A study to identify job skills required for a US Army Reserve Retention and Transition Area Manager

Abstract

The purpose of this research study is to identify the job skills required for a United States Army Reserve (USAR) Retention and Transition Retention Area Manager to possess, in order to successfully perform his or her job. A Task Selection and Analysis Board (TSB) will conduct job analysis by reviewing the total task inventory and performance data.. The purpose of the board will be to recommend which task and skills to be included in developing and comprehensive training program of instruction (POI) to train Area Managers. The board will consist of subject matter experts drawn from the USAR Retention and Transition field. Currently, the USAR Retention and Transition Retention Area Manager’s have no formal schooling they are required to attend after completion of initial Retention and Transition Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) training in this field. That training consists of the Retention and Transition NCO (RTNCO) course taught at the Army Reserve Readiness Training Center (ARRTC), Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin. This is a three-week course that instructs newly assigned Retention and Transition NCOs on the initial job skills required to be successful as a USAR Retention and Transition NCO, (Retention and Transition NCO Program Of Instruction, 2000). The soldiers are awarded the Military Occupational Skill (MOS) designator 79V upon successful completion of this course. There is currently no follow-up training, advanced or refresher for Retention and Transition NCOs. The only other retention training offered is the Retention and Transition Manager’s Course (RTMC), which is also taught at the ARRTC. This is a two-week course designed for the senior level officer and senior level NCO at each major or separate USAR unit command, (Retention and Transition Manager Course Program of Instruction, 1999). It certainly deals with some of the same subjects that any Retention Area Manager’s training must include, but does not address all the aspects that the Retention Area Manager must be able to accomplish to be successful. The Department of the Army (DA) developed recent regulatory changes, and along with command guidance created the new Retention Area Manager’s position. The position is designed for a senior NCO who will be responsible for the actions, job performance and training of USAR Retention and Transition NCOs assigned to his or her area of operations, (Army Reserve Tactics, Techniques and Procedures Handbook for Retention and Transition, 2001). It is critical that the job skills and tasks be identified for the position. This will enable quality training for the individuals to occur and prepare them as they step into a position as Retention Area Manager that is critical to the U.S. Army Reserves retention and transition efforts. The Task Selection Board will address the following areas: 1) task analysis and selection; 2) training references; 3) training delivery modes; 4) training sequence; 5) training target audience; 6) course description; and 7) training length. The TSB will be established and operated in accordance with regulatory guidance contained in two references the (Army Reserve Readiness Training Center Regulation 351-1-1, Systems Approach to Training, 1999), and the (Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Regulation 350- 70, Systems Approach to Training Management, Processes, and Products, 1999). It will eventually be staffed through ARRTC and the Office of the Chief of the Army Reserve, Retention and Transition Division, (OCAR-RTD) prior to full implementation. This paper forms the foundation for the first portion of the Analysis Phase of the Systems Approach to Training (SAT), (Army Reserve Readiness Training Center Regulation 351-1-1, Systems Approach to Training, 1999). It will deal strictly with the results from Task Selection Board and analysis derived from that board. It will not address nor follow the course development through the remaining phases of SAT process, the pilot process nor the eventual full implementation of the course.