Great topic!

@vanezzaospina is absolutely correct. Seek out your counseling if you haven’t received it. In my experience it’s rarely been more than a check the block, “here’s where I think you should go next” sit down, and opportunity for the higher CDR to poor upon you some of the highlights of their own careers. With that said, it gets you…[Read more]

@cplenge,

Precisely. All too often we forget that there are two careers and lives at stake in one of these situations. Thankfully I have not had to deal with a sexual assault under my command or when I was a PL (knock on wood…), however being an MP for over a decade I have seen a couple of them. Over the course of my career, there have been 8…[Read more]

I get VERY clinical with things like this and suicidal ideations. Have a process or a battle-drill beforehand, something, and then practice it. When you’re done, put it in a drawer, pull it out every couple of months and practice it some more.  You have to KNOW how to react when it happens, before it happens. Because when it happens a lot of…[Read more]

@cplenge
Well, let’s take a look at your points.
“Is it really a leader’s responsibility to teach others to drink responsibly?” Is it my responsibility as a leader to ensure an SFC knows how to be a platoon sergeant and act in a manner that meets my expectations? SHOULD we have to…? No, probably not. However do we find ourselves in positions w…[Read more]

I’m trying to get time with my SR in order to force some conversations. I’m sure other functional area officers may see some parallels to my predicament:

I’m an FA57 in a USAR ECAB. They haven’t traditionally filled this role, but here I am. I switched components from NG to USAR AGR, and in doing so lost some progression time so my first look for…[Read more]

Hi George!

I can only give a small input on regards to this from my experience (although not in command)…while working at the BDE, I made it a point to get into my DCOs (SR) calendar for my initial, after receiving a “verbal counseling, the DCO PCSed  within 3 months. When I tried getting a new SR counseling with the new DCO, my boss said not…[Read more]

How about commanders of ARNG HRF, CASE, or QRF units? Are there any tips you have for those commanders of those specialized stateside missions? @cpth, you’re a commander of a CASE element, any thoughts?

I’ll provide a slightly different perspective. As a cadet, I served in reserve units for three years prior to commissioning and entering active duty. While I can’t speak specifically on the transition like brock.j.young did, I can say some things are different.  Unfortunately, there is somewhat of a perception of reserve units. However, like most…[Read more]

@rakimball,

Plan on things being slightly easier, while expecting more to do. As a Reserve compo officer, you could have what amounts to 2 full time jobs; your civilian career and Guard/USAR position.  In the AC you only have one. Yes, you might have a couple of additional duties, but from the experience of several deployments, life is MUCH…[Read more]

Jeff,

Those are the ones that always get me too. I’ve never been haunted by the hard calls. It’s the ones where I took it “easy” on someone who could have gotten slammed. I had to relieve a PL – the reason’s not really important – however it was one of those things that people said, “you relieved him for THAT?” It could have gone either way I…[Read more]

Overall, I agree that we should get together and discuss concerns among peers while having ‘drinking’ as an option. I agree that we can come up with a better name and have actually been to a couple of The Strategy Bridge events named “Cigars, Scotch and Strategy.”  While I attended these events, I did not partake in the cigars and scotch and…[Read more]

Chad,

I don’t know why it has to “center” around booze, however as adults, supposed professionals and leaders, shouldn’t we be allowed the option? Like I said, it’s all training. How can you expect someone to pick you a rifle and qualify unless they’re trained? Same with professional, social interactions. If all a young leader’s experience when…[Read more]

@vanezzaospina,  @adam.szczypka

We (my BDE) are trying the who weekly FRAGORD thing, and it’s a nightmare. From my observations it’s been completely reactive and inefficient. BNs to BDE “So you’re telling me to do something TODAY, that will be in a FRAGORD Friday?” BDE response, “Exactly.”

It might be a little different since we’re a Guard…[Read more]

I am new to WTO and waiting on more guidance from S3 to understand how it works but…a WTO is a weekly tasking order and has the same information as an OPORD just in a more condense manner.

I will get back with more specific info on WTO and end result of them as I am getting ready to write one for the new BN S1 hours of operation 🙂 .

I’ll also…[Read more]