Army Communication & Information Systems Specialists (Sig Op, Lineman and LCIS Amalgamation)

[JBP]

So is the Spec Pay decision still coming out on 1 May 13?

Now that Sir, is an effective troll!

>

Hillarious!
:facepalm:

 

[Occam]

I was trying to figure out how to work BigDaddyFatback's comment into a "Carnac the Magnificent" joke, but I don't think I had enough coffee this morning to pull it off.

 

[BigDaddyFatback]

I think we all love our job enough to stay no matter what we are paid, or when our next pay raise will be....2 Promotions for me.

Also, we are now implementing a 28 hour day....

 

[George Wallace]

Also, we are now implementing a 28 hour day....

Damn!  I was just getting used to the 10 day week.

 

[JBP]

Damn!  I was just getting used to the 10 day week.

Heh, funny thing, we at 1 Sigs have been working insane days/nights/hours/shifts like that for months now. I have personally had 4 weekends since Christmas leave... 2 of those were on flights to/from Kingston for Ex Cyber Challenge (My choice, I applied for it so I accept it!). 1 of those was used with the Tp OC and Warrant calling us in to recount everything we have in our entire inventory on the 1 weekend between ex's we had on 3 different skas... 1 weekend actually left of personal time.

To say that most people at 1 Sigs are burnt out is a bad understatement. To say those in my Tp specifically are burnt out is not needed. Out of all the pers in my troop, only 2 have resigned contracts... Some of us are posted, some VR'd, some are finishing contracts and some are OTing to different trades. It's literally going to be a ghost town here come Nov.

I'm OTing and posted! So far....

 

[Sig_Des]

Heh, funny thing, we at 1 Sigs have been working insane days/nights/hours/shifts like that for months now. I have personally had 4 weekends since Christmas leave... 2 of those were on flights to/from Kingston for Ex Cyber Challenge (My choice, I applied for it so I accept it!). 1 of those was used with the Tp OC and Warrant calling us in to recount everything we have in our entire inventory on the 1 weekend between ex's we had on 3 different skas... 1 weekend actually left of personal time.

To say that most people at 1 Sigs are burnt out is a bad understatement. To say those in my Tp specifically are burnt out is not needed. Out of all the pers in my troop, only 2 have resigned contracts... Some of us are posted, some VR'd, some are finishing contracts and some are OTing to different trades. It's literally going to be a ghost town here come Nov.

I'm OTing and posted! So far....

And yet, somewhere, someone is pumping rainbows out of a bellows making some highers in that particular place think that everyone loves being there. I find it hard to miss the heads hanging down whenever I visit.

 

[c_canuk]

Good luck taking someone who's been in a helpdesk or server farm for 5-10 years and having them run a radio shift competently without maximum supervision. Either you want IST to be a trade, or you want network tasks to be with CSTs. I really don't see room for both. Why the heck would you train one trade to set up the servers, and one to manage them, and one to run helpdesk? That's the biggest waste of resources since NDHQ.

Occam is absolutely right. Deployed networks are relatively simple compared to the DWAN if you have any sort of IT skills. If you're got a Core operator, that can already program HCLOS, TSL, EPLRS, he has the base skillsets to maintain that deployed server and set up user accounts. This isn't the 1980s where some recruits have never seen a computer before. You've got kids being recruited that already have an IT background, and will get even more of it with the newer green kit that gets deployed. Managing those servers running Active Directory is not rocket surgery.

Heck, the ISTs at my unit can't even fix the simplest problems without telling us to call 7777, or I can just fix them myself. They're doing more CST backfill work than computer work, and quite frankly if I could trade them for 2 more Core operators I would in a heartbeat.

IMO the DWAN is not complicated, it's just unstable and has too many chefs that don't talk to eachother.

and as far as ISTs not being able to fix things, I don't know about where you are, but here it's because I'm not allowed to and/or cannot get the required privileges. There has never been a problem I couldn't fix, but because of how the local IT has tied everyone's hands, I can't do anything.

 

[PuckChaser]

and as far as ISTs not being able to fix things, I don't know about where you are, but here it's because I'm not allowed to and/or cannot get the required privileges. There has never been a problem I couldn't fix, but because of how the local IT has tied everyone's hands, I can't do anything.

That's what I meant. They don't lack the required skills, they're just not enabled to do their jobs.

 

[BigDaddyFatback]

I am an IST coming from being a tech and like everyone says, we are hand tied when it comes to accessing things on the network like routers/switches etc...
In the last 12 years, I have taken the CCNA bootcamp 3 times/Voip, etc... But then I come back to the unit and we are not granted access to any kit to keep our skills up due to National/DND/SSC policies. Even though I am a Network/Infrastructure Admin by title.

Say a router craps out, it will then be up to me to configure it so Ottawa can push what it needs to. But I have not been afforded the opportunity to work with the kit since my course 2 years ago. And if it takes me a while to refresh myself while the network is down, people start freaking out.

It is a funny cycle of training and then no work/live network experience due to strict control practices (which is necessary sometimes), unless deployed on Ops or Ex.

Also, the breadth of what we are expected to know has ballooned out of control (MES is supposed to rein that in), but again, we are not given the opportunity to use the training on a daily basis and skill fade comes into play very quickly when it comes to ios commands etc...

 

[thatistguy]

May 1st has come and gone and yet, no definite answer on the spec pay, how surprising! Any rumblings?

 

[Swingline1984]

May 1st has come and gone and yet, no definite answer on the spec pay, how surprising! Any rumblings?

1 Apr - 1 May was the the review period for DPPD to be able to make a recommendation.  Whatever that recommendation is (if they didn't delay the review again) still has to go to TB.  Wait and shoot!

 

[technophile]

received this today via message from DLCI ( unclas DLCI 197, 031839Z Jun 13 )

aside from the blah, blah, blah " we are committed to our members and the review process "  The real meat is

" due to circumstances beyond our control, the pay review is taking longer than expected - At this time we cannot speculate on an expected date of completion "

 

[rmc_wannabe]

received this today via message from DLCI ( unclas DLCI 197, 031839Z Jun 13 )

aside from the blah, blah, blah " we are committed to our members and the review process "  The real meat is

" due to circumstances beyond our control, the pay review is taking longer than expected - At this time we cannot speculate on an expected date of completion "

Sounds like they copy pasted the last message and changed the date. Great to aee they're really fighting hard for us over there . :

 

[thatistguy]

I do wonder if all those delays will actually lead to something or if we'll just end up getting a negative answer in the end.  :-\

Hasn't been too many replies in this topic lately! Anyone heard of rumors that the networking part of the IST trade was going to be given to the CSTs and that their trade was going back to being the same it used to be before (LCIS)? I know a lot of LCIS techs that went IST because of that and I am wondering if there is any truth to those rumors or not as I think it would really be a deal breaker for me and a lot of other people in the trade who would feel betrayed in the end if that is what would happen, especially since it would make the IST trade even less relevant I think.  :facepalm:

 

[211RadOp]

I don't how it is done at all units, but at CFJSR networking, particularly on field deployments, is done by IST pers.

 

[upandatom]

Just recieved this first thing this morning,
RE Spec pay, end of summer I presume, but this is dragging on a bit too long,

                        UNCLAS                    7200-1 (DLCI)

01  04  031839Z JUN  13  PP      UUUU                DLCI 197



            NDHQ DLCI OTTAWA

            AIG 1703

            AIG 1817

            AIG 2657

            AIG 2658

UNCLAS DLCI 197

BILINGUAL MESSAGE/MESSAGE BILINGUE

SUBJ: ACISS PAY EVALUATION - UPDATE TWO

REFS: A. ANNEX I TO 55555-31-MOSID 00362 (DPGR 2-7), 30 JUN 11

B. NDHQ DLCI 005 301611Z JAN 13



1.  IAW THE ACISS OCCUPATION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AT REF A THE

DIRECTORATE OF PAY POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT (DPPD) WAS MANDATED TO

CONDUCT AND COMPLETE A PAY EVALUATION OF THE ACISS OCCUPATION BY 01

JAN 13.  IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BY DLCI AT REF B THAT THE INITIAL

DEADLINE COULD NOT BE MET AND A NEW COMPLETION DATE OF 01 MAY 13 WAS

SET BY DPPD



2.  IN ANTICIPATION OF THE FORMAL COMMENCEMENT OF THE EVALUATION,

DLCI STAFF CARRIED OUT ADDITIONAL SYNCHRONIZATION WORK WITH DPPD

THROUGHOUT THE FEB TO MAR TIMEFRAME TO ENSURE THE EVALUATION WOULD

BE PERFORMED IAW  THE APPROVED CANADIAN FORCES TRADE EVALUATION PLAN

(CFTEP) GUIDELINES



3.  AS ALWAYS, WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE EVALUATION PROCESS THROUGH

THE MANY COMPLEXITIES OF EVALUATING THE ACISS TRADE WITHIN ITS NEW

JOB BASED SYSTEM (JBS). HOWEVER, DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OUTSIDE OF OUR

CONTROL, THE PAY REVIEW IS TAKING LONGER THAN ORIGINALLY FORECASTED

TO COMPLETE.  DLCI REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS AND WE ARE

WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH DPPD TO ENSURE THAT THE ACCURACY OF

INFORMATION AND THE EFFORT PUT FORWARD CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS ACHIEVING

THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME



4.  AT THIS TIME WE CAN NOT SPECULATE ON AN EXPECTED DATE OF

COMPLETION. HOWEVER, MEMBERS NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE RECOMMENDATION

MADE BY DPPD FOLLOWING THEIR EVALUATION WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED AND

IMPLEMENTED UNTIL APPROVAL HAS BEEN GIVEN BY THE CDS.  THIS

TYPICALLY ADDS A MONTH OR TWO TO THE PROCESS.  ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION AND UPDATES WILL BE PROVIDED AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.



EVALUATION DE LA SOLDE SSICA – DEUXIEME MISE A JOUR



RÉFS: A. ANNEXE I A 55555-31-ID SGPM 00362 (DBPP 2-7), 30 JUIN 11

B. NDHQ DLCI 005 301611Z JAN 13



1. TEL QUE MENTIONNÉ À LA RÉF A DANS LE PLAN DE MISE EN OEUVRE DU

GPM SSICA, LE DIRECTEUR - POLITIQUE ET DÉVELOPPEMENT (SOLDE) (DPDS)

SE DEVAIT D EFFECTUER UNE ÉVALUATION DE LA RÉMUNÉRATION POUR LE GPM

SSICA APTL 1 JAN 13.  IL A ÉTÉ RECONNU PAR DCIT À LA RÉF B QUE LE

DÉLAI INITIAL NE POURRAIT ÊTRE RENCONTRÉ ET UNE NOUVELLE DATE FINALE

DES TRAVAUX A ÉTÉ FIXÉE AU 1 MAI 13 PAR DPDS



2. EN PRÉPARATION À L ÉVALUATION OFFICIELLE, LE PERS DE DCIT A

EFFECTUÉ DES TRAVAUX DE SYNCHRONISATION SUPPLÉMENTAIRES AVEC DPDS

DURANT LA PÉRIODE DE FÉVRIER À MARS AFIN DE S ASSURER QUE  L

ÉVALUATION SERAIT EFFECTUÉE EN CONFORMITÉ AVEC LES PARAMÈTRES DU

PLAN D ÉVALUATION DES MÉTIERS DES FORCES CANADIENNES (PEEFC)



3. COMME TOUJOURS, NOUS CONTINUONS DE SOUTENIR LE PROCESSUS D

ÉVALUATION DU GPM SSICA DANS LE CONTEXTE PLUS COMPLEXE D UN SYSTÈME

BASÉ SUR LE TRAVAIL. (SBT).  CEPENDANT, POUR DES RAISONS HORS DE

NOTRE CONTRÔLE, L ÉVALUATION DE LA RÉMUNÉRATION EST PLUS LONGUE QUE

PRÉVU QU À L ORIGINE. DICT RESTE ENGAGÉ DANS LE PROCESSUS ET NOUS

TRAVAILLONS ÉTROITEMENT AVEC DPDS AFIN QUE L EXACTITUDE DES

INFORMATIONS ET QUE LES EFFORTS MIS DE L AVANT CONTRIBUENT À L

OBTENTION DU MEILLEUR RÉSULTAT POSSIBLE



4.  EN CE MOMENT NOUS NE POUVONS SPÉCULER SUR UNE DATE PRÉVUE

FINALE. TOUTEFOIS, LES MEMBRES DOIVENT COMPRENDRE QUE LA

RECOMMANDATION FAITE PAR DPDS SUITE À LEUR ÉVALUATION NE SERA PAS

PUBLIÉE ET MISE EN OEUVRE AVANT D EN AVOIR OBTENU L APPROBATION DU

CEMD. CELA AJOUTE GÉNÉRALEMENT UN MOIS OU DEUX AU PROCESSUS.  DES

INFORMATIONS COMPLÉMENTAIRES ET MISES À JOUR SERONT FOURNIS DES QU

ILS SERONT DISPONIBLE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                   

                                                                   

                                                                   

DC. MCLELLAN, LCOL, DLCI-1, 613-971-7396                           

SW. HALL, COL, DLCI, 613-971-7415                                   

                                          UNCLAS 

 

[Occam]

Just recieved this first thing this morning,
RE Spec pay, end of summer I presume, but this is dragging on a bit too long,

Where do you see "end of summer" in there?

 

[upandatom]

Where do you see "end of summer" in there?

Well, as a best case I see that. They state that it goes to the CDS, 1-2 months after that, they should hopefully be near a decision now on it.

End of summer is being an optimist.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Are they talking about giving these guys spec pay or taking it away?

 

[Sig_Des]

Are they talking about giving these guys spec pay or taking it away?

Either or.

Until Amalgamation of the 3 Army Signals trades (Sig Op, Lineman, and LCIS Tech) only LCIS received Spec Pay.

After amalgamation, and the creation of the new Computer Weiner sub-trade (IST) there began a process for review spec pay (Will all get it, will some get it, will those who have it lose it, will none get it). Currently techs who were in receipt of it are pretty much pay frozen pending review.

The review is taking longer than expected/was promised.