Mac,

You’ve come to the right place for resources! Can you add a comment to your original post with (generally) what your formation contains as organic assets? From there, the community can help you either find or develop some effective TTPs/SOPs.

“The strength of the wolf is the pack.”

As an NCO for close to 10 years and then an officer for 16 more, here is my take:

1.  As @Lucas.v.hobbs mentions, as an NCO I wanted to be “friends” with my lieutenant/captain but to me that meant having a friendly/joking working relationship.  I did not expect to be friends that went to dinner together or spent time at each other’s house.  I jus…[Read more]

@murphys_law – I’ve never seen it, what resonates with you about it?

@Joe,
However, I think I went off on a tangent. To your original point, what kind of relationship do you have with your NCOIC? I honestly think it depends on your level (CO, BN, BDE, etc), Branch/MOS, and duty positions (e.g. PL/PSG, Command/1SG, S1/NCOIC, etc.). It also depends on the confidence and trust you have in your NCOIC, their knowledge…[Read more]

For the group, can this mean training more than just the ATN, T&EO training tasks?

What about intangibles like professionalism, discipline, respect? Can, how and should these be “trained” as any other skill?

@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]

@cpttimswanton,
Excellent tie-in to the COS’ number one priority.

In Chapter 11 LT McDonough’s patrol base is attacked and forced to respond. What sticks out to you as he describes his actions during the defense of his position? How does LT McDonough bring all available resources to him into the fight? During the battle LT McDonough is again faced with a tough situation while working with two Cobra gunships.…[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]

One that I keep coming back to again and again is “Imitation Game” (2014). http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=nv_sr_1

I saw this film after an assignment in INSCOM and it really resonated with me just how much dialogue strikes the nitty-gritty of intelligence work. I think most people focus on the cool guy persona with having a higher…[Read more]

This is such a killer thread, and I’ve wanted to contribute here for a hot minute. I’ve cycled through four commands. All of them were the best time in my military career… hard, but SO kick@$$. Taking Command is like becoming a parent. You won’t feel ready, but you are at the same time.

So, understanding that there is LOTS of great advice here,…[Read more]