Do any current or former 1SGs have any insight, advice and/or best practices to share about 1SG duties?

Don't take the assignment lightly, the HHC 1SG is typically the senior 1SG in the BN/BDE and with that the expectations are higher and you will have to become creative in getting everyone involved. You have to have a open dialogue with the Commander & CSM, and you have to have their ear...know what they are thinking and expecting from their own company. Get to know the OPS-O and OPS SGM as well, get their backing and support and let them know how you plan on supporting the Commanders intent. If you end up having problems with folks not wanting to participate in training (e.g. qualification/APFT/mandatory training) go to the Memorandum for record, provide multiple opportunities (three dates) for them to chose their own date for their training event and execute training. How do you reinforce it.....be part of the meeting where the boss is briefed on the stats of his/her unit and ahead of the meeting, provide the CSM a by-name delinquency roster (be prepared to provide this to the Commander as well).

Most importantly, enjoy your time there as the 1SG and be the rock for the unit, enforce standards but never lose sight that you are there to serve the Soldiers, all Soldier Enlisted & Officer.

You will learn a lot in this position because you are dealing with more MOSes. Don't get frustrated when you are dealing with the O4s that don't want to help the unit. Don't be scared to tell your O5 and/or O6 boss when your Os are not doing their training. Sometimes you'll get a company commander that will only try to handle that through the XO, which usually doesn't work. Like CSM Uhlig said, work hand in hand and support the OPs O and SGM and they in turn will support you. I did this and was supported. When I was a BDE OPs SGM, I was not support, therefore the company command team had problems from the big 5.

IMO, being a HHC 1SG enabled me to be selected for SGM.

The hardest part is when weapon qual, pt tests, mandatory training and such come due. Trying to get the staff officers to include the BN commander and CSM to do the training

GET A FIRM GRIP EARLY! Coming from a line unit to the HHC is a VERY different creature. Make your connection to the CMDR and your CSM strong and cement it. You'll be dealing with O's and WO's that will often be more problem to your moral and discipline than your enlisted, because of the sense of entitlement. The "joes" that work in those shops will be influenced by this. Remember to be the firm but fair voice of order and discipline.
Stay at least three steps ahead of the unit, get your senior NCO's involved and delegate delegate DELEGATE! It's personnel management and troops to task at this level. you cant do it all alone. Good luck, brother.

NOTHING happens on time, as planned, or as quickly as you want it to.
If your not planning 5 separate APFTs over the month in effort of hitting your required 90% tested number for the quarter, your going to fail.
If you need to do a ID card and ID tag inspection to meet AR350-1 requirement, go to them.. You and the commander can pound your heads on the desk all you want and DEMAND that 100% show up at the company area Tues morning for the inspection....but the only thing that will accomplish is dented desks and you failing the mission.
The staff process NEVER stops...the outside tasking to your Sm's and for the unit NEVER stop in an HHC. You own the company, but unlike an Armour, Infantry company they are not yours...they belong to division heads, Section chiefs and assistant chiefs, S1, 2, 3, 4 leadership... all of who have outside requirement being forced on them from a higher HQ that must be handled..so stopping the train on Thursday morning for a 100% urinalysis and expecting it to not take ALL DAY (or fail) and thats with you going to where the SM are is useless.. It will take all day, you will still barely make the deadline for turn in to the lab at the end of the day and you will still need to schedule a follow up to get the remaining 30% that were not available due to TDY, Staff meetings outside the unit area that were directed by a higher HQ and had to be attended.

Annually weapons qual is a 72 week process in a Div HHBN HHC.. If you want to meet the standard of 100% qual annually.. You will run a range every week or three,,,and if you do it right, provide trans, make it efficiently as possible not for you and the range crew but for the staff and SM in the company, it will work.
If you want to stand on principle and "authority" and schedule ONE range every 6 months and "order" all SM in the unit to be there or else...... Be prepared with your else and an explanation to the CSM why you failed AGAIN..

Get the senior leaders buy in...if you can get the Division heads, and their chiefs, the senior CDR and his CSM to support the plan, the underlings will follow

"LTC Bigwig if the CG, the G3 and the G3 SGM can get to the range one of the four times we have it set up this month, I think you can figure it out..RIGHT Sir? If not, lets go talk with the CofS and see if he can help you and your section figure it out."

Not sure of the Army 1SG duties, but I had to pull it a number of times in the AF, both in-garrison and downrange. Easy when deployed, you do the job and press on. Problem children get sent back home with a nasty LOE. In-garrison was a royal pain in the ass, felt like nothing more than a grownup babysitter at times. I know, that's part of the job, but it was aggravating to say the least. Good luck

First -- Congrats on your selection. Great admiration for any unit 1SG

Second--I've never been one, so I won't pretend to give you any advice. I will say that, having been an HHC Commander (Armor Bn), I had a great relationship with my 1SG. Somewhat kiddingly, I would often ask him if it was ok "if I give an order now". I made sure junior officers gave him wide berth and I ran interference if their were issues up the chain. Hopefully you'll have a CO that will support/back you, and the unit knows you have that backing. The relationship you have with your CO can be half the battle. So, don't feel shy about having frank (and respectful) chats with him when need be. Ok, I have some advice :)

At any rate--best of luck to you!

I was First Sergeant of Headquarters Detachment, 447th Signal Battalion in Darmstadt, Germany for 6 months in 1971. My best advice is to treat you men with respect, give them proper advice and give them counsel when needed. Later, in 1974 and 1975, I was First Sergeant of the 532nd Signal Company, 39th Signal Battalion in Giessen, Germany. Outside of performing your administrative duties, again I say resect your men, and support them. Be loyal and supportive to your Commanders and protect their interests at all times. And, always set the example for your men and your Commanders.

Congrats on taking one of the yards and most rewarding jobs the Army has to offer.
I just finished my diamond time and had a blast. My last company was a HHC. I best advice I can give is establish a process with your commander. Make sure the staff NCOs bring everything through you and not just straight to the company commander. Second, know you power base. What I mean by this is the BN XO is your go to when the Staff is not listening. Lastly, don't stay in your office all day get out and talk with the soldiers in your company. They need to see you and you need a break from your computer.

Also find the one person no one what's to give up and make them your ops clerk. This will help you in the long run.

Have fun the time goes fast so enjoy.

Hhc 1sg is not the same a company 1sg, you have responsibility for a lot more senior NCO's and some times the CSM forgets that you got this. But take it and run with it, because you do "got this"