@vanezzaospina – Great work on filling in systems gaps in your shop. This work will go a LONG WAY towards stabilizing processes and creating predicability for folks. Keep in mind that with systems creation, it is a steep learning curve, but the outcome is worth it, every single time. So keep at (with this or other projects)!

BLUF: TCS orders…[Read more]

@chris_s , this is the second time I’ve stumbled upon you on the Forum here and not recognized you! Ha! Your road trip and partner-in-crime sound awesome! Happy listening.

I just saw your original post included ‘listening to news’. Recommend NYT “The Daily” for 20-30 min deep dives on a single topic, and then a 1 min recap on ‘here’s what else…[Read more]

@adam.szcypka – ahh, I think I understand now. So you’re using “it wins wars” as the can-opener to get people riled up and engaged in the topic. Yes?

I’m finding this a challenging topic, for sure. Hopefully that means you will get a great discussion out of the LPD! I admit that I’m not following your arguments very well. I’m guessing these are…[Read more]

@chris_s – Here’s my 2 cents. For me, leadership isn’t strictly the military aspects of the Army, but how we interact with people, why things are so, and applying lessons others (mil and civ) have learned in their own experiences. So, for me, it’s a very wide lens to try to pick up TTPs. That in mind, here’s my list of pods that I keep coming…[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.

I’ll second that about iPERMS! Brock, I’d say it’s a great Army practice, regardless of COMPO. Between boards and continuty of service and, eventually, records compilaiton for future generations, I’d suggest records of the like are very important to file as soon as you can. It’s always easier to do a little bit of work at a time instead of doing…[Read more]

This is a fascinating idea, good question! In short, I would say that officers have the role of “planners” and enlisted have the role of “doers”. Now disclaimer – that is a gross oversimplification (even if stereotypes are mental shortcuts) and very watered down. It’s kind of a rephrasing of @spatelis – if you’re constantly trying to plan into the…[Read more]

@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]

@murphys_law – I’ve never seen it, what resonates with you about it?

@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]

For the group, can this mean training more than just the ATN, T&EO training tasks?

What about intangibles like professionalism, discipline, respect? Can, how and should these be “trained” as any other skill?

@cpttimswanton,
Excellent tie-in to the COS’ number one priority.

One that I keep coming back to again and again is “Imitation Game” (2014). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=nv_sr_1

I saw this film after an assignment in INSCOM and it really resonated with me just how much dialogue strikes the nitty-gritty of intelligence work. I think most people focus on the cool guy persona with having a higher…[Read more]

Awesome! Could you go into more detail or even add a video link (YouTube)? What aspects jumped out at you? Was there a behavior a character consistently models to show a result you highlighted to your Soldiers? What jumped out to them?

Ah, politics… Both a pro (if you’re in the in) and a con (if you’re in the out). Personally, I learned a long time ago that you have to learn to play the politics game; one way or another. You learn to play, or it will crush you. However, as you said, in order to be successful and still maintain your professionalism, learn to play the game but…[Read more]

On of the best I’ve seen, and actually blew Soldiers away when I show them is an old one called The Devil’s Brigade, 1968, staring William Holden, Cliff Robertson, and Vince Edwards. It’s an excellent example of planning, preparation, and execution, as well as a character driven, opposed to special effects driven story.

To echo @ae_rollinson, check the JTR or even check out MilSuite/book.