from being a PL and doing this, to observing it in my lieutenants, PLs drink from proverbial firehouse and have challenge between empathizing with PSG and troops and carrying out CO’s vision, and that first rear-end chewing (if you have one of those CDRs) often sends lieutenant running into arms of PSG. The best leaders (IMO) are those who fo…[Read more]

Wade,

If you have the counseling’s to support this OER then I would by all means say that you are duty bound to write this negative OER. When the new NCOER came out while in command I had to give a SSG a qualified NCOER. In the out brief I was honest with him and said, “you are 5 out of 6” SSGs in my company. He started to get emotional and I l…[Read more]

The FM 3-0 update is sort of important, because if you combine that with the new Multi Domain Battle draft put out, we can see where we are trying to go. Plus, doctrine is always years behind where we all think it needs to be, so we should constantly review ourselves and try to improve our doctrine, which is supposed to be the basis for…[Read more]

TRICARE Changes effect me the most because I am a healthcare administrator. I am running the TRICARE “Take Command” Marketing Campaign for Fort Carson and the Colorado Springs Military Healthcare System beneficiaries- I should craft a post for this forum to highlight those changes for everyone. Rest assured, the TRICARE benefit will NOT change. We…[Read more]

MAIT (old-term already) and OC/Ts accomplish essentially a similar overarching purpose – allow organizations a chance to test their systems and look at themselves. We’re building SFABs for other nations’ – I want to know what systems and methods we’re thinking about to make us better and what we’re discarding specifically for that purpose as well.

Kenny,

This is one of the best questions I have seen on this forum by a cadet. Brock hit it right on the head. Lead them, do not try to befriend them. You will develop personal relationships in time but even still, there always needs to be a layer of professionalism with personal relationships with your troops. If you trust your subordinates and…[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]

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]

Initiative – I guide myself by understanding my senior rater’s intent and taking action/making decisions to get after it. if you wait to be told to do things you may be behind a bit. Early on, I had my boss pull me off of things (learning mistakes/growing pains) which is far better I was told after, than to be asked to “jump” on this or that.…[Read more]

read – “The Chaos Imperative” but ask yourself first these questions, as they may shape your reading lists. Consider the questions below, they’re drawn from my reflections as a JO, but really as an OC/T at a unique CTC:

1. If seniors say that Captains can’t train their units and aren’t given a fair chance to train their units, what can I do to…[Read more]

Yes, this is the story I remember reading. I believe this articulates what it means to be a leader. If I may take it a step further I don’t pretend to be a great third generation leader. I do know that everything I did as a commander became a role model for my soldiers. If I didn’t make it a priority then my troops wouldn’t. I can’t expect them…[Read more]

I started getting lots of VTIP emails once I was post-command and thus KD in my branch, I think everyone gets them, so plenty of time up to make the change. Officers who want to VTIP usually try to get KD time as CPTs done as quickly as possible so that the Army opens up; not all FAs require successful company-command or other KD – some do not. Lo…[Read more]

congrats.

set an agenda, look at the time, and then trim the meeting/time some and continue working at it, you get better as you go along. there’s lots of information to disseminate and get reports on but what are your priorities and what is important to you? I enjoyed the ability to set the direction of the ship, on what to train, what is…[Read more]