Intro! I’m Brock Young, one of the facilitators for the ARNG/USAR Community. I’ve been a member of the forums since 2012. I’ll admit much of that first years was spent as a lurker; checking out posts, downloading stuff I could use, but not much more. It was when I put together my first PSG counseling and posted it looking for feedback, that…[Read more]

As @logisticus said, be yourself.

I actually provided a similar answer to a similar question: https://juniorofficer.army.mil/discussion/relationships-with-enlisted-personnel/#post-928

Read books to get to understand more of the science of leadership, watch your leaders to assess their performance, and pay close attention to your own performance…[Read more]

The following is anecdotal, but conveys an answer to your question quite well, I think.

I have a long history of being considered overly professional, too strict, and robot/lacking interpersonal skills.  I’ve spent a lot of time working on this as a leader, both prior to and during leadership roles.

One of the key, consistent pieces of advice I…[Read more]

Joe,

You can take this farther than simply “command philosophy,” and put in broader terms as Leadership Philosophy. Attached is mine from when I  was a PL (yes, PL). I know not many platoon leaders get this in depth, but from my experience having my philosophy on paper, as something that could be held, looked at and discussed with the Soldiers…[Read more]

A thought; I’m not seeing the BUG HUNTER tag in the “Discussion Tags Area” anymore.

Maybe add a “BUG HUNTER” or maybe a “Submit Forum Feedback” link under the MORE INFORMATION column?

At the platoon level, in the case of low morale, I would take a two-pronged approach.

First, I would focus on the platoon itself.  Put your ear to the ground, talk to your PSG, and try to figure out why things are low.  Develop a plan with your PSG to engage the platoon in whatever “slices” you see necessary – lower enlisted, NCOs, Squad L…[Read more]

I had a good number of these while in command.

For me, one of the biggest focal points was on treating the troops stuck in the middle of these personal problems more as people and less as troops in a very private, pressure-free setting.

I should note I always pushed the message of preventive action by NCOs.  Our NCOs, whether at PLT or Company…[Read more]

I had a good number of these while in command.

For me, one of the biggest focal points was on treating the troops stuck in the middle of these personal problems more as people and less as troops in a very private, pressure-free setting.

I should note I always pushed the message of preventive action by NCOs.  Our NCOs, whether at PLT or Company…[Read more]