We never had an “SOP,” but I used common sense factor TTPs as well previous military experience, to decide on how to develop them further.

Year 1/2 SMPs with no/little military experience; I would attach them to a team leader and then squad leader. Let them learn the ropes at the team and squad levels and see down and dirty, tactical level…[Read more]

From what I’ve seen (in the ARNG at least), LTs and CPTs don’t know enough about the bigger picture. The “why” behind the things they are required to do at the company level. Why things are formatted the way they are; done the way they are; where they need to go to find information, etc. I’ve seen officers fail miserably when they go from PL to XO…[Read more]

Not to totally agree with everyone here, however agreed! Your initial counseling is just that; the INITIAL counseling. It will show your subordinates what your expectations are going forward, as well as what they can expect from you. Course corrections and head-space-and-timing checks can take place at that 3-6 drill mark. Like you, I had some…[Read more]

@vanezzaospina,

I think that’s where people get jammed up needlessly as well; grammar. How I articulate something is different than how the next person does, and I’m sure it’s the same across the force. I would offer that grammar is less important than content when it comes to the achievements specifically  (which is why the SOP/policy is so…[Read more]

@cale,

Excellent point (so much so I added a #4 to my original post). Some of the old salts have seen and maybe experienced those times that UCMJ action could have been leveraged but wasn’t, and how much better the outcome was because of it. The situation becomes a teaching point that has long lasting positive effects, opposed to something that…[Read more]

fightingengineer, rbernheim,

You both make excellent points about the positive aspects of GCSS-A in the supply and dispatch realms; what about maintenance? Any experience or thoughts on those aspects of the system?

@cplenge,

It’s something that I see constantly. Whether it’s dealing with promotions, or filling key positions. The organization no longer chooses the “best” to promote or fill much needed jobs… We chose “who’s available.” I literally heard a BDE CDR state, when asked about a certain person filling a certain position, “don’t give me any sh*t,…[Read more]

@vanezzaospina ,

As others have brought up, I would strongly recommend you get your Commander’s guidance on awards, and make that a policy letter and or SOP. With this, you’re doing two things; 1) you are making it clear as to what a commander expects from award write ups he/she’s willing to sign, and 2) holding the commander to that same…[Read more]

I would recommend reaching out to USAR units that might be near to where you’re going to be, and see if you can SUTA (that’s a National Guard term for drilling with another unit/at an alternate location). The USAR is lucky in the fact there are USAR units in Europe, the Pacific, etc., so it should be doable. That’s not to say it might also include…[Read more]

I’ll have to think about some of those things (being I’m still a CPT), however there is one thing that I have seen time and time again in officers who are in similar circumstances to myself; that being AGR (active) in the Guard. Full time officers in the National Guard (and I’m sure it’s the same in the USAR) quickly forget that the bulk of the…[Read more]