Our articles are written by authors from all walks of life with the intent of developing and inspiring the Army’s Junior Leaders
Mental models are the conceptual frameworks that we use to explain how parts of reality work.......
Articles
Volunteering, while no panacea, may be one of the best activities junior officers can do outside of duty hours. Let’s talk about how this often-unexplored …
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.
Army Officers are called to lead courageously. But we don’t always associate courage with vulnerability.
The purpose of these weeks was clear: To show me that I was an absolute disgrace who should not be listened to, and not worthy of the honor of leading …
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 …
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 …
The Captain’s Career Course is an amazing experience, and you can learn so much from it. To be successful you need to start preparing before you enter the door. Take …
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 …
When faced with an extremely challenging adverse situation (civilian or military, personal or professional), how do you handle it? Do you knuckle down, and face it head on? Do you …
"Sign for this." A common phrase throughout one's Army career, usually associated with a gut drenching feeling of hesitance. So, what does this phrase actually …
When my fellow platoon leaders and I first met our Company Executive Officer, he immediately told us, "I'm not your friend, and I'm not here to answer your stupid questions."
Junior leaders across the Army have rich and deep experience participating in training events and in many cases designing, executing, and assessing them. This guide …
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.....
Eventually, this incident and my reflections since have led me to consider the importance of inclusive mentoring. Inclusive mentoring means mentoring across demographics that are …
Was it Mel Gibson's portrayal of then LTC Hal Moore in We Were Soldiers or Bill Murray's performance in Stripes that most enticed you to join the service? How about …
The role of an executive officer has manifold dimensions. Some of them, like resourcing training, are easier to grasp than others, like property divestment......
AR 600-20 addresses other issues between Soldiers of different grades, but social and dating scenarios are typically the riskiest and most likely to occur for …
When Platoon Leaders brief Operations Orders (OPORD), their briefing styles typically fall into one of three categories: a doctrinal style, a layman's style or a teaching style...
What follows are some lessons learned from a Rifle Platoon Leader in an Infantry Battalion and an Assistant Operations Officer/Battle ‘Captain’ in a Cavalry Squadron.
How do I read more this year?" Many people you know have probably set a goal that encompasses this; maybe you even set a goal like this yourself. However, have …
Dual military couples face many decisions. Changing names in the military has many considerations, whether in the military or not.
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, …
Have you ever wondered how the officer promotion process works? This article pulls back the curtain and demystifies that process.
Property can be one of the biggest challenges a Company Grade officer faces on a daily basis....
Troop-level command, for me as a prior service NCO, has been the professional highlight of my 14 year Army career. I just want to share a few simple lessons after …
The purpose of this article is to provide insight into three U.S. Army Functional Areas from three separate officers who recently assessed into them. The respondents answer some very basic …
How do you, as a junior officer, ensure you get an MQ, not an HQ? The reality is there is no way to guarantee a particular block -- but there …
No officer worth their weight wants to admit it. Being anxious or afraid prior to your first deployment is something you aren't dealing with -- it is something someone else …
Every year throughout the Army, junior leaders from The United States Military Academy at West Point, The Reserve Officer Training Corps, and Officer Candidate School …
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 …
Army leadership at the company level is usually about the how, as in "How I accomplish the mission." We tear through Paragraph Three and focus on Tasks to Subordinate Units …
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 CC/PL Team asked "What would you do different if you could start your relationship over again with your Platoon Sergeant or a new one?"
While it is vital that you take care of your people, company leaders across all services must take ownership and care for all Soldiers, regardless of unit, duty status, or …
A simple phone call challenged everything I knew and believed about leadership. The challenges of commanding the COVID Task Force drew on every one of these ideas and introduced new …
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 …
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 …