<p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>For a Company meeting I expect to get a detailed breakdown of how each of the subordinates units are doing. This is a critical task especially for a National Guard Company. The leaders contact with their Soldiers is primarily over the phone or email. So finding the details and issues is paramount when your face to face time can be as little as 48 hours in a month.<span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”>  </span>The meeting should focus on personnel issues such as pay, DTS, schools, MNDs, the real ankle biters. As the Executive Officer, I make sure the Platoon Leaders are tracking what the boss wants briefed what he is going to key in on and what he really wants to see in products. I have the section heads along with the PLs and PSGs present for the meeting so that all parties are available if questions need to be directed during the meeting. Briefing as usual should follow the BLUF and give the Commander what he needs to know. This is the time to voice in a public forum for assistance or seek clarification from the leaders in the room on specific tasks. The effectiveness comes with getting the line leaders the answers they need from the appropriate staff sections. Additionally, the Commander gets a well-rounded picture of the upcoming events, issues, and to ensure his/her leaders are on point. Really, an effective meeting is where the Commander can walk out and say I have a warm and fuzzy where everything is. Or say I need to apply pressure on these issues to insure the mission is on track.</p>
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<p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>For higher level meetings. I prepare by not only reading my slides, but the entire BN staff and other Company’s slides (If available) prior to the meeting. You can learn a lot from what the higher command is putting on their slides to see the focus and what questions the commander may have. Additionally, you can see your fellow Commanders or units slides to see what their focus is, what their issues are, and when asked how are they handling them. These are all things that can you tuck away and use as an example when you have to make decisions on similar situations. When presenting, remember the basics BLUF and be brilliant and gone. Tell the boss what information is important to him/her. As a JO you can make the meetings purposeful by first listening because at any point another leader may ask a question you know or have some experience in that others may not know. A JO should be driving the important facts and knowledge from the ground level. The JO is the direct link to the Soldiers and their representative for their voice. As a JO driving the information coming from the Soldiers is only going to make the unit stronger. Don’t hold back knowledge or experience shared to you as a JO. As one day it will help another leader make a decision down the road.</p>
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<p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>1LT Samuel Courduff</p>
<p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>Executive Officer</p>
<p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>330th Military Police Company</p>
<p style=”margin: 0in 0in 0pt;”>Guantanamo Bay, Cuba</p>
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