***This is an official U.S. Army NCO Net email sent to all NCO Net Members***

TO: All NCO Net Members SUBJECT: U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Network (NCO Net) Weekly Update -- 2011-07-28

1. LEADER CHALLENGE: Discipline has been compromised; Discipline is not an active activity. It does not require time on the training calendar. I believe the declination of discipline in the Army today is a negative consequence of the influx of people into the Army. I read on the NCO Net a related post where the author mentioned how high school dropouts without GEDs and even those with criminal records are allowed to enter the service. What do we expect? Not all people are capable of or willing to change. Unfortunately those with criminal records do not change their lifestyles or ways of thinking. Drop outs that lacked the discipline to finish something as easy as high school still lack discipline. Discipline is honed over years and mastered over a lifetime. For the masses, it is not learned in 11 weeks of basic training. As NCOs we need to first examine ourselves, seek disciplined mentors and make a constant and conscious effort to improve ourselves before we can begin to develop it in our Soldiers. I'm three years into my discipline training and have only learned one thing for certain: there is still a lot more learning to go.
http://bit.ly/pAepuZ

2. RECENT DOCUMENTS ADDED:

a. Social Media Roundup - Effective Tweeting http://bit.ly/nSmBA6

b. July 2011 Issue of the Red Diamond http://bit.ly/oM1tkb

c. NEW ALLIS ENTRIES 1333 and 1334 http://bit.ly/r4zR5m

d. NCO Critical Task List #4 (UNCLASSIFIED) http://bit.ly/mRSG8b

3. ARMY ENTERPRISE EMAIL MIGRATION; HOW IT WILL AFFECT ARMY PROFESSIONAL FORUMS. As announced by AKO, during 2011 Army email users will transition to an Enterprise Email service managed by the Defense Information Systems Agency. This migration will involve a change in everyone's army.mil e-mail address. Although when your address changes you will continue to receive e-mail addressed to your old address for at least a year, it's recommended you advise friends and coworkers to begin using the new e-mail address within that time period. This change of e-mail address (if you don't update your address on NCO NET) will eventually affect your ability to log on to NCO NET, and to receive NCO NET newsletter like this one. An announcement has been placed on the front page of NCO NET that provides a direct link to your profile, and encourages you to update your profile when you receive your new e-mail address. Just as a reminder, you must use your AKO/Enterprise military e-mail address for Army Professional Forums. Visit the following link on AKO for more information on the Enterprise Email Migration. http://1.usa.gov/oFt1Ag

4. NEW DISCUSSIONS/RFI's ON NCO NET:

a. Sew on ACU items; I have run into a bit of debate on the new allowance of sewing on skill badges, US Army tape, nametape and rank to the ACU blouse. The current ALARACT states that the nametapes will be sewn on over the Velcro. What I have seen is a great number of senior NCO and officers wearing these items sewn on directly to the uniform. I have also contacted many of my friends still currently serving on active duty installations such as Ft. Benning and Ft. Hood and they have all said that is the same way the alterations shops are preparing the uniforms. My questions are do I not understand the ALARACT correctly? Should I sew on my items directly to the uniform and take off both the hook and loop? Any input would help. Thank you. http://bit.ly/pjUIFe

b. What kind of training does JRTC provide for soldiers; I’m just looking for some advice on what to expect in JRTC. http://bit.ly/pRBt2v

c. 2404; What army regulation do you find how to properly find an 2404. http://bit.ly/qo5L5Y

d. "Automatic" Excellence Bullets on an NCOER -- What Counts? Are there any NCOER bullets that earn an NCO an "automatic" Excellence in Part IV of the 2166-8? In Table 3-4 of DA Pam 623-3, they list earning the physical fitness badge, qualifying an entire squad as expert on assigned personal weapons, and earning the EIB as qualifications for "Excellence." I have learned from past experience that there are other things that would qualify for "automatic" Excellence. My intent is to point to specific things that a Soldier can use as targets for Excellence, beyond the personal judgment of their Rater and Senior Rater. http://bit.ly/pxNuWF

e. I'm looking for the ALARACT that states that we can no longer use an automated calculator to determine body fat percentages. I do believe the message came out in 2009/10. http://bit.ly/q4MOlP

f. Class A/ B Nameplate; I recently broke my nameplate for my dress uniform. I ordered 2 new ones, but on arrival they were smooth. My old one had a texture to them on the black area, I remember when I went to a NCOES school that the smooth(issued from basic) was unauthorized and I was shown in the REGS so I got new ones with texture, but when I look in 670-1, I can't find it no more. Did it change again? Or was I told wrong from the start? I asked this same question on Uniform FAQ with no response, maybe someone here knows something better. http://bit.ly/oQFOxz

g. Army Training Network ATN2GO Smartphone Application; The Mobile ATN2GO stand-alone application contains training materials for handheld and mobile devices such as Apple's iPad, iPhone, iTouch, and Google's Android mobile OS. ATN2GO provides the user the capability to view lessons-learned training videos, field manuals, and other training resources. ATN2GO's intent is to "Take the training to the soldier". CALL recently placed several public releasable products on the Army Training Network's ATN2GO smartphone application. Has anyone downloaded the app and looked at our products? I'm trying to get a feel for how we can refine how our products are displayed on the app. Thanks. Needs to be downloaded to your personal PC and then synched to your smartphone. http://bit.ly/mRMOhW

h. When preforming an in ranks inspection according to FM 3.21-5. When preforming an in ranks inspection according to FM 3.21-5 you march forward inclining as necessary until you are at a point 15 inches and centered on the first man. Then take "a short step forward and to the left ... returns to the center and steps forward and to the right ... and returns to the center position." Do you keep the Soldier in front of you or do you keep facing the front? When I read "forward and to the left" I do not feel it is implied or assumed you pivot to the right to stay facing the Soldier. http://bit.ly/qwwn57

i. ALC; I have a Staff Sergeant in my unit that's eligible to enroll in ALC PH I. He is a graduate of the USMC NCO course and has been authorized equivalency for WLC. He was just denied enrollment to ALC PH I because he doesn't show WLC complete. How do I get the equivalency/completion put into ATRRS so he gets credit and can attend the class? http://bit.ly/pdvDWb

Profession of Arms:

What does the CSA mean by "Stewardship"; The Profession of Arms White Paper defined the professional Soldier as a "steward of the future Army profession" (p. 4). We explored that issue of stewardship a couple of months ago, but we would like to revisit what this means to the NCO corps. As you respond to this thread, please try to answer these questions. . What do you think the CSA means when he says you need to be a "steward" of the profession and is your role the same as officers and civilians? Do you think the Army prepares you, the officers and the civilians to be stewards of the profession? How do you think Army civilians and retired NCOs should contribute to sustaining the profession (or do they have a role in sustaining the profession)? Do you think your responsibilities to the profession change as you become more senior? Does that change how you interact with the American public, the media, and civilian leaders of the Army or coalition partners? http://bit.ly/on8Iof

5. RECENT ALARACT and MILPER Messages and Announcements: If you are having issues getting the MILPER website to open, see the instructions at the following link. http://bit.ly/poI59c

a. ALARACT 260/11 AUTHORITY FOR ARMY-WIDE USE OF THE MANAGEMENT INTERNAL CONTROL PROGRAM (MICP) CHECKLIST FOR BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR SUBSISTENCE (BAS) MEAL COLLECTIONS FOR GOVERNMENT PROVIDED MEALS DURING FIELD DUTY, DTG: 192030Z JUL 11. This message implements Army-wide guidance for use of the Management Internal Control Program (MICP) checklist for BAS meal collections for government provided meals. These policies apply to active duty Soldiers (Title 10 and Title 32 U.S. Code), except Soldiers currently serving in combat zones, hostile fire areas, imminent danger zones, or combat zone exclusion areas. See the message for specifics. http://bit.ly/pEqk4r

b. ALARACT 261/11 DATA CALL IN SUPPORT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB) INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 6 (IPV6) FISCAL YEARS (FYS) 2012 AND 2014 REQUIREMENTS, DTG: 192214Z JUL 11. Army organizations/agencies will upgrade unrestricted public/external facing servers and services (e.g., web, e-mail, domain name server (DNS), internet service provider (ISP) services, etc.) to use operationally dual-stack IPV6 by the end of FY 2012; and upgrade internal client applications that communicate with public internet servers and supporting enterprise networks to use operationally dual stack IPV6 by the end of FY 2014. See the message for specific milestones and suspense’s associated with this initiative. http://bit.ly/qonDyh

c. ALARACT 262/11 FINGERPRINT CARD AND FINAL DISPOSITION REPORT SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS, DTG: 192238Z JUL 11. This message updates the procedures for the fingerprint card (FD-249) and these changes will be incorporated in the next revision of AR 190-45. See the message for specifics. http://bit.ly/qtmFcL

d. AC ENLISTED PROMOTION CUTOFF SCORFES AND SGT/SSG BY-NAMES FOR AUG 11. Cutoff scores and by-name promotion list for AC SGT/SSG are attached at the following link. Please note in the cutoff score memo that as of 19 July 2011 PP access to pull C10 reports has been returned to field users. Field users are limited to accessing C10 reports only, inputting of promotion points at the top of the system is still limited to HRC Personnel. Access to the PT screen is a read only function will remain. http://bit.ly/nV7rTq

e. AGR (USAR) SGT/SSG PROMOTION CUTOFF SCORES, BY-NAME AND STANDING (PPRL) LISTS, AUG 11. USAR AGR cutoff scores, by-name promotion lists, and PPRL lists for Aug 11 (SGT/SSG) are attached at the following link. http://bit.ly/qBiSIx

6. PRIORITY DISCUSSION ON NCO NET:

a. Standards Have Changed; Since 9/11 there has been a steady decline in NCO mentorship and NCOES Schooling. The demand of back to back deployments coupled with the increasing garrison demands of "mandatory" training on everything from SHARP to DADT have severely diminished the NCOs ability to learn and train soldiers. NCOs return from a 12-15 month deployment, conduct redeployment requirements, go on block leave, finish any refit and recovery tasks, complete endless "Mandatory" Training, Complete Phase I online BNCOC, go to BNCOC for two weeks, make up the jumps missed during deployment, conduct "Clean Sweep", Participate in "All American Week", start prepping for next deployment, JRTC, MRX, and then redeploy. Too may competing priorities! I think with any long term conflict there are significant changes that have to be adapted to. The BDU, the ACU, the black fleece, the grey fleece, black beret, no black beret and the list goes on. We are in a ever changing environment with and extremely high OPTEMPO coupled with shortened NCOES Courses, accelerated promotions and lowered standards upon entry all resulting in a less disciplined force. I think a disciplined soldier now is defined as one that executes the mission regardless of what he looks like or how he gets it done. Technical and Tactical proficiency trump good order and discipline in today’s environment. Thoughts? http://bit.ly/o7P5kj

b. Thoughts on Discipline; I do believe the standards have changed and the paper by MSG Weatherholt hit on a few topics but there is two that really stand out in my mind. Number 1: The Army promotes to fast. I say this knowing full well that many will disagree with me but there needs to be more criteria for being an NCO than having 36 months in the Army. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome for the next generation of Soldiers will have to be the implementation of a slower promotion system with Soldiers having to earn rank instead of having it handed out a predetermined times based on not being flagged. Number 2: Fraternization policies not being enforced. There was a time not too long ago when the fraternization policies were enforced and a SSG would not be going into the PX with a Captain and Major. I recall being in combat arm units where as a SGT you could not speak to the 1SG without first going through your squad leader and platoon sergeant (a SSG and SFC) and then if you did talk to the 1SG at a minimum your SFC was present. Soldiers are way to complacent and comfortable around senior NCO's and Officers that it is becoming increasingly difficult to correct someone as they are all "buddies". One of the best NCO's I ever served with spent three years as a Drill Sergeant and he would always say to us that his patch read "This I'll Defend" not "I'm your friend". I am not advocating that Soldiers cannot speak to each other, but ultimately you have to decide if you are going to be a Soldiers leader or their friend, as the old saying goes, a man cannot serve two masters. http://bit.ly/qx7yey

7. NCO Net would like to update our knowledge content. Members have been requesting SOP's, documents, presentations, and other tools. If you have something that you think someone else can benefit from, please send to joe.c.pearson@us.army.mil.

8. NCO Net thanks every member for their participation and for sharing their leadership experience and knowledge with the NCO Net Community members.

9. We are still taking photos to post on the front page of NCO Net as well. Please send your photos of NCO's doing what NCO's do with a small caption and names of folks pictured to joe.c.pearson@us.army.mil.

10. Do not forget to become a fan of our Facebook Page http://on.fb.me/q04yQc Thank you for what you do. Please print and/or forward on this weekly update to NCOs that you know and ask them to join NCO Net at http://bit.ly/qwSBOo

***This is an official U.S. Army NCO Net email sent to all NCO Net Members***

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