Team – great post and follow-up comments! I agree that it takes initiative to chart the next step. A former officer I worked with asked me the same question and I mentioned the following:

1. Define the “next step.” Depending on your career timeline, what assignment does the Army recommend?  Does this fit your priorities in regards to your personal and/or family goals?

• each branch has their own career timeline and milestones. Branch disseminated a document with promotion milestones that will help you with your planning.

2. To answer “who is helping you manage your career?” I’d say its a combination of leaders I aspire to be (mentors), branch, fellow officers, and myself.

• After I defined my next step, I reflected on who I thought were the ideal commanders, S3s, XOs (take your pick on position) and sought mentorship. How did they prepare for their position? What experience assisted their development? These are questions that can help guide a mentoring session.

3. Lastly, my general advice to young officers is take self-development and professional reading and writing serious.  A mentor in the Pre-Command Course “among a bunch of  O6s”, highlighted how they wished they invested more time in self-development. They specifically highlighted professional reading and writing. While not all stars may align on your next step, one thing a junior officer can do is to always improve.

I hope this generates further discussion and questions. I’d be interested in your thoughts.

Best,
George