Should the New Instructor Badge use previous NCOA Certifications to further back date the Award

MSG Michael Shannon — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 10:17:48 -0400

MILPER MESSAGE 14-058, ARMY INSTRUCTOR BADGES, ISSUED: [04 MAR 14] at https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC-134985

Response by SFC James Baber made Mar 9 at 2014 10:53 AM

SFC James Baber — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 10:53:16 -0400

I think that would be a fair thing for those that have contributed to and did their jobs and received the recognition prior to the new badges being created and awarded.

I am also expecting the detractors who say we already have enough wearable badges already, but those that came before as teachers of our new forces never really had a way to show their contributions until now.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 9 at 2014 11:14 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 11:14:35 -0400

The Armor School had an Instructor Badge system when I arrived at TRADOC in 2006 and had been in use for a few years already...initially it was a 2-tiered system, with a silver badge denoting a normal instructor/writer and a god badge denoting a senior or master instructor/writer. The silver badge was awarded after the completion of The Army Instructor Couse now known as ABIC, and certification by the battalions master instructor on the particular block of instruction the NCO was to be teaching, in my case at the time it was BRM Grouping/Zeroing. Later on, 2008, I attended ASAT/SATW which is/was a 3-week long course that took the individual through the entire process of creating an Army Lesson Plan or TSP, basically it teaches you how to create an entire training package based on a proposed task. This course was one of the prerequisites for earning the gold badge, along with successfully completing at least 1-year of platform or small group instruction and certification by the battalion master instructor. I earned my gold badge in 2008 when I took over as the Training Committee NCOIC for Tank Drivers Training and as the Chief of TDS (Tank Driver Simulator Center). During this time frame they also introduced a black badge for those instructor/writers who had completed ABIC but had not yet been certified by the battalion. I believe that there should be a system in place for those currently serving that have successfully held an instructor position at an NCOES or within TRADOC (IET, OSUT, BOLC, etc.), to apply for retroactive awarding of the badge, but that is just my humble opinion, and I'm retired now so take it for what you will...lol....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2014 12:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Dec 2014 12:47:11 -0500

Yes and it should be extended to AIT instructor as well. They are the starting point, the NCOA's pick up where AIT left off. For those that disagree, I'm adding a little history - I have taught AIT and twice at an NCOA so I really have no BIAS.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2014 12:14 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 12:14:14 -0500

I believe it should. I also believe that if you are serving or have served as an AIT instructor that you should rate the badge as well. Any course that requires you to get on the podium and teach should 1) require you to go through ABIC and 2) be awarded the instructor badge upon being awarded the "8" identifier. That would mean that DSs and former DSs like myself would probably receive two badges since ABIC has been incorporated into DSS and you receive both the "X" and the "8" skill identifiers upon graduation. I guess the rule should also state that if you are going to be assigned as a Drill Sergeant that you must wear the DSIDBDGE while serving in a DS capacity, but if selected to serve as an instructor then you can choose the badge you want to display on your uniform seeing how Drill Sergeants are instructors.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2014 9:32 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 09:32:37 -0500

There is a rapid action change coming in a few months that will open participation in this program to all instructors (minus civilians and officers). I just attended their Evaluating Instructor Workshop ran by the TRADOC program manager. It was a very insightfull class and also is required to have to be able to evaluate instructors using the rubric within the regulation that governs this program. Although every schoolhouse has their own internal instructor recognition program, the Army's Instructor Development and Recognition Program (IDRP) is a stand alone program, and is completely voluntary. I am glad that it is finaly filtering down to everyone else. As for previous "credit" as an instructor, the program mananger told us in the workshop that only instructors that are currently assigned as instructors and performing instructor duties can participate in this program. Prior tours as an instructor do not count and you cannot be awarded the badge for such.