adult training

[vffb507]

Okay, so I know some of you are current or retired military...
Any of you had to do training of your men and had trouble getting those above you to keep their nose out of it and allow what you planned to get done, done? (and support to get those not into it to participate?)
Looking for some advise to do this...
pm me if you need more details.....

[seapuppy]

oh come on.....you gotta splain this one lucy!!!.....


SP

[vffb507]

If you can figuire my "VFF" I'll spill all....

[jblack1036]

I don't know, Volenteer Fire Fighter.............................

[vffb507]

Alright... yes "Volunteer" firefighter... actually more like paid part time.
I am junior to about half our hall, but have the most training experience and background, so I am the "voluntold" TO...
Try as I might to set something up, if its not one of the more interesting topics or activities, participation is difficult at best. To SNAFU even more officers are not often of a help for this.
I admit I am often trying to wor out details at last minute as the work to develop and set up is entirely volunteer - so a must to work around family and full time job...
We are under more pressure all the time to ensure our training levels are that of a full time department done part time...

[jblack1036]

I have an example from past experience with one of my First Seargents when I was active.

I coordinated and planned a volley ball game with the sections in my platoon. Anyway, to make it short, the soldiers were skeptical at first and the First Seagant was furious that we were playing a game during our METL training. When I explained it to him, he backed off and let me role with my training and never bothered me again about any of my training plans.

What I did was devided the Volley Ball court into sections. Each soldier had his own section. Therefore, each solder learned to rely on the other because if you crossed out of your identified area you were sidelined and your team was left to cover the hole. The first Seargant realized that my idea of team building and cohesion was well within the METL.

By the way, METL, for those of you who don't know, is Mission Essentual Task List. In other words what you need to know and do in order to fight in combat.

It was a little more involved than that but you get the gist....

[CountryME]

VFF, I don't have military experience, but I am a supervisor at a Naval Shipyard. As a young supervisor I have come to learn that communication with your boss can go a long way. While you may be low on the toem pole, you are in a position where you are expected to get results. This means your superiors have to trust you to get results and back you up. Sometimes this requires frank communication in the way of pushback to your superior when he is not backing you up. I had a situation about a month after being promoted where I had to have such a conversation with my bosses boss where I told him the issue was mine to solve and while I appreciated the input I needed to take responsibility for resolution. This conversation was followed by one with my boss where I expressed the need for him to back me up in this. Since then, I have been left to resolve issues myself and run my own shop. While the discussion may be difficult and confrontational, the pay-off is worth it. Don't be pushy or aggressive, just frank and clear about what you want to accomplish and how he can assist you in making that happen. Once you show results once, you will build trust that will show your superior he can trust you without him being involved.

[seapuppy]

hey ME.....are you at bath maine???....

what shop are you boss of....???


as you know..I used to design nuke subs and surface combat ships.....miss the boats..

SP

[CountryME]

Hey SP, I'm at Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery. I'm an engineering supervisor in the Nuclear Eng Dept. Basically, the sailers break what you built and we have to figure out how to fix it.

[seapuppy]

ME...cool....I started out at mare island navshpyd in 2340 test....moved to systems integration from then on...worked parche, russell, drum, skipjack, seawolf, and the 21 class boats....
moved to ingalls where I helped bring in the Battleship Wisconcin back in the mid 80's.....

so..believe me....the term "making it sailor proof" ain't that easy!!

Steve

[CountryME]

SP, no such thing as Sailor proof, just sailor resistant...they eventually break everything regardless of what you do!

[vffb507]

Thanks all for the comments so far... I have had "conversations" with the District Chief but not outright back off ones.. I will see what I can come up with for this. Our Deputy DC, who is supposed to be helping me out, has little training background, but does help when he can, but often other commitments interfere. The problem comes when the subject to be done is not the moth to flames type, I haven't had time to plan every little detail, and the guys including the DC don't really want to do it. The guys being all the "old timers" that are used to the old volunteer days where as long as the job got done all was good. In todays litigious society we can no longer just do that - even though the end result is the same. Especially with recent injuries and deaths. It seems to be more of a buy in thing. Having to train to full time standards on a part time schedule makes covering some things difficult to say the least.

[seapuppy]

Originally Posted by CountryME

SP, no such thing as Sailor proof, just sailor resistant...they eventually break everything regardless of what you do!

true....very true...hahahaha



SP

[Dodgezilla04]

Hey no. I spent 12 years as a sailor. Not all of us are retardedly destructive. Hahahahaha but I've met
My fair share

[rscotta]

ME and SP - worked with some of your kind at Seabrook Power Station. I've spent most of my life in aviation, but really enjoyed working with that group, very sharp guys. My wife and I spent a few days up there earlier this month. She fell in love with Portsmouth and Fenway Park. Great trip.