Army Communication & Information Systems Specialists (Sig Op, Lineman and LCIS Amalgamation)

[GreenIsGood]

I think someone may have taken a little artistic licence with the design aspect.  Certainly not design in the same sense that civvie street would use the term.  Even in the field, the ACISS folks are going to "hook up" to an existing network using portable gear in a predetermined configuration - no designing involved.

Oh. That's definitely not as interesting as the video makes it sound. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[aesop081]

guess where the military side of those NCM and NCO personnel will be drawn from? .... IST!

It will not only be IST.

 

[Occam]

It will not only be IST.

That's right....ATIS Techs will be there to ensure the job gets done right.  ;D

 

[Swingline1984]

That's right....ATIS Techs will be there to speak Klingon and eat all your donuts.

There, fixed that for you!  ;D

 

[REDinstaller]

Just like pigeons in the park.  >

 

[Occam]

Ah, you're all just jealous because we were smart enough to see these MES shenanigans coming and ran like hell to steer clear. 

 

[REDinstaller]

Just to get swallowed up by the Air Ops albatross and scattered like dust in the wind.

 

[Swingline1984]

MES is coming to a trade near you, it's not just an Army Sigs issue.  It is being implemented forces wide, we were just the test bed.  According to our MES managers it will soon spread like the plague, in fact there was just a CANFORGEN released talking about job based occupational codes and the death of the QL.

 

[merk102]

So I'm supposed to report to CFSCE on the 6th. I've re-enrolled on the 17th of Jan. Seeing as I don't have any kit when it was turned in when I VR'd (Stupidest mistake of my LIFE  :facepalm: ) I called the school and spoke with the Tp WO. Couldn't find me in the system. Surprise surprise. He said that there was a possibility of me being loaded in DP1.0, 1.1, 2.0 or DL. It would be great if you guys have links to posts that provide a general overview of what I should expect to do on these courses. I was originally Sig Op and heard that a lot has changed over the past 3 years since I left.

Any input would be great. I know a lot of people aren't fond of the ACISS amalgamation but I'm excited to see how this has changed and if any improvements to the general day to day operations have resulted due to it.

On a side note, I was re-enrolled as Pte (b). Out of curiosity, where does that figure in the Pay Scale they provide on the forces.ca? Pte 1,2,3?

 

[Sig_Des]

32 Pages on the amalgamation here, good start:

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/77029.0.html

In the C&E Forum, lot's of topics.

If you have access to the DIN, here:

http://aws.kingston.mil.ca/Projects/ACISS/Communication/ACISS%20Structure%20Overview1/Home.aspx

As far as the Training, unless you were credited any QL Training, expect to do your DP1.0 (common to all) and be posted to one of the Sig Sqn's or JSR for OJT. Following that, unless you go to one of the sub-occ's, you won't likely have a 1.1, as there isn't one for ACISS core. Following that, DP2.0, also common, and reminiscent of QL5. The DL portions is prior to DP2.

So basically, wait and see.

 

[Robert0288]

On a side note, I was re-enrolled as Pte (b). Out of curiosity, where does that figure in the Pay Scale they provide on the forces.ca? Pte 1,2,3?

Pte r,b,t is independent of the pay scale which works through time in.  Not 100% sure but you should be credited your previous service time toward your pay level.

 

[PMedMoe]

Not 100% sure but you should be credited your previous service time toward your pay level.

Not always and not always commensurate with the actual previous time.  I lost about a year's previous service when I got back in.

 

[JBP]

So it appears not much else has come out on this issue other than... Your now a ACISS-whatever...

Except, I was told by the career manager himself that he has the power to post us in any ACISS position. So, even though I'm an IST, they COULD, per needs of the army etc... Post me into a ACISS CORE position like a CP Operator or HCLOS Det member etc... Interesting. He said obviously the idea of the entire trade amalgamation was to streamline everyone after a certain point, but that they planned to be able to plug & play us as needed.

How do we like them apples?

In any case. It's all said and done with! Only other change is that all the -IST types in my Sqn are now in 1 Troop, our IT troop.

Anyone else notice any changes? Any other final news floated around about it all?

:2c:

 

[Swingline1984]

So it appears not much else has come out on this issue other than... Your now a ACISS-whatever...

Except, I was told by the career manager himself that he has the power to post us in any ACISS position. So, even though I'm an IST, they COULD, per needs of the army etc... Post me into a ACISS CORE position like a CP Operator or HCLOS Det member etc... Interesting. He said obviously the idea of the entire trade amalgamation was to streamline everyone after a certain point, but that they planned to be able to plug & play us as needed.

How do we like them apples?

In any case. It's all said and done with! Only other change is that all the -IST types in my Sqn are now in 1 Troop, our IT troop.

Anyone else notice any changes? Any other final news floated around about it all?

:2c:

The Manglers are people.  People are fallible.  Therefore the Manglers are fallible.  Don't believe half of what those folks tell you as they know as much about MES as the marketing department for New Coke knew about brand loyalty.  While there is flexibility built into the system, it is supposed to be at the DP1 and 1.1 levels.  If you leave IST to fill an ACISS hole it is paramount to an OT as once you are successfully boarded and selected for the DP2.1 level your MOSID changes.  They have to backfill your empty billet and then you may not be able to go back if another empty position that fits your career profile isn't available.  This does not mean you won't be available for TEMPORARY employment outside your sub-occ should the need arise.  The brief on ACISS says it gives "Commanders mission tailoring ability", it says nothing about Manglers playing bored General with a sand table.  This doesn't mean it won't happen, it just means your particular Mangler is rolling his PERs and smoking them.

 

[jmlane]

Extremely eloquent response, Swingline1984.

Perhaps this is slightly off-topic here however it is related to the ACISS amalgamation: is it reasonable to assume you will have a choice of your DP2 training and specialization within the ACISS trade? Can you be "held back" at the core level until an opening for your choice of DP2 course/posting is available? Ultimately, e.g., how possible is that an ACISS with interest specifically in IST gets stuck with CST or LST?

 

[Sig_Des]

Extremely eloquent response, Swingline1984.

Perhaps this is slightly off-topic here however it is related to the ACISS amalgamation: is it reasonable to assume you will have a choice of your DP2 training and specialization within the ACISS trade? Can you be "held back" at the core level until an opening for your choice of DP2 course/posting is available? Ultimately, e.g., how possible is that an ACISS with interest specifically in IST gets stuck with CST or LST?

I don't see any likelyhood of being "stuck" with CST or LST. I can foresee someone being with an interest in sub-trades being "stuck" in the Core trade.

As far as choice, you'll identify your interest in a sub-trade, should you wish, but it won't be automatic that you get into it.

 

[jmlane]

I don't see any likelyhood of being "stuck" with CST or LST. I can foresee someone being with an interest in sub-trades being "stuck" in the Core trade.

Thanks Beadwindow 7. That is somewhat better in my mind than the alternative. Perhaps someone with personal experience or whom is better informed will correct me on my assumption.

As far as choice, you'll identify your interest in a sub-trade, should you wish, but it won't be automatic that you get into it.

Sure, as per everything else in the CF. My question was in response to Sig Joeschmo's following allusion:

[...]
Except, I was told by the career manager himself that he has the power to post us in any ACISS position. So, even though I'm an IST, they COULD, per needs of the army etc... Post me into a ACISS CORE position like a CP Operator or HCLOS Det member etc...
[...]

Just a minor concern that any ACISS could be trained/posted in a sub-MOC that they have little to no interest in, due to "operational requirements" at the time.

Thanks for entertaining my questions.

 

[Sig_Des]

Just a minor concern that any ACISS could be trained/posted in a sub-MOC that they have little to no interest in, due to "operational requirements" at the time.

It can go one way, and not the other. In all the Management training I've received for the amalgamation, the MES Manager has been quite clear in that unless you're trained in one of the sub-occ's, you should not be employed in one of the positions.

The crux here is, as everyone to the DP 2 level is considered ACISS Core, even if you receive a specific DP2.1 and fall into that sub-occ stream, you have still been qualified to that core level DP 2, and can therefore be employed as such.

 

[jmlane]

Ah, that makes sense. Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Swingline1984]

The crux here is, as everyone to the DP 2 level is considered ACISS Core, even if you receive a specific DP2.1 and fall into that sub-occ stream, you have still been qualified to that core level DP 2, and can therefore be employed as such.

Yup...definitely has all the hallmarks of a Sigs driven initiative.  The equivalent of trying to fill a 10L bucket with 20L of water and then blaming the bucket when it overflows.  What was Einstein's definition of insanity again?