The key is to re-read your existing regulations and skip a paragraph or two down.  There is usually a NG paragraph there.  Key to learning is to dive in and talk to a SME ask for the AR they’re quoting and read it for yourself.

As an M-day commander I rely on my full time support staff to help.

I always chuckled when Officers complained about staff positions.  Uh, you do realize that Officers only command Soldiers at three levels, right? Company, Battalion, and Brigade…? Two of those really aren’t guaranteed and in the case of a Brigade Commander, you’re essentially managing the battalion commanders and their staffs.  The rest of yo…[Read more]

Tiara,

Thank you so much for mentioning your vision and philosophy for command.  I really liked your emphasis on volunteering outside of work.  That is awesome.  Are there any key components of your vision and philosophy that rang especially true or applicable in regards to leadership?  You mentioned caring, and creating opportunities; how did…[Read more]

Brock, more years than I am willing to admit to ago, there was a saying painted on my DFAC’s wall at basic: training is everything and everything is training. As a leader I invest time in understanding what training requirements are and how can I incorporate it into the daily routine. For example many of the medic tables can serve as AWT task…[Read more]

I’m curious – how do people use these resources in the execution of their TM responsibilities in their organization?

Do you take notes on your Soldiers after having a “personal relationship” conversation with them? Do you pass around “TM books” or hold a “LPD book club”? Do you talk about articles discussed in “professional affiliations”…[Read more]

Ah “When everything is a priority, nothing is…” Both the most obvious thing we battle as leaders, as well as the most prevalent.

I agree. There is MORE that goes into it, however we have an issue within the Reserve Compo, and that issue is the simple lack of time. I have seen instances when a SPC learned something at a course, and because there…[Read more]

Honestly, it’s taken me 19 years in the Guard to understand it, and I’m learning something new everyday.

The additional sticking point with “the Guard,” is that there are also 54 different versions of how to do the same thing. Some smaller states have less red-tape; some states have more JAG involvement then is really needed; some states just do…[Read more]

Cale,

Awesome! Congrats on the command, and thank you so much for all of your contributions and leadership. I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I will send you a message soon so that we can talk over the phone or via e-mail if that is okay? You are welcome, as you have already so many times, to post your experiences, and I…[Read more]

As a logistician, I was skimming over the comments and have a few more suggestions for you.

1. Become best friends with your Brigade Mobility Warrant.  That transporter is critical in getting your gear moved from Point A to Point B.  You are the go-between between your Unit Movement Officers (usually your Company XOs) and the Mobility Warrant w…[Read more]

CSDP takes deliberate time and focus even adhering to it on the training calendar and letting your immediate boss know why you can or can’t accomplish something.  BN say it’s a “recovery task” I didn’t see us properly recover any time we went to the field and came back. Laying out all the equipment properly and correctly just takes a lot of tim…[Read more]

Lot’s of great advice here. You are the staff advocate for that FSC commander. While he or she is the senior logistician having a great relationship with them will pay great dividends in the end. As an XO you knew how much fuel and everything else you used… or at least you should have. Continue understanding that and understand that now you are…[Read more]

It will come from BN. In the 2.5 years I was with my BSB we had three different ways of setting up the BSA. One was a square, the next was a circle and the last one they were going to implement when I left was a triangle. They all had triple strand Cwire and gun pits along with either one main ECP or a secondary for vehicles to leave from. Gun…[Read more]

We didn’t develop a Company SOP, but I have a BN SOP and some other products that might help. The only SOP we developed for ourselves at the Company level was a field recovery SOP, which I’ve attached to this reply. Let me know if you want me to add some of the other documents, I have an OPORD and other annexes that might help.