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Our articles are written by leaders from all walks of life on topics applicable to the development and success of junior officers in the Army.

Cultivating Culture

Micah D. Petersen

As the son of an immigrant from Zimbabwe, I have always been interested in how culture influences the way people think and how it is created.....

Daring Vulnerability: Strengthening Teams by Discussing Fear

Frances “Katie” Walter

Army Officers are called to lead courageously. But we don’t always associate courage with vulnerability.

An Unconventional Path: Lieutenant Experiences in USASOC

Various (see bios at the end of the article)

What follows is a collection of interview questions answered by lieutenants across the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The aim of the article …

You Keep the Lessons with You: Parting Ways with Teammates

Dylan Nigh

“Whatever comes, let it come. What stays, let it stay. What goes, let it go.” – Papaji

Butter Bar No More: Transitioning to First Lieutenant

Dylan Nigh

The ugly stepchild of promotions, the blink and you miss it moment, the one that was almost guaranteed to happen; these phrases and more have been used to describe the …

So You’re Getting Ready to Host a Cadet? (A Platoon Leader’s Checklist for CTLT)

Don Gomez & Seamus Matlack

Whether you were specially selected for this duty, eagerly volunteered, or were “voluntold” to host at the last minute, this checklist can help you provide …

CTLT: A Checklist for Cadet Success

CJO Leadership Fellows

This checklist will help you make the most of this incredible opportunity. It is by no means an all-inclusive list of things to do, but it should provide you a …

Why I Love Cadets – A Platoon Leader’s Perspective on CTLT

Joo Chung

It’s as clear to me now as it was then that CTLT was specifically developed for the benefit of future officers like her, but I think it’s negligent to claim …

What’s Real and What’s Fake? Impostor Syndrome and Leadership

Miguel Moyeno, Chaveso Cook, and Sarah Rosnick

Over the past few years, Impostor Syndrome awareness has grown in notoriety.....

The Commissioning Ceremony: Planning a Meaningful & Memorable Event

Ken Segelhorst

In two short months, cadets at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs across the nation will graduate and commission as …

Simple Things, Executed Well

Anonymous & James Watson

Some knowledge from the past... revisited

Part 3 — Making the Switch: What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Field Grade Officer

Don Gomez

This is Part 3 of a Series, view the series intro here and Part 2 here. Note: Quotes and feedback have been anonymized and modified for clarity.It has …

Your Last 100 Days: Preparing to Become a 2LT

Maxwell Myers

Congratulations! You made it to your last 100 days. While you are in your final stretch, the work you’ve done to make it to graduation is far from complete. The …

How to Become a Better Army Officer Through Golfing

Jordon Swain and Lorenzo Llorente

Golf can be a valuable leader development tool – and we are NOT talking metaphorically. Playing golf can help you develop actual knowledge, skills, and …

The Trap – Young Officers’ Data Use for Self-Analysis

Andrew Lightsey

During my OER outbrief for my first evaluation as a Captain, my Senior Rater began with words that shook me: “CPT Lightsey, the Army isn’t interested in how fast you …

What About our Junior Officers: An Examination of Mental Health in the Army

Gabrielle Alford and Kate Campbell

For the ones who have felt alone and the ones we lost.

The Mechanized Infantry Team Concept

Pat Serrato

A Primer on the Integration of Armor into a Mechanized Infantry Company

CONFRONTING YOURSELF: Developing Self-Awareness while Dealing with Insubordination

Matthew Pelletier

Carl’s insubordination was not limited to a single instance – and it did not appear out of the blue. His behavior began somewhat benignly but, unchecked, increased in intensity and …

What does it mean to be “second-in-command”?

Christian Nattiel

The role of an executive officer has manifold dimensions. Some of them, like resourcing training, are easier to grasp than others, like property divestment......

Turn Your Meetings Into Intrapreneur Workshops

Chevy Cook

Military meetings, in particular, can become more about color-coded slides and stats than predicting and tackling the projected problem on the horizon.......

Emotional Intelligence: A Step on the Path to Developing “People First” Leaders

Taylor Freitas

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is one of the most vital assets available to Army leaders; however, its cultivation often takes a backburner to other elements like …

Army Aviation: Alternatives to the 10-year Service Obligation

Patrick Hoffinger

The US Army is losing pilots at an alarming rate. About 10% of its active force per year exits the service for other opportunities, far beyond what it can hope …

Don’t Forget the Tactical and Technical- Building the Tools to Succeed as a Junior Officer

James S. McLaughlin

Junior officer leader development programs often have a strong focus on things like character, emotional intelligence, or the interpersonal skills necessary to lead formations or serve on staffs.....

Leading with More than the Rank on your Chest

Grace Brooks

In the words of one NCOs I worked with, “officers will always be shown respect simply because of the rank........"

Building Readiness through the Stoic Philosophy

Chris Slininger

"Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look" -Marcus Aurelius

A Soldier’s Death – A Leader’s Challenge

James Tollefson

I was a young Specialist standing guard in a small platoon outpost in Al-Karmah, Iraq in 2007 when time stopped. Dust particles froze mid-drift through the air.....

Make Room for the Antenna: Three Principles of Performance that Breed Success for Junior Officers

Geoff Logan

Three Principles of Performance that Breed Success for Junior Officers: Figure Stuff Out (FSO): see the problem, understand the problem, and identify a solution; Make …

Innovating the Bureaucracy from a Junior Officer’s Perspective

Addison McLamb

The US Army is a bureaucracy. And to most bureaucracies, “success” means cohesively rowing in unison – controlling variables at the individual level to create strategic cadence at scale.....

Lost and Found: Junior Leader Counseling in the Army

Michael Everett

How many formal counselings have you received during your military career? Can you count them on one hand? Two hands?

What do the U.S Army and Google Have in Common?

Mark Erwin

On many levels, the Army and Google are very different organizations.....

Three Things to Make You Good at Any Job

Lucas Thoma

Wisdom can come from the most unexpected places — like a bar.

Innovative Leadership in the Army: Four Lessons from a Start-up Incubator

Bryce V. Johnston

Many leaders in the Army would like to be innovative, but the task can seem so daunting that it is difficult to determine where to start......

WIN as a Platoon Leader in the Arctic

Alvin Cade

I knew Alaska would be extremely cold, but I just could not grasp how anyone could possibly train in this environment......

People First, Winning Matters: The Tightrope of Leadership

Connor Toomey

Take care of your Soldiers. From the first push-up of basic training to the first operations order brief of Officer Candidate School, to my incoming interview with my battalion commander, …

Making the Switch: What I Wish I Knew Before Becoming a Field Grade Officer

Don Gomez

Last week, the Army released the results of the 2021 Major Promotion Selection Board (PSB)......

Detailed Career Planning for the Junior Officer

Miguel Moyeno

One thing that you will learn quickly (if you haven't already) is that the path to navigate the ranks from Second Lieutenant to Captain can vary greatly.......

The Power of Cognitive Diversity for Our Military

Amy Saxton

As the modern battlefield becomes increasingly complex, the U.S. military will require innovative and adaptive thinking to meet diverse challenges. Foreign adversaries and empowered non-state …

First 90 Days as an XO (Part 3)

Hugh Kennedy, Lorenzo Llorente II, Andrew Bordelon, and Terry Lee

The purpose of this article is to help you understand the responsibilities as an XO, as well as actions you can take within the first 90 days in position for …

First 90 Days as an XO (Part 2)

Hugh Kennedy, Lorenzo Llorente II, Andrew Bordelon, and Terry Lee

After all, this is your first real test as an Officer and what you have aspired to be up until this point right? But what happens after your time as …

First 90 Days as an XO (Part 1)

Hugh Kennedy, Lorenzo Llorente II, Andrew Bordelon, and Terry Lee

But what happens after your time as a PL is over? More often than not you might find yourself serving as a Company Executive Officer.

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