When you're the NCO of a different MOS, do you ever feel like your expectations are too high, compared to someone in the same MOS as you?

2016-10-15T14:05:42-04:00

So my specific situation is as a 35T we are expected to have a very broad knowledge base. Imagine the 25 series in one MOS (35T used to be the 33 series). So having a 35T straight out of AIT I almost expect them to pick up a TM and get to work and ask questions as they go. But working in an S6 we have a bunch of 25's that needed their hand held as they did a task. Anyone else have a similar story?

Response by SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM made Oct 15 at 2016 2:11 PM

2016-10-15T14:11:49-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member -Not trying to be the grammar police, however you did mean "you're (you are)" right? No offense, its just the OCD in me. Moving forward to answer your question: Regardless of what MOS capacity you perform in, it could never hurt to have at least a surface knowledge of the MOS's that you work side by side with. Nonetheless, it serves as a dual benefit as you learn from your partnership MOS in which they in turn learn from you. I wouldn't harp on too bad, master your craft first.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 2:13 PM

2016-10-15T14:13:16-04:00

I feel high expectations and high standards bring about better results. The problems we face in today's military are rarely because the standards and expectations are too high - rather it's because the standards are not high enough and the expectations are not properly communicated. A good leader can set the standard for his troops, express their expectations in an effective manner, and bring about an excellent quality result.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 2:18 PM

2016-10-15T14:18:29-04:00

25U's get the same treatment. I've gone from EOD to ADA to Infantry. As good logisticians like SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM stated, it always helps to understand other MOS's. Many aren't taught important skills during AIT. That's where the Leaders come in. Lead.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2016 2:18 PM

2016-10-15T14:18:48-04:00

Marines don't have that problem, expectations are the same for all!

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Oct 15 at 2016 2:23 PM

2016-10-15T14:23:44-04:00

A good quote is, "There is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals." The point being that not everyone is at the same state of development and some may gravitate to one job or another based on where they are at, or may have been trained to be more or less reliant on direct instruction. If you expect all your people to come in at the same development level and need the same things, you will be in for a rough ride.

An interesting concept to look into is situational leadership. In that, you take a look at your people, evaluate where they are developmentally and use a leadership style appropriate to that situation. An important thing to remember is a soldier may require one type of leadership in one situation and a completely different one in another. It's always easier when you have a bunch of knowledgeable, motivated self starters but that isn't usually the reality you have to work anywhere where junior resources come into play, sometimes senior ones too.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Oct 15 at 2016 8:51 PM

2016-10-15T20:51:48-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, be the NCO that the rank makes you. Your expectations are way out of proportion. Definitely use this as a learning experience. I am sure that you believe that you understand what an S-6 section consist of and what they are supposed to do, but you do not. First are the jobs of a 35T and a 25U similar, in theory and in most practice, yes they are. But, and that is a very big but, how many weeks of training does each MOS get? AIT for 25U is 16 weeks, and for a 35T it is 42 weeks (26 weeks longer), to learn about the same amount of equivalent information. Seems a bit lopsided to me, to have the same expectations for those individuals coming out of AIT.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2016 4:01 AM

2016-10-16T04:01:59-04:00

Higher expectation of standards breeds competition which breeds soldier to motivate and want to better themselves but that's just me.