Army Reserve Restructuring

[Kirkhill]

I am not against setting up a promotion/rank system for highly technical/ experienced pers. I learned on my ILQ for a lot of tech trades, they basically cease being techs at WO level and end up as supervisors. It can hinder some people from wanting to advance because some of the se troops love turning wrenches, playing with wires or whatever tech they do.

I know it smacks of the US Army spec ranks that existed in the 1960s-1970s but in some ways it made sense.

Advance on skills and not leadership.

Advancing on tchnical skills and leadership skills.

Two separate skill sets.

And Captain literally means Head. As in leader.

 

[dapaterson]

Trade advancement through skill and knowledge aka TASK.

Failed for multiple reasons when proposed. The two principal reasons were:

* Zero sum game. At the time, with no new money, even with pay protection there would be winners and losers, and CAF leadership is allergic to giving bad news.

* Rank ego. Still today there's a mistaken belief that higher rank should always mean higher pay. "How could a fifteen year Cpl get paid more that a Sgt without a CD?"

 

[Eaglelord17]

I am not against setting up a promotion/rank system for highly technical/ experienced pers. I learned on my ILQ for a lot of tech trades, they basically cease being techs at WO level and end up as supervisors. It can hinder some people from wanting to advance because some of the se troops love turning wrenches, playing with wires or whatever tech they do.

I know it smacks of the US Army spec ranks that existed in the 1960s-1970s but in some ways it made sense.

Advance on skills and not leadership.

There is also a lot of people who are excellent at fixing things/doing the trade who aren’t good at the leadership side of things (and vice versa).

I have met people who got promoted to management because they were great at the trade and then proceeded to be the worst managers as that isn’t what their skillset actually is.

 

[ArmyRick]

Woops

 

[FJAG]

If the CAF can recruit Chaplains, Doctors and Lawyers as DEO Captains why not Engineers and other specialists?

We have our own definition of what a Warrant Officer is and it isn't what the US thinks it is.

The clearer solution would be to re-introduce the Woolwich system of Ordnance ranks separate from the Combat Arms.

Starting off with an Artificer.

Direct entry makes one a commissioned officer. Not everyone needs to be a commissioned officer. Money on the other hand speaks volumes.

Stop fixating on the ordanance corps. This is an issue far broader than that.

 

[FJAG]

You don't need to call them Warrant Officers -- you could call it Technical Officer and get the same result.

Agreed. I like the idea of changing NCM ranks to some form of sergeant major - to show the leadership level within the NCM grouping.

I also like using WO for specialist at both the basic and advanced tech skill rank because the concept is one already understood by everyone except the Commonwealth folks.

Failed for multiple reasons when proposed. The two principal reasons were:

* Zero sum game. At the time, with no new money, even with pay protection there would be winners and losers, and CAF leadership is allergic to giving bad news.

The money has to be there if we ever expect to grow an in-house, high-end technical skills capability.

* Rank ego. Still today there's a mistaken belief that higher rank should always mean higher pay.

That was largely an outgrowth of Unification. There have been some inroads back but it could and should change. In the civilian world you can make very good money without ever becoming a leader, just a really good worker. This is a self-inflicted wound.

"How could a fifteen year Cpl get paid more that a Sgt without a CD?"

That's where the "WO as a specialist" concept gives you an off ramp.

 

[Eaglelord17]

Agreed. I like the idea of changing NCM ranks to some form of sergeant major - to show the leadership level within the NCM grouping.

I also like using WO for specialist at both the basic and advanced tech skill rank because the concept is one already understood by everyone except the Commonwealth folks.


The money has to be there if we ever expect to grow an in-house, high-end technical skills capability.

That was largely an outgrowth of Unification. There have been some inroads back but it could and should change. In the civilian world you can make very good money without ever becoming a leader, just a really good worker. This is a self-inflicted wound.

That's where the "WO as a specialist" concept gives you an off ramp.

Oftentimes I make more money than my boss as a tradesman. Technically his salary is larger but if I was to work the amount of hours he has to I would make more.