Are you currently serving as an Active Duty 1SG or have in the past?

1SG Charmaine R. — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 20:12:27 -0500

What leadership challenges were the most difficult? Myself and few others came together to develop Diamond Wearer, a FB Forum centered on mentoring one another through those challenges. The group is solely for Army 1SG's or SGM's and CSM's looking to mentor. I've witnessed one to many First Sergeants removed from their positions either because of a lack of knowledge or support. Join us!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/DIAMONDWEARER/

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Response by MSG Phil Herndon made Feb 16 at 2014 8:54 PM

MSG Phil Herndon — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 20:54:41 -0500

My hardest job is being transparent in all actions. Sometimes the Soldiers may not see the tiny little differences that make a difference when punishing two people differently for the same offense.

I also try to enable leadership by allowing the NCOs at different levels in the company to use the regs not just as an inflexible guideline, but also a developmental tool. That often leads to Soldiers that see different actions being punished differently. As long as the leaders have let me know their actions, I can keep the rest of the Soldiers informed.

After that, the next most difficult thing is to ensure that the platoon leadership enforces one standard, not three.

The last of my hardest challenges is to not let the officers come through and mess up my hard work by trying to be a friend, not a leader. Steering officers is like herding cats. A near impossible task with little reward, yet if not done, they will come through and unravel the best of plans.

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 16 at 2014 9:04 PM

SFC James Baber — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 21:04:03 -0500

That would have been a nice page for me a few years back, during OIF III, I served as in a 1SG position while a E6, and then again as an E7 just before I retired. The biggest challenge other than the norms for most in that particular leadership position was the maltreatment and disregard I received from other 1SGs in the BN/BDE because I was only an E6, I was told an E6 couldn't be frocked, but I still did the job with great praise, and got a 1/1 on my NCOER and had promote now and send to ANCOC immediately out of it. The other time as an E7 was frocked so there were no issues, but still a learning curve on both occasions.

I would actually be interested to view the page, but probably wouldn't be accepted being retired and only an E7 when I walked out the door, as I would like to check it out and possibly recommend it to many of my E8/9 friends that could benefit from and contribute to as well.

Thanks for sharing, I have done my best even in retirement to continue to mentor and share here on RP as well. Good luck.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2014 4:26 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 04:26:06 -0500

MSG Reyna,

My biggest challenge was taking my Company it is a Provisional Company collecting 97 Soldiers consisting. These soldier were left in five different stay back companies with really no supervision there was zero discipline. After my Commander stood up this company soldiers had a place to feel needed and supported. But I had 13 UCMJ soldiers to take care of, six Chapters, and 41 ETSers. But this is all coming to an end on 1 APR we will have zero soldiers left just my CO, XO, and I left. Then I PCS straight into another 1SG slot in Hawaii.

What are your thoughts?

V/R

1SG Haro

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 11 at 2014 3:30 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:30:52 -0400

Weird bit of trivia for you, the item in the center of the 1SG insignia is actually referred to as a "pierced lozenge" by regulation (AR 670-1, 28-7,fig 28-51) not a diamond. I don't get it either (actually it's a holdover from it's french origin), but I wasn't consulted...

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Mar 11 at 2014 3:38 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:38:31 -0400

When I had my Diamond, we had a very tight group of 1SGs in my BN. This was critical for many reasons. One of those was the fact that we could go out to breakfast, or sit together in one of our offices, and talk about things. We could bounce ideas off of one another and even vent about issues. It was both beneficial and therapeutic.

Some of the challenges that I had were balancing the Company missions along with the various courses and personalities. My Company consisted of almost 600 folks that included all BN Staff, four Courses worth of NCOs and WOs (cadre) and a large DAC and Contractor instructor population. I also had a MOS producing school in my Company where the students ranged in rank from SPC(P) to LTC. It was a very diverse Company. The challenging part was getting a pulse on each of the entities and developing ways to maximize their strengths and mitigating their weaknesses. I also learned a great deal about the nuances that arise between Military and Civilian instructor pools...both real and imagined.

I leaned on my fellow 1SGs, a few peers from across our BDE and regularly talked to CSMs and SGMs that have mentored me along the way. 1SG time was the best time of my career. It is definitely not a "one person show" and I am thankful for those that helped me along the way.

Response by CSM Gerald Utterback made Mar 12 at 2014 10:46 AM

CSM Gerald Utterback — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:46:56 -0400

When I was the 1SG of HHC, 5-68 Armor we had a great bunch of 1SGs and we worked very well together. What was funny is when we would have our meetings with the Bn CSM and I sneezed I would get a get well card from all the line 1SGs.....seems no one wanted to be the 1SG of HHC if something happened to me...I was also a 1SG of a CSC and a Tank Company and I really enjoyed my duty in HHC...

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Mar 15 at 2014 3:54 AM

SSG Mike Angelo — Sat, 15 Mar 2014 03:54:51 -0400

No, I didn't make it up that far up the chain. I was an E-6 with 14 years time in grade when I retired at 20 yrs active, no degree. But years later, while in my doctorate, I was deployed as a Red Crosser to Hurricane Sandy as a supervisor attached to FEMA. Currently working an assignment with AmeriCorps VISTA. It is a great challenge to serve again.