Advice for a brand new direct commission BHO?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:34:00 -0400

As an NCO for 6 years, my advice to myself: listen to NCOs. And as a BHO (edit: Behavioral Health Officer), I know I'll need to remain approachable. I'm sure I'll learn about how to behave like an officer by being around them. But I'm thinking ahead, and curious about what thoughts might be offered here.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Aug 31 at 2021 4:47 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:47:24 -0400

For the dummies in the room like myself, what is a "BHO?"

Response by CPT Enrique M. made Aug 31 at 2021 4:57 PM

CPT Enrique M. — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:57:18 -0400

Open door policy, be approachable. Still remember you are a soldier first.

Focus on your PME!

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Aug 31 at 2021 4:59 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 16:59:46 -0400

Be yourself, and listen to your NCO's. Oftentimes, I have seen some (only some) Mustangs have a bit more of an issue than those of us that had no military experience and were direct commissioned. My next door neighbor at my first base was one of those, his wife was worse.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2021 6:04 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 18:04:12 -0400

Well, it looks like you are a medical corps officer in the NG at the Brigade level. That said, so it looks like you are less exposed to really getting in the weeds with soldier issues in regard to readiness, accountability, and company/platoon oversight. Just my guess.

I think I suffered from not having OCS in my TRADOC process. POOF you're an officer. All the "how to be an army leader/officer" was not bestowed upon me. Direct commissioning means I was largely entrusted to already have it. It says "this guy doesn't need OCS".

Now, I was an NCO, but didn't get any designated officer training outside of BOLC. Then I took command only a year into 1LT time and was basically just treading water just enough to keep from drowning the whole time. Compound that with being USAR TPU and really, we are only talking about a few months of experience (collectively) before getting in the deep end.

I think this goes for any position. Look to see what your mentors and peers do. Just enjoy the moment. I look at my position now as a CPT (only a year TIG) and the window will close to me very soon here to maneuver my career direction. I can take another command, and I bounce around a few staff positions, I can maybe change into another Branch. Once I hit MAJ those pathways close to me.

I think the jab at Mustangs was the pent up power trip ready to pounce on Sr NCO's we had to tolerate while subordinate to them. That said, a NCO will give you all the rope you need to hang yourself if you want it. So be very sure of yourself where you exercise military authority and when, and in what context. NCO's invariably belong to someone higher than an LT.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Aug 31 at 2021 8:04 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 20:04:39 -0400

The Army hired you for your social work skills and rank on you ( especially while a JO) is as worthless as tits on a bull. I started as a Civil Air Patrol cadet, enlisted at 17, and when I commissioned I WAS a 2LT and expected to be treated as I did the officers over me. Either I gave too much respect or it just does not work that way in the new millennia. Do I think this is right, no, but you were asking for advice. Realizing you are a healthcare provider and understanding what you can best do for soldiers as a provider is the best thing you can learn early.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 31 at 2021 10:36 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 22:36:37 -0400

I wrote a PTSD Paper to help people I want you to read. The medical branch is quite unknown to me. These are my suggestions:

- Ask your boss what are the expectations for you are.
- Provide world class support.
- Take care of the people under you.
- Have some fun. Build up morale.
- Illuminate your expectations and standards for the unit.
- Build a good culture of values and operational expectations.
- Understand Troop Leading Procedures and OPORDs. I really don’t know if you will use OPORDs in your branch.

Response by CPT Darrell Pearman made Sep 1 at 2021 9:14 AM

CPT Darrell Pearman — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 09:14:04 -0400

Sometimes it is difficult to take our own training. Remember as an NCO, while you were always tasked with taking care of soldiers, your primary job was training junior officer. My advise, never forget what it was like to be an NCO. But don't get in their business. Tell them what you need done, and get out of their way. They will make it happen, their way. Always have, always will. I was an NCO 8 years before my direct commission. I was glad to have good NCOs that I knew could get the job done.

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Sep 1 at 2021 4:57 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:57:11 -0400

What is a BHO. Psychological doctor or by todays standards a snitch

Response by 1SG Mitchell Smith made Sep 1 at 2021 5:48 PM

1SG Mitchell Smith — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 17:48:10 -0400

From a 1SG perspective having a CO that was SFC/Drill/Ranger before commissioned. I had to go behind closed doors after my COR because the NCO was still in embedded in him even though he now wore bars. "Pushing Joes hard"

I don't know if I would have taken that route changing stripes to bars - as much as I want to say there's no difference, there is, politically, etiquette, and shut your mouth.

Slow and steady wins the race.....Good Luck Sir!

Response by 1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel made Sep 2 at 2021 1:12 PM

1st Lt Padre Dave Poedel — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:12:00 -0400

As a fellow NCO to Direct Commission officer, I faced the same situation you are facing. My former supervisors were now reporting to me. The good thing I did was to :assume: the role of the O-5 slot I was going to occupy while a NCO so they all knew this was my destiny. I had the support of the senior NCOs when I acted on an unjust supervisor the moment I was the LT. As a BHO you are amongst the medical team, as was I. Life tends to be a little less formal amongst the medical types, thank God!

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Sep 3 at 2021 10:30 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 22:30:21 -0400

Sir,

The Navy has LDOs - Limited Duty Officers. The Army does not, but they may as well have - and you are in that role. Yes, you are an Officer, and I am not at all trying to say that you are not, or that you do not deserve the respect of your rank. But.... The medical field, chaplain corps, and JAG corps are there in a technical capacity.

Quite simply, not all LTs are created equal. You deserve the same respect - and your voice is MORE valuable within your specific field than any other LT (or even CPT or MAJ) not in your field - but your voice *needs* to be limited to your specific field. That is not to say you shouldn't speak up on things outside your field that IMPACT your field (i.e. setting up, running, planning, etc. memorial services are not part of your field - but you should certainly be willing and able to put in a few words about how that memorial service (or the loss it represents) may affect the troops).

There are obvious caveats for safety considerations (EVERYONE is a safety officer), but generally speaking, when it comes to the everyday "running the Army" stuff, you should be seen more, heard less, available always. The Army allows certain Officer roles to direct Commission specifically because these roles are *expected* to stay within a very specific lane, and all of that "tactical stuff" is much less important. (But please, PLEASE maintain your tactical proficiency. I cannot tell you how annoying it is to have to escort a surgeon who cannot figure out how to fasten the chin strap on their ACH in a tactical convoy downrange. I was *this* close to confiscating one doc's weapon, but my CO wouldn't let me.)

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Sep 6 at 2021 1:32 AM

SMSgt Bob Wilson — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 01:32:58 -0400

You are a HEALTH PROFESSIONAL!!!! Don't get wrapped up in the military BS. Don't we the uniform police. You are there to help soldiers with that problems [ rank is not important].

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2021 8:28 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 08:28:18 -0400

I see you have a MSW and prior enlisted time to SSG. Were you a Behavioral Health Specialist 68X as enlisted? If so, that helps a lot as you know how mental health services in the Army works.
If not, then are you are the low end of the learning curve.

Short advice is, even though you were an NCO, you are no longer.
Even though you may be able to relate to NCO business, remember it is NCO business for them to take care of.
Having said that, as a special branch officer with professional degree and license (I assume you have a social work license in Texas) you are responsible for planning and directing the many soldiers who work under your supervision. They are not licensed, you are. You are ultimately responsible. Thus your responsibility to give guidance and direction where appropriate.

People reading this who have not done this job may not get it. Mental health clinics typically have multiple enlisted Behavioral Science Specialists, but may have only one or two BHO, of of them only one with MSW. The enlisted Behavioral Health Specialist may be degreed, but not to the level of the BHO. Many have undergraduate degrees in social work, psychology or related fields in addition to the very good Army training. Your self advice to listen to the NCOs is right on. Identify their needs and issues, as they too are dedicated professionals who want to take care of soldiers and possibly family members.
You don't know all the answers. No one expects you to. But at the end of the day you need to give direction towards a treatment plan.
Whenever it is something that is NCO business, tell them that it is just that, and to get back with you with what they have done to solve the problem, if you even need to know.
Resist the urge to micromanage.
But be prepared to let your NCOs know that what they do can reflect upon you and the organization, so to act accordingly, when appropriate. They know that, but we all sometimes need a refresher.

Overall, you'll figure out who is sincere and who is struggling with their own demons.
Their demons are not yours.

Hope this helps.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 14 at 2021 2:50 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 14:50:15 -0400

Be technically proficient. Compile a list of phone numbers of external units you work with. If there are needs for SOPs make them. That is a great way to learn about your organization. Create a culture of values, standards, METL, and most of all; take care of the soldiers. Go to your boss and ask what his/her expectations for you are. Have fun and find ways to say thank you to the troops. Be fair. For example when we needed volunteers for weekend duty, we always had many volunteers because they knew they would get two days off. If u want me to post more I will. The focus is mainly leadership.