courses be a requirement to attend NCOA and SNCOA.

Lastly, Make it cheaper to attend.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 24 at 2015 11:00 AM

2015-06-24T11:00:43-04:00

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member Good Question. I can think of several things.

1. (For the Army) we need to get back to basics, of Garrison Leadership. Much of how the Army Runs, and what leaders do when not in combat was stripped from the POIs, after 911, to ensure all the necessary and emerging issues and combat skills, TTPs, and lessons learned were covered. So, we dropped things like counseling, inspections, supply management, training management, maintenance, readiness etc... And some courses, like PLC (PLDC/PNCOC) were shortened to ensure all the leaders who needed could get through. Leaders need to be tactically sound, but they also need to be able to operate in the Garrison in order to be ready for the next operation. I believe this is underway.

2. I actually think Distance Learning (DL) has a place to cover general topics and background before one shows up for class. But going to PME is a essential, as in my view you best learning comes from your interactions with your peers in small groups. Straight DL is not good for PME.

3. Last, for the Army, on the Officer Side, I believe the courses (tiers are) are good, and at the Major and LTC level we intermingle with the other branches; so, all must be similar. But, I believe for MAJ school (CGSC/ILE) we need to go back to a selection board (like SSC, the war college) vs. everyone goes. As you rise through the ranks, I think selections for key schools is the right thing, and those selections are then tied to who is still competitive for promotions. For, the Army, in my window (95/96) the selection rate for CGSC was 50%. That meant, effectively, that if you did not get selected you were at risk of getting promoted, staying for 20, and would in likely hood never command a battalion. Those who were selected, were considered the chosen ones, and went from school to Battalion S-3 and XO jobs. And, unless they screwed up were likely going to be LTCs, and were the pool from where Battalion Commander selection was made. I think we screwed up when we went to universal ILE (everyone goes), and I believe we are back, or getting back to selection based schooling.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Jun 24 at 2015 12:36 PM

2015-06-24T12:36:06-04:00

All schools need to be in residence. Putting your young SrA in the barracks with their peers is a must if you want bonding and real involvement with their peers. I also like the ideas of joint service leadership courses.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Jun 24 at 2015 12:39 PM

2015-06-24T12:39:37-04:00

As for NCOA, get rid of all the Commandant's Time and streamline guest speakers. I went to NCOA at Lackland and we had too much wasted time between seemingly random speakers and unnecessary drill, two things that don't further leadership fundamentals IMO.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Jun 24 at 2015 12:46 PM

2015-06-24T12:46:36-04:00

Students can learn the courses, by directed self-study as "pre-reqs" - but in residence PME should be a setting where future leaders can work with peer groups as well as senior mentors and develop the interpersonal leadership skills they will be required to obtain in order to implement the vision/intent of the academic education.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jun 25 at 2015 11:34 AM

2015-06-25T11:34:44-04:00

I'd leverage distance-learning technology to cover foundational knowledge, and then use the face-to-face portions to cover interactive, group-related activities that build higher-level competencies. And, I think every service member should get the opportunity to focus on their learning by attending a resident course. They should not have to multi-task by taking entire courses online, through correspondence, or whatever, while also serving in full-time positions. Allow the service members to immerse themselves in the learning environment, rather than having to fit it around their job. I realize the rea$on it i$ done thi$ way, but it's suboptimal.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 9:19 PM

2015-06-25T21:19:14-04:00

Make it applicable for certain professions. I realize brig in charge of military forces outside of the 46F/N realm is pretty darn slim and it is a struggle to attend ACSC as it has everything to do with nothing that I do for a living.
I understand the relevance of military education and strategy but wish that there was something I could relate to.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2015 1:37 PM

2015-10-13T13:37:03-04:00

Eliminate the duplication and redundancy of course content. There is so much to learn and we just keep focusing on the same narrow topics. PME is supposed to introduce the concentric circles of tactical, operational and strategic...but it really just ends up being a repeat of the same topics...tactically, operationally and strategically. I understand its an indicator of what the highers believe is essential information...and not much has changed in thinking in the last 17 years of my PME journey. Too bad, because a lot has actually changed!