Have you ever felt that you both drink too much, yet also too little? Thats BOLC in a nutshell.

In all seriousness, don’t stress about it. You’ll have time to acclimate. That week between when you report and when ‘class starts’ is the perfect time to get comfortable on post. If that date is really what I remember it meaning, thats the official…[Read more]

A few things, feel free to take all with a grain of salt.

1. I think its awesome you make your guys brief in OPORD. I am not a fan of CONOPS either.

2. In my opinion, I would consolidate all the Completed Training, slides 5-10 on to one. I don’t see the point in having one for each platoon all for only one week. That way you can compare the…[Read more]

I am afraid I disagree. I do not think the Army, Branch or your unit will overly care about your BOLC eval.

At least as far as I have seen across the Army, as long as you were not a recycle, no one else in the Army is going to care about your eval. Your passing means you should know how to be whatever MOS you are and to ready to serve as an LT on…[Read more]

Ray, thanks for the reply! What happens when leaders visions conflict? Is there a negative impact to “pigeon holing” a leader into a manager’s role?

Can you explain the difference between a transactional and transformational style? How common are transformational leaders?

Adam,

Messaging is a key component of leadership, one I admittedly struggle with. Delivering a message that gets my vision across but allows my team the latitude to act. Empowering and supervising, sometimes it feels like I’m on the wrong end of the fulcrum no matter what I do…

My question to you is how did the SCO’s actions change how you lead?

Ray,

I agree completely that management is a crucial skillset for officers. Personally, I always viewed anytime I was on staff or acting as a staff officer I was operating as a manager. Focused on helping the Commander realize their vision.

I think a strength of the officer corps is the balance we attempt to make between time spent in…[Read more]

I wish I had known not to worry so much about it. It is just an azimuth leveler for all 1LTs/CPTs in your branch to make sure they have all the same general knowledge. Do well, but do not stress about it. No one is going to look back and ask you how well you did at CCC, just know your job and relax with your family to get ready for that terrible…[Read more]

Jeff,

Failure; its like a four letter word but you’re so right. As an LT you are going to fail. What sets apart the awesome from the rest isn’t the degree of failure but rather the response to failure. Those who learn the real lesson become better leaders.

I was told that if I didn’t fail at least once a day I wasn’t trying hard enough.

1.  Meetings: my last training NCO had a binder that said “the meetings will continue until we figure out why no work is getting done”.  My rule is this a meeting is for making decisions.  Every meeting must have inputs (information needed to solve the question), discussion (actual problem solving), and outputs (typically an order).  I don’t mee…[Read more]

Staying healthy for me usually involves signing up for a race of some kind to keep me motivated and focused on a goal. I have gotten Soldiers, Peers, and Coworkers to do some of these races with me too. It’s a lot of fun. Even when organized PT may disappear from the picture, working out is still a huge way to build teamwork, camaraderie, and…[Read more]

I agree with the above. Also get the EST prior to and if possible with the range. Docs, Nurses and allied health specialists don’t range often. They typically are the least comfortable with weapons. The EST is an outstanding marksmanship tool. You can do all the PMI aspects in a safer environment, develop familiarity with the weapon and even…[Read more]

Ron,

Here is a CONOP my MED TM Detachment did for a M9 range. Also, listen to Steve… he kind of hits everything I would say.

I hope this helps.

~ Joe

I wish I would have done a full PMCS in a motor pool on a vehicle using the TM and using same equipment, do a T&I layout and do a sub-hand receipt for that equipment. Also, where I would check the vehicle’s specifications – capability.

I arrived at my platoon and my PSG proud with his NCOs for their push-back ability would say, “LT, that vehicle…[Read more]

you are lucky. I enjoyed my XO time.

Have a good tracker/board or spreadsheet w/ 5Ws, most importantly when something is due, and where you check progress (IPRs). Importantly, who does what, and ensuring they understand up-front and will cash that check.

Do not let people not meet their obligations. Do not micromanage as in, if it takes them…[Read more]

Kristen,

This is a great questions and one that is near and dear to my heart.

I was an HHC XO when I was a LT in the 82nd. I wish I could say that I had it all figured it out, but I worked crazy hours. I would come in early, before PT, and get as much “desk” work done as I could. When you are an XO, I always felt there was 1 to 2 meetings I had…[Read more]

I am getting ready to do my first annual training event with a brand new unit. 25% of my unit is in a REP-63 status, guardsmen who have enlisted but not attended basic and AIT yet. While they are in 63 status they drill with another unit designed to get them ready and keep them ready, I won’t see them for two years in some cases. Why is this…[Read more]

I had a young troop who was being less than stellar. His NCOs tried to handle it but he was unreceptive. So they brought it to me.

I took a different approach. Rather than the usual, fire and brimstone approach which had failed, I looked at the young man and told him this. You have all the power right now. I am not going to go out of my…[Read more]