Patrick,

“Fire and replace” is absolutely one method I’m trying. I recently reiterated to my company that Soldiers should be hungry for their next promotion, and be doing the things that they need to do in order to be ready for it. Things like volunteering for training and teaching opportunities; going to schools when you’re eligible instead of…[Read more]

Along these lines, I’m dealing with this very situation right now.

I was tasked with a high level security mission (guarding an aircraft for a high level government official that may or may not rhyme with VPOTUS), with 24 hours notice, and needed 15 personnel; 1 officer, 1 SSG or above, and 13 PVT-SGT.

I got 3 volunteers. One of those was AGR…[Read more]

Agree with you and at the GO-level right now the talk is to find ways to give Captains more time to train their troops, which they are legally-bound to do.

I am not saying I did not do this as a commander, just that I don’t think I was ever able to give it the necessary depth it required, and thus the outcome of the training was ‘good’ training…[Read more]

When a Soldier or officer has honorably reached the end of their initial term of service, I believe we need to thank them for doing their part, ensure that they have some type of plan for post army life, and offer to help them in any way possible.

Different posts have different issues – some based on location and some based on leadership, etc -…[Read more]

RMAS comes to Hohenfels and Grafenwoehr to train, including USMA cadets. Its a good experience to see the European theater. EU is our #1 trade partner, and our #1 priority is NATO, more so than the Pacific. Having a primer on NATO and what Europe is like, if you come here after USMA is perhaps one of the best opportunities especially for a young 2…[Read more]

I would recommend you sit them down and have them brain dump. What did they learn, how would it benefit others coming up the line. One of the biggest issues I’ve seen in the service is the loss of institutional knowledge that takes place any time someone ETS/retires without passing on what they know. How many projects have you had to complete,…[Read more]

Good Monday morning!

From my foxhole, junior officers are the front line raters and counselors, so they are the ones who actually know what talents, strengths, etc., that their Soldiers have.  What they should be doing with this information is then communicating it higher. This can be in the form of counseling, recommendations on future p…[Read more]

Good Monday morning!

From my foxhole, junior officers are the front line raters and counselors, so they are the ones who actually know what talents, strengths, etc., that their Soldiers have.  What they should be doing with this information is then communicating it higher. This can be in the form of counseling, recommendations on future p…[Read more]

Good Monday morning!

From my foxhole, junior officers are the front line raters and counselors, so they are the ones who actually know what talents, strengths, etc., that their Soldiers have.  What they should be doing with this information is then communicating it higher. This can be in the form of counseling, recommendations on future p…[Read more]

The fact you’re asking here and now already puts you ahead of your peers. To caveat off a couple of things @logisticus mentioned.

Standout by knowing and doing your job – doing it to standard, efficiently, and effectively. If you don’t know, ask. If you want to know a better way to do something, look for it. The NG is full of young officers who…[Read more]

The fact you’re asking here and now already puts you ahead of your peers. To caveat off a couple of things @logisticus mentioned.

Standout by knowing and doing your job – doing it to standard, efficiently, and effectively. If you don’t know, ask. If you want to know a better way to do something, look for it. The NG is full of young officers who…[Read more]