I will go with an answer towards build the vocabulary and telling a story:

For the USAR/ARNG TPU and M-Days, there is a straddling act with regards to how we talk about money.  While on active duty what we make is a known known; everything is a simple click away on the various DoD sites.  The only variables are generally BAH and whether a S…[Read more]

I don’t have an SOP, but I can share some TTPs.

I’ve had 4 SMP Cadets during my time in the Guard, and each situation was unique based on what year they were and where we were at in the (at the time) ARFORGEN cycle.

I have always assigned the Cadets into an HQ PL role, but at the same time I tried getting them exposed to as many leadership…[Read more]

I would recommend “A Bridge Too Far” https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075784/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 for its staff dynamics and primers in groupthink and its mission impacts.

Here are a couple example conops:

https://juniorofficer.army.mil/?s=conop

Bringing this discussion back!

Company commanders, anything new to add?

How has recent strategic guidance (Large-scale combat ops, Focus on China/Russia, focus on ‘expeditionary’ etc) impacted your command or unit?

– What are your first steps toward leader-leader?

The author said it best, “each organization is different and unique. The people making up the organization have different backgrounds and a different level of tolerance for empowerment.” Given that view, leader-leader model starts with assessing yourself, how you (as a leader) fit in your…[Read more]

Ness, I feel you on this one. I just assessed to USAR as an AGR and have struggled at this. A couple of thoughts right off the bat:

1. Geography matters. How close are you to a USAR Mission Training Complex or to your assigned 1st Army partner brigade?  Both can be leveraged to provide some mentors to facilitate MDMP during your BA weekends.…[Read more]

The question is how do you define the term “best” for developing officers.  Is it promotion to Cpt, promotion to major?  For branches such as infantry where most of their soldiers are located at the brigade and below level, I think you absolutely have to serve in a maneuver brigade within your first 2 duty assignments.

Being a devil’s advocate b…[Read more]