Posted on Jan 11, 2014
How do you break up the monotony of routine activities?
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As Leaders it is our duty to provide purpose, direction and motivation to our troops. There are certain tasks that our troops look forward to. (obstacle course, crew served weapons ect), however there are other tasks that soldiers dread. These tend to be the more routine activities (PMCS, PRT, uniform inspections). How do you innovate these activities and get full effort from your subordinates?
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Innovation
Posted >1 y ago
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You need to think outside of the box SSG Love. Tie those "routine" events to something your Soldiers will see as beneficial to them. What I mean by that is something like giving a half day off to the Soldier who stands out at your next uniform inspection. Rotate your Soldiers through leading PRT. Allow them to pick a "sport" to play maybe once every two weeks (after proper warm-up and finishing with proper cool down of course). Compete against another squad or section during motor stables. Events like a truck push, or who can change a tire in the fastest time, etc. Be innovative, be creative.
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1SG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see), 1SG Steven Stankovich has given you some great ideas to work with. I was also thinking that at PT time, if you have four sections in your Platoon, break them off one day a week for Squad PT and rotating "all" of your soldiers thru leading PT. It's never to soon for them to begin learning "how to lead". Will get them thru the nervousness of being outfront a lot sooner than some of there counterparts in other platoons.
Get their input when you're planning training. When Soldiers have a "vested" interest in what is going on, they tend to put out a little more. From time to time have one of them conduct inspections, with you to their left to ensure the learning atmosphere and intent is still there and not BS.
Rotate from time to time letting one of them be in charge for the day. And then if you have a 1SG or CSM willing to go along, have them pop in to evaluate training and have him be the one who has to answer their questions and concerns and explain what is being done, why it's being done, what is the standard and training objective to be accomplished.
Don't get me started on PT, I have said enough about unit PT programs (non existant) yet we hold Soldiers individually accontable/responsible when they fail or barely pass their APFT, when 99% of the time, scores are a reflection of the Unit's Program or lack of a viable challenging program. Figure out the Platoon/Section Average of all PT scores. Once you have that, then comes the challenge to all to improve it. Challenge them to come up with Plans and exercises that will improve the Plt PT average. Doing warm up exercises, run, and cool down, is not a PT Program that challenges anyone, except the lazy! There are so many directions to take that one and the one that comes to mind is UP!
If your leadership is innovative in it's thinking....you guys can only go up in many areas! Good luck! Would like to hear back on some of the things you and your Soldiers come up with. If it works...share with your other Platoons.
Get their input when you're planning training. When Soldiers have a "vested" interest in what is going on, they tend to put out a little more. From time to time have one of them conduct inspections, with you to their left to ensure the learning atmosphere and intent is still there and not BS.
Rotate from time to time letting one of them be in charge for the day. And then if you have a 1SG or CSM willing to go along, have them pop in to evaluate training and have him be the one who has to answer their questions and concerns and explain what is being done, why it's being done, what is the standard and training objective to be accomplished.
Don't get me started on PT, I have said enough about unit PT programs (non existant) yet we hold Soldiers individually accontable/responsible when they fail or barely pass their APFT, when 99% of the time, scores are a reflection of the Unit's Program or lack of a viable challenging program. Figure out the Platoon/Section Average of all PT scores. Once you have that, then comes the challenge to all to improve it. Challenge them to come up with Plans and exercises that will improve the Plt PT average. Doing warm up exercises, run, and cool down, is not a PT Program that challenges anyone, except the lazy! There are so many directions to take that one and the one that comes to mind is UP!
If your leadership is innovative in it's thinking....you guys can only go up in many areas! Good luck! Would like to hear back on some of the things you and your Soldiers come up with. If it works...share with your other Platoons.
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Don't let them become routine. Routine breeds complacency and that will kill more Soldiers than any enemy force.
As a leader you should know your Soldiers well enough to know what motivates them and what their "currency" is. Make PMCS interesting, have a predesigned flaw on each vehicle they must find, buy lunch for the first team to get 100%. With the OK from platoon leadership, give time off after uniform inspections are complete and everyone in your squad/team/section gets a 100% GO. Focus on 100%, it is not unattainable. Make them own it as a team, not just as individuals.
As a leader you should know your Soldiers well enough to know what motivates them and what their "currency" is. Make PMCS interesting, have a predesigned flaw on each vehicle they must find, buy lunch for the first team to get 100%. With the OK from platoon leadership, give time off after uniform inspections are complete and everyone in your squad/team/section gets a 100% GO. Focus on 100%, it is not unattainable. Make them own it as a team, not just as individuals.
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For my current job its kind of hard to do but we will go run at the National Infantry Museum in civies just to mix it up. Other than that it is hard to change it up
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SFC (Join to see)
I understand what you mean SSG Zelbst, I ffind myself in the same boat. As an AIT instructor the training schedule is not very flexible. I love the ideas mentioned above but there are definitely certain assignments that are more challenging to areas where breaking the mold is acceptable. I believe it is in those circumstances were finding those areas are even more rewarding for both leaders and troops.
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