Stay Focused on the Basics.

The soldiers of the Army are leaning forward in their foxholes, taking aim at the changes in the Army--changes such as controlled access onto Army installations, new technologies and, for some, fewer personnel. That means some of you are working through change while doing the same job with fewer people. In this time of change, I ask that we remain positive and stay focused on the mission.

Now is the time to focus on basic soldiering skills. You must know, cold, the proper wear of the uniform, drill and ceremonies, manual gunnery, gunnery theory or solution (learn them again, if you've forgotten), procedures on the gun line...and the list goes on. As soldiers in the Army, when we are directed to change our way of life, we must snap sharp, proper salutes; practice all military courtesy; and be in the proper uniform looking smart.

Now, I'm not saying we don't do these well already. But what I am saying is that when challenging times come--and we have had some challenges and will see some more--too often the basics slip. Important things like standards slip.

I mentioned manual gunnery and understanding the gunnery solution and theory as a basic. When I came into the Army, manual gunnery was the primary means of computing and determining firing data for the cannon artillery in the fire direction centers (FDCs). Yes, times have changed, and we have to be flexible. We have the advanced Field Artillery tactical data system (AFATDS). Its new software will compute the firing data. But a well-trained NCO understands the basics of gunnery--understands his trade.

The knowledge of basic skills also pertains to the Cannoneers on the howitzers. They need to know how to lay the howitzer without the help of a ground positioning system. The same basic knowledge applies to the forward observers. They need to know how to accurately identify targets and send an accurate location of the target without using computerized equipment.

New technologies, the computers, are fast, convenient and reliable pieces of equipment, and we all must know how to operate them to take advantage of their capabilities and speed. Such luxuries are great to have, but they have the tendency to cause the human to stop practicing and understanding the basics. And, some day, God forbid, you or the soldiers you trained may need those basic skills to accomplish a critical combat mission in degraded operations.

The basics for the NCO have never changed. The NCO trains and takes care of soldiers every day. Training and caring for soldiers is a part of continually enforcing the basic standards. Enforcing the standards could be something as simple as making on-the-spot corrections in the wear of the Army uniform or as difficult as ensuring the gun crews can fire their howitzers to time and accuracy standards as they go into a combat zone to fight a powerful adversary.

You and your soldiers must know your trade. You won't have time to hook up a computer, get on the Internet and find out how to give first aid, and you won't be able to pick up your cell phone to call someone to find out what to do next. When the time comes, you and your soldiers already must know first aid and what to do next.

There is no excuse for not training to the standard. Never just train to the amount of time allotted for training--train to standard. I agree with and fully support the article written by CSM Thomas J. Donohue, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) Artillery, Germany, in his May-June 2001 article, "Are You on the Train or Still on the Platform?" He wrote, "We must train soldiers using hands-on repetitive, realistic training until they meet the standard."

We must practice what the Army Chief of Staff stated, "Ensure that our soldiers are physically and mentally prepared to dominate the next battlefield--that no soldier goes into harm's way untrained." Yes, he means training in the new technologies, but he also means being mentally and physically prepared. For example, soldiers must be prepared to compute the gunnery solution or conduct land navigation when computers fail or vehicles break down.

Training in all aspects, to include the basics, is the duty of the noncommissioned officer. Fire Support, King of Battle, Field Artillery!

Command Sergeant Major Rodney L. Beck became the CSM of the Field Artillery in May 2001. His previous position was as the CSM of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Artillery at Fort Drum, New York. He has served in every combat leadership position from Section Chief of a Field Artillery Battery Fire Direction Center to Command Sergeant Major. He served as a Battery Nuclear, Biological and Chemical NCO, Drill Sergeant, Gunnery Instructor, Field Artillery Battalion Operations NCO, Operations Sergeant for the Commander-in-Chief of Europe Airborne Command Post and has more than six years as a First Sergeant and two and one-half years as a Battalion CSM. He is a certified Computer Repair Technician.