Command in the Guard: its  a second full time job and if you aren’t willing to commit to that don’t do it.  You’re full timers are gold, use them. If you can’t trust them work on replacing them. Get to know your battalion’s AO.

1) Your best tool is your m-days. There is nothing to say your full time staff should run your APFT, ranges, UPL ect. I inevitably put an M-day in charge of these tasks. The full timers are there to support your M-days.

2) 30/60/90-120 is your friend.  You have to control your calendar aggressively.  You need to lock in tight and early so your M-days can support it appropriately.  Great integration of M-day and full time support looks like resources and aids present on arrival on drill day.  Also, always leave an hour or so of time set aside as jump through your third point of contact time.  Inevitably someone at echelons above reality will design a last minute issue or thing to do.  Know what you can flex off each drill.  The TAG wants a mandantory NGAT brief, ok we will use Commanders time or my underwater basket weaving time.

3)  social media is your friend.  More than once I saw an issue on social media before it was raised.  Also your troops post every thing on social media.  There were times I saw warning signs of suicidal ideation, financial mismanagement ect based on posts.

4). Ultimately as a commander your there to facilitate and resource your soldiers.