Sergeant Major of the Army describes changes due
Ken, you'll perk up I'm sure. More at the link.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/0...xpect-012912w/
Sergeant Major: 12 changes to expect in ’12
By Lance M. Bacon - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 29, 2012 9:06:33 EST
FORT JACKSON, S.C. — It is no secret that big changes are ahead. The Army must cut thousands of soldiers. As combat operations wind down, talk of a renewed emphasis on the “profession of arms” is ramping up. Money is tight, and times are changing.
The Army is in transition — and 2012 will be its pivot point.
Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler, in an exclusive interview with Army Times, outlined many of the changes you can expect. Chandler is the first to say he doesn’t make changes. His in-depth study and careful consideration of issues leads to recommendations to the Army chief of staff and service secretary. When the subsequent order is given, Chandler will see that it is carried out. He wants what is best for his Army and its soldiers, and is determined to make both better.
Here are 12 ways he looks to do that in the coming year:
1. New NCOER
The Army will introduce a new Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report “unless something drastic happens during the next year,” Chandler said.
The top priority is to align the NCOER with leader doctrine FM6-22, specifically leader attributes and competencies. The new evaluation also will eliminate over-inflation by ranking soldiers, similar to the way officers are ranked against their peers.
The new NCOER will probably come in two versions — one for the junior population and one for the senior NCOs. Performance will have a greater focus for young soldiers while more emphasis will be placed on leadership skills as the soldier moves up the ranks.
“That’s going to really help us define who our NCO leaders are in our Army,” Chandler said.
Expect changes in how “excellence,” “success” and “needs improvement” are defined. Specifically, the two current levels of “needs improvement” — some or much — will be cut to one.
“Look, he needs improvement,” Chandler said. “Whether a little or a lot, [the soldier] is not meeting the standard. So I think with words, you can describe that better.”
Senior enlisted personnel in the company and battalion will have greater influence with the NCOER. It will give the first sergeant or sergeant major a place to acknowledge that the review is accurate and within the tenets and principles of the governing regulation.
The new NCOER will be presented to Army Secretary John McHugh and Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno in April. Chandler said he expects the Army will be implementing the new NCOER by the end of this year.
I'm retired, my perk is used up...
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Originally Posted by
jcustis
Ken, you'll perk up I'm sure. More at the link.
However, with this, Indeed, I am perked...:rolleyes:
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"...The new evaluation also will eliminate over-inflation by ranking soldiers, similar to the way officers are ranked against their peers." (emphasis added / kw)
BWAHahahahahahahahahahah.:D
What a bunch of kidders... Sheesh... Then these gems quoted from the linked article:
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"The Advanced Leader Course is likely to undergo an overhaul, and more NCOs will be headed to Ranger School..."
Back in the day, they crammed six weeks instruction into sixteen, everything that's old will be new again. By all means send more people to more schools so that 'standards' may be even more diluted to produce an optimum number of graduates -- with great haircuts and squared away uniforms...
And a Ribbon. Everyone should have a ribbon for going to school.
No mention of repairing a badly flawed personnel system that rewards mediocrity. No mention of rapidly replacing the terribly flawed BTMS Task, Condition and Standard training theory with Outcome Based Training and Education. No mention of holding people accountable for the tactical and technical competence of themselves and their subordinates...
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"Personal appearance and grooming standards are going to be tightened. Expect “significant” changes to how you wear the uniform, when you wear the uniform and what type of uniform you wear. New rules for haircuts, hairstyles, mustaches and fingernails are also in the works."
Always glad to see focus on matters that really affect warfighting ability. :mad:Like those...
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"New regulations will likely aim to ensure soldiers are well trained in how to conduct a body-fat measurement using the tape test."
And that...
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"Rebuilding program management processes such as command supply discipline, weight control and physical fitness will do little good if first sergeants are not adequately trained to implement and manage these essentials."
Umm. Okay, the most experienced NCO in the unit who should be responsible for the training of other NCOs who are in turn responsible for the training of Troops are to be held accountable to 'manage' ... 'essentials' rather than for the competence of subordinates and their tactical training and employment competencies. Fascinating.
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"From key control to weight control ... battalion and brigade sergeants major accountable. It is their responsibility to help units get better at routine tasks."
I'm sure this will have significant impact in improving the training, readiness, tactical abilities and employment of soldiers to enable them to accomplish missions and live through the effort. :wry:
That kind of foolishness is why my perk is kaput. In fairness, the focus of all that is no more than the system expects. That system has lost its way and is really screwed up.
Surely someone in DC realizes It needs a major reset...
