Tiara,

Great post about bonding/motivating your organization through physical fitness!  I used a similar event while deployed to Ukraine; a half-marathon race in Lviv.  After engaging my leaders with my completed registration form, my Troop began focusing on a challenging event to participate in rather than just maxing the APFT.  I watched my s…[Read more]

Just a “for instance,” did you know that the Ordnance Officer Branch Qualification (91A) can be earned through distance learning?

ATRRS course search; ORDNANCE OFFICER BRANCH QUALIFICATION (ODBQ), 4-9-C20-91A (BQ) (DL).  This “functional/subordinate-branch” then allows ARNG/USAR officers to branch transfer at/after CPT to the Logistics Branch (…[Read more]

Tiara,
Most ARNG/USAR units find they have issues with this sort of thing from time to time, and that is absolutely the reason. With ARNG/USAR Soldiers, you don’t have someone who is able to commit to the military 100% of the time. The very same thing that is ARNG/USAR’s greatest strength and makes “us” a favorite of deployed commanders, is also a…[Read more]

Tiara,
Most ARNG/USAR units find they have issues with this sort of thing from time to time, and that is absolutely the reason. With ARNG/USAR Soldiers, you don’t have someone who is able to commit to the military 100% of the time. The very same thing that is ARNG/USAR’s greatest strength and makes “us” a favorite of deployed commanders, is also a…[Read more]

Not yet, I’ll have to check it out.

Ray,
Honestly, if it affects unit readiness then leaders have to at least acknowledge it. Joes who can’t feed their kids, or pay their rents, or owe predatory loan companies, take time, energy, and man-hours from maintaining unit readiness and training levels.

The AC is lucky in that they “own” their Soldiers and can take direct action, direct…[Read more]

@Joe, excellent points and post!

You’re spot on with the fact that the NCO-Officer relationship must be built on a foundation of trust. Nothing else happens without it.  A new officer needs to make an analysis of their NCOs and determine the level of trust he/she has with them (this says nothing with all the ways the officer needs to be earning…[Read more]

@Joe, excellent points and post!

You’re spot on with the fact that the NCO-Officer relationship must be built on a foundation of trust. Nothing else happens without it.  A new officer needs to make an analysis of their NCOs and determine the level of trust he/she has with them (this says nothing with all the ways the officer needs to be earning…[Read more]

I cranked through most of the MCoE reading list over the last couple of years, with my favorites being “Once an Eagle,” We Were Soldiers, Once and Young,” “Platoon Leader,” “Gates of Fire,” and of course, “Starship Troopers.” However right now, I’m slogging through “Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.” It’s not necessarily on any reading list,…[Read more]

Jayleene,

I think Brock and Scott are spot on, and to better help answer your question; what branch are your or do you know what you will most likely be branched based on availability/ranking?

Expectations may differ based on branch.  For example, I arrived to my battalion as an Infantry officer and was immediately assigned to a platoon.…[Read more]