White space on the training calendar, how have you got after this in your unit?

MSG Bobby Ewing — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 03:22:23 -0500

With so much going on nowadays with mandatory training, mandatory stand downs, higher HQs training objectives/priorities, I was wondering how other Commanders/CSMs/1SGs/Det SGTs are attacking this issue. One idea that my commander and I try to use is back up or alternate planning. We project for training on 2 separate days, but fairly close to each other on the calendar. It has help in the past few months but I would like to know from the force, what other measures you all are taking or have taken to get after this?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2013 6:31 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 06:31:59 -0500

What is this "white space" you speak of?

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Dec 16 at 2013 4:37 AM

CSM Mike Maynard — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 04:37:08 -0500

Are you saying there should be no white space? If that's the case, I would disagree.

It's ok to have white space. Things happen and you need time to take care of those things - you can't anticipate everything. That's why we have hip-pocket training - to fill in the white space when it does occur.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2013 2:35 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 14:35:09 -0500

Like CSM stated - it's ok to have "some" white space in DTMS (or whatever training management you're utilizing). For the moments when you feel as if you have "to much" white space - that's where you can be creative and be resourceful. Being Civil Affairs - I schedule "Key Leader Engagements" with local city leadership, emergency management agency directors, local Non-Governmental Organizations; cultural seminars, etc..., because it ties into what we do as Civil Affairs. You can apply that mentality to any MOS in the Army - just as long as you can give a valid purpose to your higher and relate it to your MOS and mission.

In the end, I think Soldiers will appreciate training more, if it's not always the cut and dry mandatory "Army" training that becomes mundane. Between my Team Sergeant and myself - we go out of our way to make training interesting, just as long as we can brief on how it supports our BDE's training guidance.

Response by MSG Bobby Ewing made Dec 16 at 2013 3:12 PM

MSG Bobby Ewing — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 15:12:36 -0500

To all who have responded, I think I worded my question wrong. I understand the importance of white space. The problem is, it seems to go rather quickly these days. Even when you plan 3 - 6 months out, the white space you selected has a high probability of being taken by higher HQs due to another training initiative, event, or changes that trumps a company/detachment level event. What would you advice to minimize this happening in your units? My commander and I have slotted our primary dates and alternate dates. If something comes up after planning was done, we make our alternate date our new primary so we can continue on with the our initiative. Please let me know if you are still unsure as to what I'm trying to ask. Thanks for all the feedback. I really enjoy this website.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2014 10:47 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:47:35 -0400

Portray the Troop Leading Procedures and the 8-step training model on your calendar. We TALK about this a LOT...but where is it? Where is the detailed planning on the calendar? Where is the RECON on the calendar? Where is the AAR and the retraining on the calendar? With only 4 significant training events on the calendar per month (~1 per week), your days get crammed with the 8 step training model described in ADRP 7-0. I won't even bring up the pain associated with inputting all this into DTMS, but once it's input as a training event, it's just a matter of using the drop down menus to speed up the process. When you pull the string of that one training event to the left and right a little bit, that white space becomes...black space. That's the term we use. There is no white space...it's black space. There is no free time, only time where we are preparing for or recovering from a training event. Also not going to go into a huge diatribe about last minute taskings, but it's worth mentioning a little. Over the last 6 months, I have had my S3 shop create a chart which tracks how long we have until a tasking is executed (from the date given to us). Low and behold, the majority of them happen within 2-4 weeks (~88% of them). That means the white space you thought you had gets filled quickly at the Corps, Division and Brigade level. Those need to go into a "locked" DTMS training calendar ON TOP OF the other training, which...if someone is paying attention, they should see as a conflict when reviewing DTMS training calendars.