Any advice for a Specialist being promoted to Sergeant and transferring to a new unit?

2016-04-03T00:19:39-04:00

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 2:22 AM

2016-04-03T02:22:47-04:00

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member Congratulations on your promotion! Here is my advice:
1. You will make some mistakes as a Leader. Admit your mistakes, and learn from them.
2. Everyone will be watching you, so be a perfect role model that everyone can admire.
3. Do your homework on your new unit and be prepared. Be a planner in everything that you do.
4. Live your life and perform your duties with integrity.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 3:45 AM

2016-04-03T03:45:33-04:00

When you get there, make sure that you have an initial meeting with your squad leader and your platoon sergeant. If they have their shit together you will get an initial counseling. If not, you should still ask to have a private meeting to discuss your new role and expectations and request that the key points be included in an initial counseling. (that will serve as a reminder). Show that you are willing to be an NCO, A leader. Offer to take on tasks, run PRT. In many ways you have it easy. You get a new slate to work off of instead of dealing with leading troops that used to be your peers.

Response by SGT Benjamin Huminski made Apr 3 at 2016 4:01 AM

2016-04-03T04:01:56-04:00

1. Meet with your new leadership and understand their expectations for you and ask questions if you don't know
2. Own everything you do, mistakes will happen. Excuses are not the way of a good NCO.
3. Care about your soldiers and mentor them.
4. Have fun!!!! Life is too short to be uptight all the time.

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Apr 3 at 2016 6:05 AM

2016-04-03T06:05:11-04:00

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member, my list pretty much follows a lot of the other advice given here, but I'll lay it out anyway:
1. Listen !! Don't go in and try to tell your new NCO superiors how much better things were done at your old unit. Which brings me to ..... 2. Be ready to adapt !! A good Platoon Sergeant will test you, to see if you know your stuff, before trusting you with bigger responsibilities. 3. Let your superiors know that you are a new NCO, and that you may need some limited direction to help you adapt to the unit. 4. Stay sharp !! Do all the things that a good NCO does. Be on time, set a good example (especially for your subordinates), stay in shape, and lead by example.

If you follow these guidelines, along with the others offered by those who have responded to your question, you will do well, and quickly be accepted (and respected) in your new unit. Good Luck !!

Response by SSG James Elmore made Apr 3 at 2016 7:08 AM

2016-04-03T07:08:48-04:00

Your a NonCom now act as such. This gives you the oppertunity to step into a new situation and position as a leader, not as everyone's buddy that happen to get promoted.

CONGRUations

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 7:46 AM

2016-04-03T07:46:26-04:00

Be professional competent and compassionate with your soldiers and it doesn't matter where you're transferring to.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 3 at 2016 7:55 AM

2016-04-03T07:55:07-04:00

This is a perfect opportunity for the usually very difficult transition, you have no issue! You walk in the door loud and proud espousing leadership as well as the humility required of all leaders. Take the practices you studied, and remember the example of your past mentors, stay in touch. Finally be observant of your surroundings and align yourself with NCO's who set the example and lead from the front.

Good Luck!

Response by SFC Timothy Benson made Apr 3 at 2016 8:24 AM

2016-04-03T08:24:49-04:00

Keep a position of reverance, every unit has it's traditions and routines. Remember in any chain of command, there could be a unofficial chain of command, you didn't sign up to work for them!

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 8:52 AM

2016-04-03T08:52:14-04:00

I never transferred to a new unit. I work in the motorpool and went from 1st squad to 2nd squad lol

Response by SFC Familia Gonzalez made Apr 3 at 2016 8:57 AM

2016-04-03T08:57:51-04:00

May sound cliché, but lead by example, not by exception... Don't ask your team to do something you wouldn't do yourself. Always work on your craft.

Response by SGT Neil Doty made Apr 3 at 2016 9:31 AM

2016-04-03T09:31:18-04:00

Congrats on promotion some advice I will give you is never forget where you came from. Lead by example.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 3 at 2016 9:58 AM

2016-04-03T09:58:56-04:00

If they have any openings. You might have to do a second MOS.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 3 at 2016 10:56 AM

2016-04-03T10:56:26-04:00

I'll add some slants to the great points already made:

When you hit E-5 you need to be well into the groove of serving your troops. That's the care for them piece. Then you're serving the command by ensuring your unit furthers the mission. Then you're serving members of other units by demonstrating good habits, morale, and vigor. You're never too senior to pick up a piece of trash (did it all the time as an O6). So you encourage excellence by example. Lend a hand where you see an overload without having to be asked/directed. Everyone around you is your brother and sister. Life is too short to let them suffer either.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Apr 3 at 2016 10:59 AM

2016-04-03T10:59:05-04:00

get your initial counseling's out of the way so your soldier know your expectations.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Apr 3 at 2016 11:20 AM

2016-04-03T11:20:26-04:00

I think everyone here pretty much nailed it enough to add anything further, other than that now I miss being an NCO. That's how awesome it is when you do it with pride.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 1:35 PM

2016-04-03T13:35:35-04:00

Just show up motivated and make sure you're in shape lead from the front and separate ypur self from your peers you are now becoming a Junion Non Commission Officer. Last thing stop referring to your self as an E4 about to become an E5 you are going to be a Sergeant a Non commissioned Officer not a pay grade.

Response by SGT Philip Keys made Apr 3 at 2016 2:12 PM

2016-04-03T14:12:03-04:00

Congrats! Be that NCO that goes the extra mile for his troops. Don't be that guy that stands around watching his troops do all the work. Get in there and get dirty. Don't worry about impressing the brass all too much, impress your troops. If they know you care about them they will work hard and you will be a great NCO. Good luck and take care.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Apr 3 at 2016 2:46 PM

2016-04-03T14:46:22-04:00

Yes prepare your command philosophy to give to the team.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 2:48 PM

2016-04-03T14:48:16-04:00

Remember the good and bad NCOs you have had in the past. Soldiers need mentors not friends. And don't walk in boasting. It's better to see first who's who and what's what. Meaning who you can learn from or mentor and what you can imporove on with your knowledge. I'm not an NCO, however I did come back to my unit after deployment. A lot had changed including the loss and gain in leadership as well as the way things are done. Yet congrats on the promotion Sgt.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 2:58 PM

2016-04-03T14:58:34-04:00

Never have your soldiers do something that you wouldn't or haven't done yourself. When doing maintenance, get down there as well. That's your equipment too. For me going from a light Sapper company to a Stryker Troop, it wasn't just leading by example, I was learning at the same time.

Response by SSG Craig Thompson made Apr 3 at 2016 4:15 PM

2016-04-03T16:15:33-04:00

Its better going to another unit, take what you have learned good or bad and remember what you didn't like as a private. Soldiers will follow you in more of a positive way if you help them grow in their career too, just not yours. Most of all be fair, treat them all the same. There will be times that will be hard though

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Apr 3 at 2016 4:42 PM

2016-04-03T16:42:10-04:00

Be the sharpest guy in the unit. Be the recruiting poster when you step on to the installation, military bearing and discipline count to the old folks who will evaluate your life. Come in early and learn to make the coffee the way the old folks like it. If nothing else, you can certainly make it the way you like it.
Call everybody Sir or Ma'am because you never go wrong. Know your job better then anybody else and know there isn't any job beneath you. Leading by example means picking up a mop sometimes to train troops to your standards. Know the job of every person below you, learn the jobs of everybody above you. Don't be a suck up, but be eager to learn. Become efficient and be the best student when sent on courses and grow into the consummate professional. Be loyal to your chain up and down. Take care of your troops before yourself.
Also, everything SGT Huminski and everybody said - especially don't be uptight. Don't be a dick and mentor people you see being a dick, tell them nobody likes a dick. Finally, urge people to go beyond their small slice of the DoD pie comfort zone and do more. Grow your people. This will be your first leadership opportunity. Make the most of it. You asking the question is a great start.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2016 5:22 PM

2016-04-03T17:22:48-04:00

You got promoted based on your potential and your doing your job well.

Believe in yourself and keep doing your job well.

Response by CPO Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols made Apr 3 at 2016 7:48 PM

2016-04-03T19:48:23-04:00

In your mind you should already be thinking like an E5. Now start thinking like an E6. Be the rank you are going for and not the one you're in.

Response by SGT Larry Prentice made Apr 4 at 2016 6:17 PM

2016-04-04T18:17:37-04:00

Always remember that even though you out rank some of these guys, you are still the new guy in town. Respect is earned through actions and not given with stripes!! This exact thing happened to me. Thankfully for me, I knew most of the guys in the new unit from being in Iraq together. For me it was a seamless transition as the CO down knew who I was and I operated, lead and followed!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2016 12:20 AM

2016-04-05T00:20:06-04:00

Wow, your name is messing with my head. There's a lot of great advice here, but as someone who is a fairly new NCO myself I'll just add a couple of things. First, your leadership will likely know that you're newly promoted. Be prepared to listen, learn and be challenged. Don't take their criticism personally, use it as a chance to improve yourself. Second, your subordinates won't necessarily know that you just got pinned. Don't force them to figure it out. Know your job and have confidence in your knowledge. Don't be afraid to admit mistakes around them and always have a back up plan.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2016 1:24 AM

2016-04-05T01:24:46-04:00

Everything stated previously is outstanding advice! I will add one thing that I tell all of my previous Soldiers that moved from E4 to E5, and a couple that moved from E5 to E6....Lead with what's in your chest, not what's on your chest.

Response by SGT James Puff made Apr 5 at 2016 9:37 AM

2016-04-05T09:37:51-04:00

You're not there to make friends

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Apr 5 at 2016 2:07 PM

2016-04-05T14:07:05-04:00

What are your roles and responsibilities as a section or team leader?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2016 9:39 AM

2016-04-06T09:39:11-04:00

When you get to your new unit, be a Sgt.

Response by SGT Patrcia Palmer made Apr 7 at 2016 4:46 PM

2016-04-07T16:46:57-04:00

I will only say to you that remember that someone help you along the way. So when you get to your new unit and if you get to be a squad leader remember to take care of those soldiers that are in trusted in your care. If you take care of them they will follow you any where that you asked them to go. Always seek guidance from senior NCOs that is a way to help you grow as a young NCO. SGT Benjamin Huminski gave you some good advice. Best of luck as you grow and become an outstanding NCO...Remember NCOs lead the way....

Response by SGT Darrell Griffin made Apr 13 at 2016 5:17 AM

2016-04-13T05:17:37-04:00

get your b knock out of way first

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 15 at 2016 2:15 AM

2016-04-15T02:15:28-04:00

Always get to know all soldiers for yourself, never go off of someone else opinion. And definitely Lead by example

Response by SPC Reggie Threat made Apr 29 at 2020 3:34 PM

2020-04-29T15:34:17-04:00

Go with the flow of your new unit. I'm pretty sure that you will either know someone or someone that knows someone that you know. Take your time.

Response by SSG Brian Carpenter made Jul 4 at 2021 4:54 PM

2021-07-04T16:54:12-04:00

Few will know your newly promoted and that will be a blessing and a curse. Everyone who doesn't will expect things from you that you may not ready for but at the same time your an NCO now so if you just do the right thing and lead by example your experience will be greater.