Why are online classes now required for promotion?

2013-12-16T21:45:05-05:00

When did the Army stop promoting people based on their knowledge of their field, and competence as a leader and teacher- and instead base career move decisions on who can afford a stable high speed home internet connection and has enough free time to deal with doing stupid online classes?
Sitting in front of a computer screen long enough to pass SSD by virtue of running out of wrong answers shouldn't be an apt measurement of your ability to perform as an NCO....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2013 9:48 PM

2013-12-16T21:48:51-05:00

When Soldiers stopped being part of the NCOER. and Bean counting and Numbers defined excellence.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Dec 16 at 2013 10:17 PM

2013-12-16T22:17:01-05:00

The Army stopped promoting Soldiers based on their knowledge of the job in the early 90s (SQT).

Are you not afforded time in the duty day and use of government computers to complete SOME of your SSD?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2013 11:34 PM

2013-12-16T23:34:41-05:00

SSD 1 doesn't require a high speed connection. I started SSD 1 in 2011 while I was still in AIT. I invested $20 on a CAC reader and did it a few hours at a time from my own computer.

The course is useful and contains a lot of good information. Also, for those who procrastinated until the 11th hour, I'd say it is a good measurement of their ability to perform as an NCO.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 17 at 2013 1:16 AM

2013-12-17T01:16:16-05:00

Just because SSD1/3/4 have become requirements for promotion (and in my unit, SSD1 for board attendance) does not mean the system has been degraded in any way. SSD1 can be completed in roughly 7/8 hours, so 'not having time' is not an excuse. I think with the way the Army is moving towards being so reliant on Distance Learning courses, it is understandable.

Now, I completely understand what you're saying about 'running out of wrong answers', and yeah, 90% of soldiers cheat their way through SSD anyway - but I can definitely tell the difference between a PFC who's done SSD1 and one who hasn't. A lower enlisted soldier who takes his personal time and puts it towards professional development shows me a will to learn and a desire to be promoted.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 6:30 AM

2013-12-18T06:30:48-05:00

I look at it as similar to college half the classes you take have nothing to do with your degree and their explanation is it makes you a more well rounded individual. Many of the courses on skillport will provide soldiers with new ways of looking at different things as simple as email etiquette to how adapt your leadership style..

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2013 9:17 AM

2013-12-18T09:17:06-05:00

As much as we complain about the SSD's and the broken technology system they run on, is it really such a bad thing to require it for promotion? Is it bad to have a soldier take time to learn some things about the Army Organization?

I completed SSD1 even though I didn't have to, while I found the platform it ran on annoying I thought it was relatively good information being taught. Take from the training what you will, but I think that the Structured Self-Development program is worth it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2013 8:24 AM

2013-12-19T08:24:51-05:00

The SSD courses are great if you need a refresher course on things you had forgotten about how to do your job but they shouldn't be worth anything. The whole promotion point system is a sore subject with me because it too is abused. I have seen manipulated APFT cards, weapons quals, tape tests etc.... The SSD courses are no different than the ACCPs and the discs with the answers to the SSDs are already floating around so why should you get promoted for cheating? It's bad enough people get points for college education that they bought online. I would be willing to bet that if I sat and investigated Personnel records I could rescind the rank on half of the Army.