Chris- thank you for sharing you the lessons you’ve experienced early on in your command. I think both are critically important yet, they don’t readily surface as issues.

It’s great that you identified the importance of face-to-face and doing battlefield circulation. This is definitely a consideration for future commanders depending on their…[Read more]

Kelsey, these are GREAT questions and really dive deep into the heart of this dual-military struggle. Thanks for contributing them! I’ll be sure to incorporate your questions into my main posts to go through some more scenarios, but here’s the information to address your questions sooner rather than later.

For PCS: I almost always cc my spouse…[Read more]

I’m really mulling over the second part you posted (resisting the urge to solve problems). It’s really resonating with me as I deployed 2 months after joining my 2nd unit. I was given quite clear guidance that I was a big kid and didn’t need to wait the ’30 day window’ to make changes, but just execute, fix, and repeat time now.

Someone (I don’t…[Read more]

This is awesome, Gregory! Glad the training event was successful and you’ve got a mark on the wall for improvement, as well focus areas for future training. Thanks for the follow-up story!

This is awesome, thanks for sharing your time and efforts!

What a great question! Tools and best practices! Fire for effect! Good news at the bottom.

For straight XO resources, this old post has some awesome products. Follow the instructions to access the digital dropbox.

For time management resources, your commander may have provided you counseling similar to the attached. The important part is the…[Read more]

Kristen,

This is a great questions and one that is near and dear to my heart.

I was an HHC XO when I was a LT in the 82nd. I wish I could say that I had it all figured it out, but I worked crazy hours. I would come in early, before PT, and get as much “desk” work done as I could. When you are an XO, I always felt there was 1 to 2 meetings I had…[Read more]

@cale – I just rediscovered this post from last year about my comment as well. Thought others might find it interesting just as I did! https://juniorofficer.army.mil/discussion/relationships-with-enlisted-personnel/

Ray, I had a fascinating discussion with another officer today about this memo from CSA & SECARMY.  This other officer proffered that TRiPS is better due to its standardization – no room for interpretation, a Soldier did the review of their route and was told risk mitigation or they weren’t.  I countered that, while TRiPS is standardized, a f…[Read more]

I wish I had gotten more education / exposure to working with both NCOs and junior Enlisted. Looking back, it is something that is really best understood through experience, but I think I only was introduced to a few NCOs my whole time at West Point (and their job was to be in charge of me, less working with me). A really helpful experience that…[Read more]

I am getting ready to do my first annual training event with a brand new unit. 25% of my unit is in a REP-63 status, guardsmen who have enlisted but not attended basic and AIT yet. While they are in 63 status they drill with another unit designed to get them ready and keep them ready, I won’t see them for two years in some cases. Why is this…[Read more]

I had a young troop who was being less than stellar. His NCOs tried to handle it but he was unreceptive. So they brought it to me.

I took a different approach. Rather than the usual, fire and brimstone approach which had failed, I looked at the young man and told him this. You have all the power right now. I am not going to go out of my…[Read more]