Specialties Ranked For "Hassle"

[ProdigalJim]

I've been asked during the past few months by a handful of new members for my opinion on which specialty tracks were "easiest" and which were "hardest." I usually talk about a combination of your own interest/inclination and the needs of the unit, etc., etc. But then I get pressed, "yeah, but what's the 'easiest,' and which is 'hardest.'"

My advice is that one member may find a given track easy while another finds it just about impossible, due to temperament, life experience, background, and any other factors. So there's no such thing as easier or harder, just different. On the other hand, I believe it IS possible to examine the requirements for each track to decide which tracks have fewer hoops to jump through and which have more hoops, and maybe even a fence to hop along the way.

I've put here just one man's thinking -- mine -- and reasonable folks may differ. But I'd love to get your thoughts. I tried to apply some very rudimentary analysis to account for the time required to reach Technician, whether there are requirements for formal training in addition to OJT, whether there's a written exam or not, the need for any additional hoops or sign-offs, plus the total time required to reach a Master rating. I then scored each track against those criteria, and sorted the scores from lowest to highest.

[SarDragon]

I would definitely not rank Personnel as easiest. Based on the importance of the job, and the attention to detail involved, I'd score it as a 4 or 5. Admin is easier by a long shot, in terms of successful performance.

There is a test for the senior rating, in the back of CAPP 200. It's terribly out of date, but looking up the new answers is still very productive. For the most part, this is still info you need to know. There are 100 Qs, and about 85-90 of them are still valid. The rest cover stuff that's been totally deleted, or the procedure is completely different.

Speaking of scores, what were your criteria for numerical assignments?

[Eclipse]

It's interesting to see this laid out like this, it certainly spells out the effort involved, though I think its dangerous in general to characterize things this way.

My experience has been that a member fully involved and invested in the program will accomplish the things necessary for
their respective specialty as a matter of course.

Probably the biggest challenge on some of those is that you can't accomplish them without participating in activities and staff work
outside the Unit (both CP & ES, for example).

I've always viewed financial management as the "easiest", assuming you're the units FM - doing the required reports and other functions
is all you need to do to accomplish the FM specialty.

[jimmydeanno]

I think it's odd to see CP in the middle of the pack.  I note that you list it as having no formal instruction.  It's the only specialty track I can think of that requires someone to go to a full weekend training course, multiple times, to get to the Master Rating (TLC).  TLC, I would consider to be formal instruction, and its required for the Senior Rating to attend, and to teach at it for your Master.

In terms of time commitment, I would probably rank CP as one of the highest as the job doesn't end at the end of the meeting like most of the tracks do.

[MisterCD]

No historian.  Ahh, too onerous even to make the list.

[Eclipse]

I think it's odd to see CP in the middle of the pack.  I note that you list it as having no formal instruction.  It's the only specialty track I can think of that requires someone to go to a full weekend training course, multiple times, to get to the Master Rating (TLC).  TLC, I would consider to be formal instruction, and its required for the Senior Rating to attend, and to teach at it for your Master.

In terms of time commitment, I would probably rank CP as one of the highest as the job doesn't end at the end of the meeting like most of the tracks do.

You also have to serve on an encampment staff, which in most cases is going to be a minimum week-long commitment, assuming you're "just"
in a role with no planning involvement.  Much more if you're key staff.   The RST requirement has also been somewhat of an impediment,
since most wings hold only 1-2 sessions a year, some less. 

[lordmonar]

On the subject of RST......why is Wing holding it at all except at the begining of the encampment or Training weekend (assuming you do an NCOLS or something like that)?

Also.....AFAIK anyone can teach RST.

And according to the current CAPP it only takes about 2 hours to complete.

[wuzafuzz]

I would add some factors for hassle of performing the job.  For example tracks that require asset management may look simple from an advancement perspective, but the ordeal of accounting for equipment can be daunting. 

Convincing members to participate in an eyes-on inspection by a certain deadline can be quite a stinker.  Dealing with former members who don't return assets can be a major undertaking.  Logistics and Communications come to mind, there may be others.

There are probably other tracks that are tougher than their track pamphlets suggest.

[Eclipse]

On the subject of RST......why is Wing holding it at all except at the begining of the encampment or Training weekend (assuming you do an NCOLS or something like that)?

Any activity of 4 nights or more requires it.

[lordmonar]

On the subject of RST......why is Wing holding it at all except at the begining of the encampment or Training weekend (assuming you do an NCOLS or something like that)?

Any activity of 4 nights or more requires it.

And?   If you are doing a long activity....do the training before it....anyone can teach RST AFAIK.

[Eclipse]

On the subject of RST......why is Wing holding it at all except at the begining of the encampment or Training weekend (assuming you do an NCOLS or something like that)?

Any activity of 4 nights or more requires it.

And?   If you are doing a long activity....do the training before it....anyone can teach RST AFAIK.

OK - I see.  I meant that most wings have few activities of the duration required (4 nights).  But yes,
anyone could teach it, and any activity could use an RST, regardless of the duration, though I think you're
going to be hard-pressed to find many weekend or 1-day activities where people will be willing to give up 2 precious
hours for something that isn't required.

[Private Investigator]

Aptitude is a big deal assigning people to staff jobs. Usually I can guess who is being set up for an "epic fail".

Being an IG I knew who got stuck in the less glamorous jobs. Usually a SMWOG or a 2Lt in jobs like PAO, Safety, Logistics is a sure sign of the Unit's weakness. In Units with an aircraft, the Aircraft Manager is always the sharpest indiviual and their overall Logistics Program will be passable.

Last time I was on Wing Staff and I could run Wing wide reports. We had twice as many Master rated Admin Officers as compared to Master rated Personnel Officers, Wing wide. 

[Woodsy]

I have found that by "easiest" many new members really mean what takes the least amount of time-to-completion.  For example, some specialty tracks require a 6 month internship, some a 12 month, and I believe there may be some that don't have a stated time period at all. 

[UWONGO2]

On the subject of RST......why is Wing holding it at all except at the begining of the encampment or Training weekend (assuming you do an NCOLS or something like that)?

Any activity of 4 nights or more requires it.

What if the participant is staying less than 4 nights?

[Eclipse]

On the subject of RST......why is Wing holding it at all except at the begining of the encampment or Training weekend (assuming you do an NCOLS or something like that)?

Any activity of 4 nights or more requires it.

What if the participant is staying less than 4 nights?

It doesn't matter - it's based on the activity's duration, not the specific participation of any individuals.

[4fhoward]

I would add an additional requirement to the IG program.  To obtain the Master rating the IG has to conduct an actual investigation.  These can get nasty and drawn out.  The stress and planning is enough to make someone go grey.
At each level there is a separate course that has to be completed.  The final, IG college can be substituted for Region Staff College (RSC).  What other specialty track other the Legal can sub for RSC.

Also the IG has to be evaluated by the National IG to obtain the Master Rating.

The Legal, Health, Flight Operations, Standardization-Evaluation and Organizational Excellence specialty tracks has been left out.

Organizational Excellence requires master in Aerospace, Cadet and ES.

[SARDOC]

The final, IG college can be substituted for Region Staff College (RSC).  What other specialty track other the Legal can sub for RSC.

Chaplains and Safety

[ßτε]

The Legal, Health, Flight Operations, Standardization-Evaluation and Organizational Excellence specialty tracks has been left out.
Organizational Excellence requires master in Aerospace, Cadet and ES.

There are no real requirements for Legal and Health Services.

Flight Operations has been rolled into Operations.

Standardization-Evaluation is on the list.

Organizational Excellence is no longer a specialty track.

[Private Investigator]

I would add an additional requirement to the IG program.  To obtain the Master rating the IG has to conduct an actual investigation.  These can get nasty and drawn out.  The stress and planning is enough to make someone go grey.
At each level there is a separate course that has to be completed.  The final, IG college can be substituted for Region Staff College (RSC).  What other specialty track other the Legal can sub for RSC.

Also the IG has to be evaluated by the National IG to obtain the Master Rating.

IG has to be the hardest to get Master rated in.

[VNY]

I've sorted the scores from lowest to highest.

You left off "Organizational Excellence"  which on your scale would rate about a 30-40.  It rates at least a 10 just to get into it, as its the only one you have to apply for, and can easily be rejected.