You may or may not be aware, but the Army has published TC 4-11.46 Sustainment Unit Gunnery and Live Fire Exercise Strategy. This a relatively new TC (DEC 2016). Chapter 7 goes through crew evaluations. I hope this helps.

Logisticus, what do you wish you had learned? If you could reach out and ask for help what would it be?

to beat deadhorse – communication is glue.

training and certification shouldn’t be two different things but sometimes are by virtue of many factors. I favor training, that builds muscle-memory, confidence, competence, familiarity. I commanded in a time when there was no time to train. This realized, its improving, tools being given to JOs.

I say…[Read more]

At OCS I learned landnav, how to write a squad-level OPORD and think back fondly on the experience.

At TBOLC I learned basics on being a UMO – it was an easy, enjoyable time, much spent in classroom. I wish more had been practical hands-on (go to an actual motor pool, participate in services and motor stables), learn practically about property,…[Read more]

First, welcome to the profession!  Being a platoon leader is an awesome experience.  You will learn more about the Army in your time as a PL than just about any other assignment.  I think its awesome you’re thinking ahead and planning.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, it can be daunting to counsel someone who has so much experience. It…[Read more]

Michael,

Welcome back from the field.  I love a point that you made, their success directly contributed to my team’s success.  Such a crucial concept that gets missed in too many leadership books.  We are only as successful as we allow our teams to be.

As to logistics, I think a key to success is understanding if I don’t have it, where can I ge…[Read more]

NCO Corps especially our model is a recent thing and one other armies want to emulate because it is working within framework of mission command. Normandy (D-Day) is a fine example of mission command: everyone knew the mission, intent, end-state and executed once they became separated. Back then, there was one radio per company – so how did they…[Read more]

A good NCO worth his/her weight in gold. One of the most satisfying parts about being an officer is getting to work with/partner with NCOs.

After absorbing doctrine, I shrug and say- communication is the bedrock for all outcomes. I am not smarter, more talented, maybe just wiser for the scars I bear, and have prioritized communication vs. mission…[Read more]

As an Officer, I have always strived to lead from the front in terms of physical fitness. I believe that the discipline to stay physically fit can be modeled in other facets of our lives as well. Physical fitness is extremely important in the military, and I don’t believe you can preach that unless you are modeling it. I was always out at PT with…[Read more]

Yes, it is absolutely worth attending. It’s important to have relationships with your installation entities so that they’re at your service to help out, and vice versa. Having good relationships with ACS, Family Advocacy, and Legal during my Command time was incredibly valuable to my success. Even if you can’t pay attention 100% to the death by…[Read more]

We have 2 MPFs. Prepo stocks are protected by, same thing that guarantees logistics: California, Texas, and New York all have a higher GDP than Russia, basically we have a country which far out-produces all enemies combined. We own all 10 super-carriers, which have 7 times the capacity and capability of the 10 non-US jump-carriers on Earth. U.K.…[Read more]

I am lucky enough to know Pete Kilner, then Ray Kimball, Jon Silk, Tom Morel for a few years now. I was interviewed as a PL in Afghanistan back in ’12. I say lucky, because its a real pleasure to serve alongside Americans passionate about helping others.

I benefitted from the forum as a PL and have tried to give back.

for my WFF: sustainment, it’s site occupation procedures, concealment and dispersion. A quartering party site-recce, IDs routes in/out and plans missions/movement in & out with enemy observation considerations. it’s actively reporting up enemy air (UAVs, quadcopters).

most importantly, often-seen is forecasting requirements to limit time on the…[Read more]

posted some T&EOs, and now will attach some more products here:

-see sustainment nodes arrayed vis-à-vis OPFOR and BLUEFOR. One tank and two armored vehicles exploited a seam and took out all sustainment units before these 3x OPFOR armored vehicles were killed with a Carl Gustav (only FSC to ever kill 3x armored vics at a cost of losing the…[Read more]

George, never attended, but wish to add a parenthesis here: what if they opened up broadening opportunities before KD, the LAST thing you did as a Captain? Imagine having 4-5 years to grow as an officer before you commanded troops. I got voluntold to command 30 days after pinning Captain. Similarly, there’s some notion that many Majors str…[Read more]