Posted on May 15, 2015
Why don't we discuss topics that are more relevant to Junior enlisted?
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I had a Soldier reply to my last post of Junior enlisted not participating and he mande a valid point. Most on here are senior and we do not discuss many of the things they are interested in. Here is what he said when I asked what topics Junior Enlisted would like to see.
thanks for asking! SSD1, How to prepare for your first deployment, How to build better relationships with your leadership, How to understand your ERB (some doesn't even know where to find it), Soldier of the month, quarter boards, TSP how to set it and selections, How to apply for TA and when you are eligible. SFC there's a world of topics for the Junior Enlisted that are not spoken here often because most of the active users here have already passed that phase.
I believe part of RP is mentoring young Soldiers so post your comments on some of these topics and what you do.
thanks for asking! SSD1, How to prepare for your first deployment, How to build better relationships with your leadership, How to understand your ERB (some doesn't even know where to find it), Soldier of the month, quarter boards, TSP how to set it and selections, How to apply for TA and when you are eligible. SFC there's a world of topics for the Junior Enlisted that are not spoken here often because most of the active users here have already passed that phase.
I believe part of RP is mentoring young Soldiers so post your comments on some of these topics and what you do.
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 44
That is one of the reasons I started the post about different program that could lead to a commission. I thought the Junior Enlisted on this site would be interested to know all the program out there. Not much interest from the RP community.
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I took your question to heart and have started posting thought provoking questions in the lower enlisted groups. I think it's on us as leaders to reach out to "Joe", let them know we haven't forgotten where we came from, and that no question is a dumb question. I have started posting in the lower enlisted groups and have gotten some great feedback. If we are constantly "hanging out at the NCO Club" we aren't really availing ourselves to them.
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Those are all good subjects to discuss for Soldier development. But the first step to leadership is attending WLC. I would like to know why units don't prepare their Soldiers to attend WLC. Especially the Reserve and NG units. We should NEVER have to send someone home for failure of the APFT, failure to conduct D&C, failure to conduct PRT, failure of Land Navigation. These are the subjects you need to discuss with and teach your junior enlisted. We waste Millions of training dollars when we have to send them home for failure of something they could have trained on at the unit. Our job is to refine and teach LEADERSHIP skills. To often we are doing that while teaching them what they should have learned before they arrived. To often we get Soldiers that were sent simply to fill an open quota. The worst part of my day is sending Soldiers home with a refered 1059 because their unit didn't prepare them.
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Suspended Profile
I'd be more than happy to discuss these topics and speak from my experiences when I was enlisted. We, as leaders, are here to develop and mentor and this is an excellent outlet to do so. There is a vast amount of experience on RP and I hope more are on board with this.
I was junior enlisted before I became an officer...if I have an answer to an E1-E4's question, then I will answer it to the best of my limited military experience.
Look at it this way...I'm not even a SM anymore, so you can ask me all KINDS of stuff that you might not wanna ask your PL, PSG, 1SG, CO...
Look at it this way...I'm not even a SM anymore, so you can ask me all KINDS of stuff that you might not wanna ask your PL, PSG, 1SG, CO...
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My, how the Army has changed. I remember asking many of these questions myself, and in turn, my NCOs answered these questions, or even went to far as to schedule training during Sergeant's Time. Having an NCO conduct a mock SOM Board, or even better a mock Promotion Board payed huge dividends to the Soldiers trained. These were also the times where many of the other Soldier's questions were answered.
When I made SGT myself, I remembered the learning that happened during these sessions, and made a point not to wait for one of these questions to be asked by one of my Soldiers. My fellow NCOs and I made sure that we utilized training time the best we knew how. Not only did we ruck into the Land Nav Course, spent time on BRM, but also set up these mock boards, which led to some of the healthiest learning discussions I've ever seen. Topics covered the gambit of military operations and life. We were glad to pass on knowledge to our younger Solders. The Soldiers, in turn, were deeply interested to find out all the nuances of an LES, an ERB, how to use TA, and even how the TSP worked.
These training events where not only a great break from for usual ho-hum Land Nav Course, generic MOS training, SHARP or other mandatory training, but provided the Soldiers with real information to help them shape their careers. We were able to give personalized guidance and direction. The right information to the right people at the right time. That's what being leader of any rank is about. Keeping our Soldiers informed shouldn't be limited the telling them not to drink and drive every Friday at COB. We are shaping the future of the Army.
PFC Ortiz just busted us all out for forgetting that.
When I made SGT myself, I remembered the learning that happened during these sessions, and made a point not to wait for one of these questions to be asked by one of my Soldiers. My fellow NCOs and I made sure that we utilized training time the best we knew how. Not only did we ruck into the Land Nav Course, spent time on BRM, but also set up these mock boards, which led to some of the healthiest learning discussions I've ever seen. Topics covered the gambit of military operations and life. We were glad to pass on knowledge to our younger Solders. The Soldiers, in turn, were deeply interested to find out all the nuances of an LES, an ERB, how to use TA, and even how the TSP worked.
These training events where not only a great break from for usual ho-hum Land Nav Course, generic MOS training, SHARP or other mandatory training, but provided the Soldiers with real information to help them shape their careers. We were able to give personalized guidance and direction. The right information to the right people at the right time. That's what being leader of any rank is about. Keeping our Soldiers informed shouldn't be limited the telling them not to drink and drive every Friday at COB. We are shaping the future of the Army.
PFC Ortiz just busted us all out for forgetting that.
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RP is the only site I know where all ranks can talk without the issue of rank in the conversation. Junior enlisted should actively participate in discussions and start them to get the full benefit of the knowledge on here. You don't need to be high speed in order to take advantage of this site.
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I read all the posts but first: Can we stop using the term "lower enlisted". You are not lower than any other Soldier, a future Soldier, a junior Solder... Just not lower.
Answers to unasked questions (also known as unsolicited advice)
Go to the first session of required training. Once you attend the class, you know more than those who didn't go AND you are no longer on the delinquent list. Same for flu shot.
Have a pen and a notebook and write stuff down. No, your phone doesn't count.
Every cost of living raise, promotion, longevity (over two year, four years, etc) goes into saving. Plus put 10% into savings. Fund the Thrift Savings Plan.
Wear your seatbelt - always.
The time to earn promotion points is when you are a Private - Private First Class. Correspondence courses or other required training cannot be done the night before the promotion board.
"It" is not a benefit unless you use it. Education tuition assistance, medical care, taking meals at the mess hall if you aren't on separate ration, uniform and insignia issue from unit supply are all things you can pay for but are already part of your benefit package.
I'll stop here realizing these "lessons" are without context but are things I coached my Soldiers in. Remember too, when you ask the question, the person you are asking may not know the answer.
Good luck.
Answers to unasked questions (also known as unsolicited advice)
Go to the first session of required training. Once you attend the class, you know more than those who didn't go AND you are no longer on the delinquent list. Same for flu shot.
Have a pen and a notebook and write stuff down. No, your phone doesn't count.
Every cost of living raise, promotion, longevity (over two year, four years, etc) goes into saving. Plus put 10% into savings. Fund the Thrift Savings Plan.
Wear your seatbelt - always.
The time to earn promotion points is when you are a Private - Private First Class. Correspondence courses or other required training cannot be done the night before the promotion board.
"It" is not a benefit unless you use it. Education tuition assistance, medical care, taking meals at the mess hall if you aren't on separate ration, uniform and insignia issue from unit supply are all things you can pay for but are already part of your benefit package.
I'll stop here realizing these "lessons" are without context but are things I coached my Soldiers in. Remember too, when you ask the question, the person you are asking may not know the answer.
Good luck.
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The military is such a big place that some junior enlisted do not know what questions to ask. I'm sure all of you leaders have some valuable knowledge on that subject. I personally am a person that feels no shame or embarassment if I do not know something, but many junior enlisted are some times afraid to ask, for fear of looking "dumb" or weak, or worse yet, by asking their question, they might harm their fellow junior enlisted.
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I don't want to sound callous but I always tell my Soldiers that a closed mouth will not get fed. RP is another tool to put in your ruck. You can only get out of it what you put in to it. You have the ear of many senior leaders. Don't be afraid to ask a question that you may benefit from the information being put out here.
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