Sorry to come in late to the discussion.  I thought the comparing definitions question very interesting – as I had a much different answer in my head before re-reading the chapter, then re-reading 6-22.

I thought the book definitions on leadership for both weren’t significantly different.  But I think from experience – and from the book – the N…[Read more]

Aloha! This is what I was able to gather from my husband who has ran this type of ranges.

Hope it helps!

“The attached Range cards (EXAMPLES) is what we utilize to qualify the gunners and assistant gunners on the Crew serve weapons in my unit.

They are both from TC 3-22×50 for the M2 Machine Gun and TC.

If you follow the ammo breakdown and…[Read more]

I come at motivating my subordinates from a side angle – I forbid then from using the word “just”. “I’m just a LT #pull the LT card”, “I’m just a SPC #ShameShield”.   Frequently when in a position of Staff OIC (and I’d say as officers in general), we’re the newbies in the room.  The NCOS and Soldiers have been there sometimes years ahead of us.  …[Read more]

The question is how do you define the term “best” for developing officers.  Is it promotion to Cpt, promotion to major?  For branches such as infantry where most of their soldiers are located at the brigade and below level, I think you absolutely have to serve in a maneuver brigade within your first 2 duty assignments.

Being a devil’s advocate b…[Read more]

Should you want to be “missed” from your organization after you leave? Why or why not?

I really like this question. As a co cdr, I saw the impact that short-sighted initiatives had on the unit.  As the book  Turn the Ship Around!   shows, this question relates to the fact that many officers (being pessimistic) drive their units to the ground know…[Read more]

Should you want to be “missed” from your organization after you leave?  Why or why not?

BLUF:  I’d like to be missed on both the personal and professional side, but I don’t want to be missed functionally.

Everybody wants to be liked, appreciated, and missed when they aren’t there (right?).  On the personal side, I’m no different.  I’d lik…[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]

Also,  Arianna, think about packing beyond the official unit packing list. Look at what is either very very generalized (‘hygiene kit’… “you know what you need, Soldier”) or not listed / implied (weather- / season-based gear).

To speak directly of the hygiene kit for a moment, female Soldiers need to be prepared with 1-2 months of menstrual…[Read more]

@arianna_howard : a small skill (implied most times), but a very important one, is radio etiquette.  It increases efficiency and clarity of comms, and (especially for both OC’s who don’t know you and the CC/1SG and fellow BN staff who is getting to know working with you) shows you know how to navigate the conversations. Quite simply, it shows y…[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]

Great question and way to think ahead!

First every MEDO has to answer the 10 questions.  How does your plan ensure that you can accomplish the 10 functional areas?  Running a BAS means knowing where to evacuate and when to evacuate.

Next the combat arm guys will (rightfully so) your plan to nest into their larger maneuver plans.  How are you go…[Read more]

Great question!  In my experience as a Guard PL and Commander 30 days is too long.  You have maybe 24 drills as a PL.  It will fly.

You should be having weekly conversations with your PSG at a minimum.  There is a ton that will happen in the space between drills and if you show up expecting to get a quick download you’re setting yourself up for…[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]

Brock,

Great discussion theme!  UCMJ and its application can have wide reaching impact on an organization’s culture.  As a young E4 I remember a buddy getting an Article 15.  Looking back it was justified and correct but what still galls me is that an NCO did the same thing and was just counseled.  When I challenged my leadership about this ine…[Read more]

Completely agree about carrying a book around with you, whether digital or analog! I read so much pre and post deployment because of SRP, etc. Just as you said, a few pages at a time.  It’s like the Chipper WOD applied to a book!! I ended up getting a work bag about a year after commissioning, and I always tried to have something in there to…[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?