Do you remember your first team leader?

2014-06-03T18:58:00-04:00

I once had quite a few newly promoted E-4's and E-5's as team leaders in my platoon. This was just following our deployment and these new leaders were about to get brand new medics, straight from AIT. I told these team leaders to be aware of their new roles. These new soldiers were going to remember them for the rest of their time In the military if not longer. The good the bad and everything in between.

Do you remember your first team leader? NCO or specialist? Set you up for success or made you count the days to your next PCS?

My first team leader was a CPL filling a SSG slot for an MP company as its Senior Medic. She showed me how to run MEDPROS Reports, track patients, run sick call, screen patients, and give medical readiness reports during company training meetings. I thought this was all standard for a PFC medic. It wasn't until I deployed with another MP Company that I found myself ahead of the curve among a SPC And two other PFC'S.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2014 12:44 AM

2014-06-04T00:44:49-04:00

I've never had a team leader since I work supply but I definitely remember my first supervisor. He happens to be a good friend of mine to this day. The funny thing is the first time I met him and the platoon sergeant was when they came to visit me in the hospital on Fort Campbell due to a severe stomach virus. I was a bit embarrassed to not be able to meet them properly.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Oct 29 at 2014 10:31 AM

2014-10-29T10:31:18-04:00

I remember my first team leader. He's now a 1SG and we're friends on Facebook.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 11:28 PM

2014-10-29T23:28:51-04:00

When I first entered FORSCOM, my unit and MOS was so understrength that there was only 2 E-6's and 4 E-5's in my already undermanned PLT. My first team and squad leaders were E-4's. They knew their stuff too, had a major impact on me. Showed me what I wanted to be: that guy you knew you could count on to get the job done, to show you how to do something or teach you something new.

Response by MAJ Dallas D. made Oct 30 at 2014 3:46 PM

2014-10-30T15:46:12-04:00

My first Squad Leader in 1988 was horrible. He could not read (amazing huh!) and his leadership style was let's take the Privates behind the building and beat them up so they won't talk back.

I could write a book on all the things he did but the best part was I ran into him a few years later and he was still a SSG and I had just been promoted to SSG, so I went from PVT to SSG while he still sat at SSG. I actually only said hello and walked away.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Oct 30 at 2014 3:46 PM

2014-10-30T15:46:59-04:00

My first Team/Squad Leader was SGT Hal Bailor back in 1991, 1-4 INF (OPFOR), Hohenfels, GE. He was this short, crusty old Scout who lived on cigarettes and coffee. He retired a SGT and lives somewhere in Germany. I learned a lot from that guy. I PCSd to Fort Knox and never heard from him again. That was long before social media and all that kind of stuff.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2015 8:12 PM

2015-02-11T20:12:01-05:00

My first team leader after being moved from section to section in my maintenance platoon was SPC Rod Lobaugh in 2004. The next year I got my SPC as he got his SGT during our Iraq deployment. He was and still is a great NCO who's been a great mentor to myself and every soldier that was under his leadership (including a CPL I later took as my own soldier in my Service and Recovery section). We served together a total of 9 years and 51.5 weeks within the same unit, taking over sections within our maintenance platoon on a rotational basis. Due to medical issues he had I've since surpassed my mentor in rank, though I can never trump his experience, I had to find a mentor of higher position than myself in order to progress properly.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 11 at 2015 8:13 PM

2015-02-11T20:13:54-05:00

SPC Tobias Grant was my first squad leader at my first duty station HHC 307th Signal BN Camp Carroll, Kor

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jul 8 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-07-08T13:04:52-04:00

SGT Wilson, walked pigeon toed, had a an E-6 wish pin under the flap of his left breast pocket for his next promotion. Was kind of useless in the grand scheme of things. My next NCO was one I modeled after. This was back when we had SQT tests and I would walk the three miles to his house and back to study to do well on it. He became an E-7 and his name was Tommy Lee Jones.

Response by SPC Brian Parramore made Jul 25 at 2015 1:27 AM

2015-07-25T01:27:28-04:00

My first platoon Sergeant. I will never forget him. He was everything an NCO shouldn't be. I learned from that, though. As I grew as a soldier, I did the exact opposite of what he did. In every way. I respected who I out ranked, and thought them that to lead, you must learn to follow.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 12:53 PM

2015-09-20T12:53:40-04:00

My first TL was a short Filipino woman who was very personable but had, er, interesting points of view on many topics. She got married and reclassed a few years ago.