FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
At U.S. Army South on Fort Sam Houston, Department of the
Army civilian employees and military personnel work together every day to
accomplish the mission. However, the rules and regulations for civilian and
military personnel are very different and supervisors must know what to do when
it comes to civilians.
The Department of the Army has mandated all supervisors take
an online course, which covers the entire spectrum of supervisor development
and gives managers a general outline.
In addition to the online course, Army South conducted its
first supervisor development course Oct. 27-28 at the Army South headquarters
to provide military and civilian managers with the training and information
needed in order to execute their duties and responsibilities as supervisors of
civilian employees.
“This course is Army South-centric and provides the
face-to-face knowledge that has been lost from online courses,” said Army South
human resourses specialist Nicole Smith. “It is tailored to our command and
allows supervisors the opportunity to ask questions and acquire knowledge they
would not get from the online course.”
There are misunderstanding about civilian employees and
supervisors’ relationship and the supervisors’ role as a leader. The course
provided the opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on specific
supervisory situations.
Maj. Chris Folk, Army South political military affairs
division chief, is new to a supervisory role to four civilian employees and
said the class was very beneficial.
“I learned the availability of resources within our command
and knowing where to go to facilitate our role as supervisors,” Folk said.
Throughout the course, participants learned the process in
hiring and firing civilians, disciplinary actions, leave, awards and benefits.
Participants also learned what it takes to have an effective and functional
relationship between employees and supervisors.
According to Bill Maner, Army South chief program guide
branch, the course provided him with the latest information and resources on
the supervisory role.
“I learned the function of supervisors is to remove
obstacles by having honest and open communication with employees and to promote
honesty and trust within the office,” said Maner, who has five years of
experience supervising civilians within the command.
As a trainer and civilian human resources expert in the
command, Smith is confident any supervisor who takes the course will benefit
and improve their ability to manage and lead their employees.
“Our hope is that they will at least walk away with a better
understanding of how to supervise civilians and know who the key players are
when they need assistance,” Smith said.