@pstofan, @rakimball, @chris_s – this is great input and advice for others!

I really like the putting 1SG’s sig. block on the Leadership Philosophy. It demonstrates unity, especially if you continually reference it throughout command (as you should). I also think you bring up great questions for reflection that provide a great framework for the…[Read more]

@falcon6 – thanks for your input! I think we should spread the good word about JO Forum.

How long have you been in command?

Do you have Ft. Hood’s commanders course POC? I would love to reach out to them!

Paul, great questions. I was in your shoes a couple of years ago and asked numerous leaders the same question. Here are my thoughts.

1)  Yes, broadening opportunities are seen as detours but some say not anymore. In my opinion, as deployments have decreased and new challenges arise (cyber, China, Russia, etc), the importance of broadening and…[Read more]

@pstofan – this is a great question! Moving this to a new discussion.

Thank you for your great input.I’d like some trends you mentioned.

1- It sounds simple but to do well immediately taking the guidon, you have to adequately preparing and having a tentative plan. Some implied tasks are having administrative requirements complete, asking the outgoing commander for priorities / upcoming events, and asking the state…[Read more]

@chris_s that is a great point about legal.  Here is my advice for those commanders who do not get a chance to attend a CCFSPCC or do get a slot a year into command because they are backlogged.

1. As chris_s and others state, get a legal briefing. Visit your JAG! Get a sense of the UCMJ trends in your unit and what the processes are for subm…[Read more]

@brock.j.young– this is a great post and quote.

“Everything we do is training”

This is important because it gets back to doing what your purpose is. My old commander advised I focus on what the company brings to the fight. Everything else should support that purpose. Equally important, are the doing the things that sustain that purpose like…[Read more]

Steven, @spatelis,

Great question and input. I think mission and environment dependent, we will have to slowly become more familiarized with  implementing cyber and ew effects at the tactical level. There are great AARs from NTC that demonstrate how company commanders are being affected by cyber and EW. At the very least, we should encourage cyb…[Read more]

@logisticus Plain and simple I totally agree and think you are on to something. This is exactly what I did as a CPT and plan to do the same as a field grade.  Unfortunately, I don’t think our system, personnel and culture specifically, are set up that way. For one, branch managers and senior leaders are always pushing to “knock out” KD early.…[Read more]

Jeff,

This is a killer thread because of killer contributions, such as yours and others before you!  My hope is that new commanders read this thread so we can get further feedback.  I like how we are all building on information that has been provided.  Here are my thoughts on building what you mentioned.

1. Leader book. This is definitely ne…[Read more]

I saw many of my peers leave the force after command. In my experience, I found that recruiters were getting better at targeting certain officers. There were fellow officers who had anywhere from 2-6 deployments and at the end of the day were wore out.  You also have to consider the appeal of going back to school with the GI Bill. I was surprised…[Read more]