You asked, they listened

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Lance Pounds | Sgt. Maj. Lynice Thorpe, the enlisted management personnel directorate sergeant major for Human Resources Command in Fort Knox, Ky., talks with Soldiers following a brief discussion of recent changes to how HRC looks at the assignment of Soldiers process with the Vicenza Military Community April 21, 2017, at the post theater on Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy.  

ITALY

04.24.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Lance Pounds 

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

VICENZA, Italy – Sgt. Maj. Lynice Thorpe, the enlisted personnel management directorate sergeant major with Human Resources Command, visited Soldiers of the Vicenza military community April 21, 2017, at the post theater on Caserma Ederle.

The purpose of Thorpe’s visit was to discuss recent and upcoming changes in the manning, shaping, distribution and talent management of the U.S. Army’s current force structure.

Thorpe opened her discussion by pointing out that soon many of those sitting in the audience will most likely be gone, either because of a transfer to a new duty assignment or to attend a professional development school.

“In the next six months, a year, or even two years from now, things are going to look different,” Thorpe said.

The changes are expected to enhance the achievement of the Army’s end strength and readiness objectives. As the Army grows in strength and personnel, the number of positions to fill grows as well.

What this means for those currently serving is: new positions equate to new opportunities – new assignments -- which stem from HRC’s continued efforts to shape the force and meet readiness goals.

“It’s about getting the right Soldier to the right place, at the right time,” Thorpe said.

Thorpe said HRC has been doing its due diligence to ensure Soldiers receive what they need in terms of career advancement.

Currently, HRC has plans to expand upon its Noncommissioned Officer Education System (NCOES) in order to fill gaps between certain enlisted ranks. In addition, these schools must be completed prior to a Soldier receiving a promotion to the next higher rank.

According to Thorpe, this ensures that those serving in leadership positions have the knowledge and experience to be effective leaders. Also, Soldiers with the appropriate level of NCOES for their current rank are easier to distribute and may have better chance for an assignment of choice.

Thorpe said HRC looks at talent management, Army needs and Soldier desires – giving them some say in the process – when determining a Soldier’s next duty assignment.

“We look at talent management and professional development, Soldiers desires – meaning that is their opportunity to let us know what they want to do, and we also look at what the Army needs are,” Thorpe said. “Then we see how it all comes together and how we can make it work.”

Thorpe said Soldiers do have an opportunity to have some say in where they go next, because talent management includes self-management too. She added that Soldiers can go to the Assignment Satisfaction Key, located on Army Knowledge Online, to see some of the nominative broadening opportunities available to them. Keeping this information up to date will ensure that career managers will see their Soldiers’ desired assignments.

“When we do assignment instructions for all the branches, our career managers will look at (ASK) as they are trying to decide where (Soldiers) go next,” said Thorpe.

Thorpe encouraged Soldiers to log on to ASK because “That’s your voice.”

Thorpe said this process differs greatly from the way Soldiers have been considered in the past.

“We used to say, who is available in our population for an assignment? But now we look at who is the most qualified,” she said.

In this process, Soldiers will first be identified by their qualifications and then by their availability, which Thorpe said will ensure the best possible match of Soldiers to assignments.

“We are working hard to make sure that we are getting it right and to do right by the Soldiers in our formations,” said Thorpe.

(Editor’s note: Soldiers who have questions concerning duty assignment opportunities can contact their local retention personnel or career managers.)

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• Date Taken: 04.24.2017
• Date Posted: 04.24.2017 11:03
• Story ID: 231314
• Location: IT