I’m currently transitioning to a BN S1 position and observing how they operate and for me I do best with writing things down on my green book and/or writing it on a white board so I can have physical visibility of what I need to do or refer back to.

My XO on the other hand is all about calendar events and WTO so that’s something I’ll be getting used to!

Brother, every organization is unique… so on and so forth, disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer.

Now, down to business. Yes, you should be planning your calendar a full fiscal quarter in advance. Yes, you should be “locking” your calendar 6-8 weeks in advance. Then (optional – my personal technique), you should go nuclear when there are changes…[Read more]

Ray, I just want to take a moment to thank you for this forum and the opportunity to grow and develop the future of our Army!  Thanks!

I’m in the middle of my second M-day company command.  The key to success is engagement and thinking ahead.  You need to start with what you need to accomplish at annual training upfront and then backward plan your MUTAs.  I always have a sacrifice training event set aside to cut in the event of last minute taskers from higher.  Typically your XO…[Read more]

There was a great post on this very topic by @X70037,  https://juniorofficer.army.mil/personal-battle-rhythm/.

Personally I use a mix of three primary things that help keep me on track.

First, outlook. It’s great for those reoccurring meetings, things sent from “higher,” things I can link to my cell calendar, etc.

Next, I have my white board f…[Read more]

Unfortunately what I’ve seen teach JOs (to include myself) to plan has been experience; in all its cruel and drinking from a fire hose form. My first drill back from deployment as an BN A-S3, I found myself not only the acting S3, but also the acting BN XO (yes, you read that right) going into an MDMP session that was developing the next year’s…[Read more]

SLAP HANDS! SLAP HANDS!!

I tell my young LTs, “if you want to be a step above most of the other people in the Army/Guard/Reserves, do two things; be halfway competent, and give a sh*t.” From my observations, those are the hardest two things to do. Knowing your job, and caring about doing it right seem simple, however look left and then look right; see many accomplishing…[Read more]

I would add this; fine, you’ve gotten your branch and you didn’t want to be a (insert branch here). Well, do your best. Be the best (insert branch here); get great OERs; make a difference to those Soldiers who may not have had good leadership until that point…

And then re-branch.

I don’t know how hard it is in the AC, but in the Reserve Compo…[Read more]

This reminds me of the relationship that my SQDN had with a medic platoon in the HHT. The Line Medics were all “assigned for duty” to the Line Troops. No problem except … there weren’t MTOE slots at those Troops, there were only MTOE slots with the PLT in HHT. So all medics were Assigned to HHT, but many had duty (were attached) to those Line…[Read more]