@rjpeters70:
@Redleg13A:
@rjpeters70:
My work is in the Policy and education side of the house. � So, yes, I do spend a lot of time on what an 05 should know versus an 06 versus an SES versus a 02.
So what do you think an “O-1” should know? (I find it strange you call it by pay grade, it’s just something we don’t do in the service) and what specifically do you do in DoD? I don’t know of anyone who has such a range of responsibilities when it comes to the military education system, any level of the military education system would seem to be a full time job let alone 3 or 4 echelons of education. You must be a very bright and important person to wear so many hats.
I know for military guys, getting called by your paygrade is odd. It is something civilians (and even military officers) do in the Joint world, when you interact regularly with different ranking officers from different Services and civilians from various CSAs, JS, and OSD. We do the same thing with civilians who we don’t know, because it’s the easiest, quickest way to identify who counterparts are.
I’ll give you an example: In the Joint, NCR world, unless you’re part of a military organization, you’ll pretty much call everybody by their first name, or in conversations. “Do you know Tom Walker?” “No, who’s he?” “Oh, he’s an 05 in A5XS, working global strike issues. Works for Gus Bailey, in Jay Belcher’s shop.” “Oh, ok. Gus and Jay are good people.” Gus in this situation could be a senior GS-15, while Jay is the USAF two-star on Air Staff. It’s a good way for civilian and military folks to figure out who’s who on what pecking order in an environment where not everyone wears rank on their clothes, and 32 year olds regularly outrank Lieutenant Colonels (this can, as you can imagine, cause some friction at times).
As for what I do: Like I said, I’m a civilian in the NCR, who regularly does Policy support to the two and three star level, with a heavy focus on education through the J/PME in one of the J/PME focal points, as established in a CJCSI. So, while yes, you “don’t know of anyone who has such a range of responsibilities when it comes to the military education system,” I’d just say 1) I never claimed to know everything of what every pay grade show know, but I do understand broadly what they’re supposed to be doing and learning at various points in their career, and 2) I’m not surprised you don’t know. You’re a Captain in the Army. That’s wonderful. God bless, and thank you for your continued service to our country. I say that with all sincerity. But at the risk of sounding condescending, an 03 is pretty low on the totem pole and you, by definition, are supposed to think about the tactical. There are lots of places in the J/PME system (my office is one of many) where people get paid to map out what specific kinds and levels of knowledge various officers and civilian counterparts should focus and develop course modules that support those efforts.
That said, I focus far more on the Policy side of the house than on the education. I only get out to the classrooms (at the War College level) a couple time a semester.
You’re right, in the big picture I am pretty low on the totem pole. And you’re also right about sounding condescending. It is as if you’re pinching my cheek with praise while trying to subdue me so the “grown ups can talk.” But us “low totem pole” officers and NCOs are the ones that produce our officer corps. An “O-5” and especially an “O-8/9” is simply out of date and out of touch to what is pertinent today. I’m not surprised you can’t think of ways that these skills transfer because you’ve no idea what it is we do on the ground.
You claimed to be versed in what basically every officer pay grade should know. Then you ambiguously stated you worked in the policy/education side of the house without further elaboration. How did you think that was going to be interpreted. Or was I supposed to read between the lines and suddenly be afraid because you rub shoulders with generals and I’m just a lowly captain who needs to know his place.
Something to consider. I think if anyone would be able to make a judgement call about what’s going to useful to brand new LTs it would be the senior LTs and CPTs that have been on the line their entire lives IN COMBAT. Guys like me, especially with my time as an NCO, know what works. Generals wouldn’t even know how to turn on a BFT or fill a radio with encryption. So while you guys are are running simulations in your think tank, we are doing our 5s and 25s, executing missions, and putting the muzzles of our weapons in the enemies faces and blowing their heads off. We’ve been doing it for tour after tour for over a decade.
I’d say you stick to your policy and simulations.
I’ll stick to the training of these officers and the actual prosecution of the combat.
And if it sounds like I’m pissed off or offended, it’s because I am. You’ve never served in the military let alone combat. Lambs leading lions as far as I’m concerned.