Can you turn the “P” in LPD into “Personal” and do the dog-tag exercise, or perhaps the Great Teams exercise?  This would help with team building and personal connections.  Just a thought.

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]

It’s a little more than CYA, it also helps you keep grounded as a leader as to what the decision was. What was decided? What was agreed upon? I look at my own command guidance as an azimuth check for myself. Am I (underline) adhering to the contract? Am I (underline) keeping my side of the contract?
But you’re correct, the counseling, the…[Read more]

@ae_rollinson,

Digging into my upcoming annual training period (my company has been designated SIM Cell and OPFOR… yes, I bought a special uniform) I wanted to throw another point out another thing that would greatly help out commanders and PLs; go to your local Training Support Center (TSC). Walk around, get their catalog, see what they have…[Read more]

@kamalu76 — Though you speak about living conditions, you’ll need to actually get there first :-), so here are a couple JO Forum discussions that might be of interest to you as well:

Do It Yourself Move

First Move

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]

@chris_s – have you listened to our very own Leaders Huddle?

Leaders Huddle is on iTunes and also on the Google Play podcast platform.

@bmcgarry,
Very good point about the 1059s. As a former BN S1, I always told the unit’s to PERM the doc as soon as the SM gets back, but then that is also an ARNG thing.

As an NCO for close to 10 years and then an officer for 16 more, here is my take:

1.  As @Lucas.v.hobbs mentions, as an NCO I wanted to be “friends” with my lieutenant/captain but to me that meant having a friendly/joking working relationship.  I did not expect to be friends that went to dinner together or spent time at each other’s house.  I jus…[Read more]

@Joe,
However, I think I went off on a tangent. To your original point, what kind of relationship do you have with your NCOIC? I honestly think it depends on your level (CO, BN, BDE, etc), Branch/MOS, and duty positions (e.g. PL/PSG, Command/1SG, S1/NCOIC, etc.). It also depends on the confidence and trust you have in your NCOIC, their knowledge…[Read more]