How can junior enlisted soldiers gain opportunities for leadership on a small level?

2018-06-12T22:19:22-04:00

Just a bit of background: I've got 6 years in the ARNG with my first unit being at an Engineer CO level and my next unit an artillery detachment (I received my Bachelors and Masters during those years) Now, I'm a part of the BN S3 shop at my newest unit and I get to see how everything operates at that level, I'd love the chance to take on smaller projects where I can learn more about unit ops and gain feedback but I'm not sure how to bring it up my COC.

With this being my first time being in HHC it can be overwhelming seeing so many moving parts happening and at times I don't want to "intrude" on what my leadership is planning with trying to help and end up doing more damage than good. Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 12 at 2018 10:29 PM

2018-06-12T22:29:45-04:00

You need to ask for Platoon Leader time.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 13 at 2018 12:09 AM

2018-06-13T00:09:55-04:00

Try to elaborate on your object...with a Nash and masters, do you want senior enlisted? Warrant? Commissioned? PhD? If so, in what field? What majors were alpmyour degrees in? Grades? GPAs? Specific course titles so far as you can list them? STEM related? Non STEM? Clinical? Nonclinical? Domyou want engrg being electrician? Would you change SVC? Would you want Army WOCS? A regular OCS? Direct commission OIS indoc program? Any flight interests? Do a detailed bio sketch, incl hobbies, reading interests, research, papers you may have done, I never got to publish, I have an interest in career/educ questions, the more you relate, the more I and/or others here might he able to suggest, honest, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 13 at 2018 12:13 AM

2018-06-13T00:13:14-04:00

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

You'd find this quite useful, it doesn't include Aeprmy WOCS, of OIS indoc dopirect commission programs, nor does in include USPHS or NOAA, the least known svcs, it only covers the five main OCS programs, I was Army ROTC, I went USAF OTS, I knew many who were enlisted in one SVC then transferred to USAF OTS...also, look up USAF AFIT and Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) if you go senior enlisted, or any level of warrant or commissioned, you can compete for them, I assure you, they'd nenwell worth your time to look into, elaborate further, I'll try to explain more if you want, OK?

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2018 11:00 AM

2018-06-13T11:00:16-04:00

I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer, I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All Soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership....ask any nco in your unit
Also, why aren’t you an officer?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2018 11:15 AM

2018-06-13T11:15:16-04:00

Why are you not pursuing a commission? If you need to retest because of a low GT score, do it and get it knocked out. Don't wait or justify being enlisted so you can "gain experience" as an NCO so you can be a better officer. Make the switch before you're considered too old.

That aside, volunteer for everything. You exhibit leadership skills when you are willing to help your organization in any way possible. Doing such things will gain the trust of your superiors and they will begin to lean on you and give you more responsibility.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2018 11:29 AM

2018-06-13T11:29:06-04:00

I'd say to approach your first-line, ask to take a project/task off of their hands, so they can focus on something else, then use the Under-Promise/Over-Deliver method to show your competence; meaning, determine their "No Later Than" timeline, accounting for setbacks, then complete the tasks well in advance. Give them updates along the way, so that YOU are reminding them of your progress, and they don't have to worry about you.

If you establish yourself as a Soldier who can be assigned a task, and your leader doesn't even have to give you a second thought, you will undoubtedly end up getting more work than you can handle.

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Sep 14 at 2020 2:27 PM

2020-09-14T14:27:43-04:00

Present this same comment from yourself to your chain of command, sounds like the logical thing to do.