My experience as an official Mini-SPO (Forward Support Company CDR in a BCT) was that I grabbed a Ranger Medic handbook and did hospital surveys on PDSS because MED LTs didn’t, and SPO MED didn’t want to. As a logistician, I was trained to plan medical support and had to do it in my unit. I wished they were a bit more aggressive and owned their…[Read more]

Position Cross-Training/Rotation – the tangible building blocks to a career which provide experience.

Personal Relationships – most important. Opportunity for juniors to express, reveal to busy seniors, what they’re doing, ask questions, learn about different paths, opportunities from those that’ve traveled them. Sometimes leads to future job…[Read more]

With the new year, it’s time to refresh and take the time to get to know one another again. So if you haven’t already, please introduce yourself!

Since my introduction above (last year), I’ve taken command of an MP Company (M-Day), and am about to become an assistant BDE S3 Officer (AGR). My unit has been activated twice for law and order…[Read more]

One of the things I was most excited about as a Company Commander was the impact I could make on my Soldiers. How could I best serve them, and help them to achieve the most in their careers during that time? Most of us know as JOs that we want to command. We all have experiences with Commanders that help mold who we do (and do not) want to be as a…[Read more]

@george.l.gurrola

It’s funny you say that; I was given 29 days from notification to taking the flag. What makes this fact a little more pointed, I’m National Guard which automatically limits the time and manpower I have available for inventories, paperwork, etc. So I dove into it. Luckily I’m also AGR (Active National Guard) so I could put my…[Read more]

Dallas,
I believe your response appeared at the bottom because you “quoted” the reply you responded to rather than “replied.” I know that sounds odd but that’s what appears to be happening. When I press “reply” to a sub-reply, the reply box opens directly under the one I’m responding to, however, if I press “quote”, I’m taken all the way to the…[Read more]

Brock,
We have no users by that name nor do we have any users pending approval by that name.

UPDATE: Brock, sorry, we DO have a member by that name but she has never signed in. She registered on 9 Jan 18.

I was inquiring about the status of KC Harris’ membership, (cassandra.a.harris8.mil@mail.mil), and to see if there any issues with her acceptance. please let me know.

Mike,

Welcome to the Team!

Tom

@snusom,
Unfortunately, leader development always takes a back seat when “metric based” requirements take up most of a drill weekend. This is ESPECIALLY the case in the Reserve Components. It’s not an excuse, just a point of discussion.
 
However that tends to be my opinion. Should an SFC be held accountable no matter what? Yes, however there are…[Read more]

@Cale,
Excellent post! Coming into my position as the BN S1, I learned a lot about officer and career management. Not many Guard LTs (or their chains of command) realize that they are eligible for promotion at 18 month’s time in grade (and have completed BOLC). Fewer know that a waiver MUST be submitted to NGB for approval if the officer isn’t…[Read more]

Dallas,

As a former special forces maintenance company commander I am very aware of managing expectations especially when it comes to readiness and training. Although a MTOE change would help tremendously, honestly, its not a realistic option. Instead focus on the things you can affect as a commander. Here are some good starting points.

1) What…[Read more]

You know it’s rough when the state CSM comes to talk to your company, asks about how much the unit’s been doing, and his eyes get wide when you inform him that the company has done 53 days of emergency activation and annual training that year…