Where can I find ideas or input on creating a Professional Development Program for my unit (I must reach two levels down from 1SG)?

SGT Joseph Gunderson - This attitude needs to become more of the rule rather than the exception. In my former (Army) life our company frequently experienced difficulty finding a PSG that met all the requirements (valid and current flight physical, correct rank to fill the vacant slot [E7], appropriate schooling and experience to lead in an Air Assault company, etc.) This meant that our 2 E6 Sect. Sgts. (both outstanding leaders with diverse Army experience outside of Aviation) frequently had to step up and take on PSG roles. What did that mean for all of us E5 crew dogs? You guessed it. The bright side is that an Air Assault flight company is likely to be heavy on the E5 side. The dark side is that not all of those E5s are NCOs.

Without getting into this for months, the situation become more complicated when the 1SG was "excused". At this point, the one steady E7 PSG (AGR Readiness NCO) had to do double duty as PSG and 1SG. Couple that with a few detachments that had (at times) less than stellar leadership and it was a rough period for a while. It separated the men from the boys (proud to say I was a "man" for a bit).

A big part of the issue with Guard Army Aviation is balancing the mission with professional development requirements. For example, ALC and SLC are both 4 phases long. Very rarely were we able to send people both to school and annual training. This stunts the growth of the unit overall. Funding was/is often a huge issue, but so was SMs not understanding their responsibilities as flight crew members (fly, progress, learn, HAVE A FREAKING VALID FLIGHT PHYSICAL).

The folks who were always ready for missions and proficient at their tasks were also the ones who needed NCOES, etc. Seems like we were shorthanded for awhile (and they still are, I keep up with them on a near daily basis). The NCOES backlog is what has prevented the company from having a 1SG for over a year now. And many of the turds who do find a way to get to an NCOES don't have the ability to lead soldiers effectively.

Ehhhh....I could go for days...

Yeah. I believe it really falls on the individual NCOs to take up the helm before and after and in the absence of NCOESs. Really, the NCOES should only matter on paper to me. I think that a soldier should be able to function perfectly throughout their career with actually ever attending an NCOES.

I had a young Sgt take me under his wing as a private. He taught me everything he knew and then some. That inspired my whole 30 yr career taking those junior to me as well as junior officers and teaching them everything I know and taking the time to listen and learn from them as well.

Absolutely. All NCIs should use their experience to develop our subordinates