How do I prepare for an interview with my Battalion CSM to become his new driver and what should I expect?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 May 2018 08:09:31 -0400

I have an interview with my Battalion CSM next week to become his new driver. How can I prepare and what should I expect?

Response by MSgt John McGowan made May 11 at 2018 8:15 AM

MSgt John McGowan — Fri, 11 May 2018 08:15:18 -0400

You drive careful.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made May 11 at 2018 8:20 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Fri, 11 May 2018 08:20:52 -0400

be honest in your answers - CSM's can smell bovine fecal matter from kliks away. Don't sweat it troop. be truthful and keep his vehicle squared away, and you'll do fine.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2018 8:32 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 May 2018 08:32:00 -0400

Tell him that you always drive it like you stole it.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made May 11 at 2018 9:49 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Fri, 11 May 2018 09:49:04 -0400

Practice saying "Yes, Command Sergeant Major" and "No, Command Sergeant Major" until you can do so without hesitation or difficulty. Remember and follow your Customs and Courtesies. And ALWAYS be truthful in your responses. As SSG Robert Perrotto pointed out, any CSM worth the stripes will smell bovine feces from at least 10 kliks away even when upwind. Beyond that, RELAX!

Best of luck to you CPL Private RallyPoint Member. I was a fill in driver for Maj Gen Carlson (8AF Commander) while his regular driver was unavailable and it was one of the best additional duties of my career.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 11 at 2018 10:52 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 11 May 2018 10:52:27 -0400

1. Be respective. 2. Don't and never BS him. 3. Be punctual all the time. 4. Treat the vehicle better than you would your own. I never had a vehicle, so I suspect he is interviewing you for the BC.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 11 at 2018 11:21 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 11 May 2018 11:21:38 -0400

The CSM only cares about if you meet the Army standard, you have a civilian and military driver licence, if you can show up to work on time, and that you are not on a profile that limits you from wearing gear and driving a tactical vehicle. Other than that, it will be a chill job. If you communicate with the CSM enough you might even form a bond with the CSM than no other enlisted has.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2018 11:45 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 May 2018 11:45:55 -0400

A lot of folks have offered a lot of good advice. What I'll add is don't be too upset if you don't get the gig.

A driver (like a flag aide) is a pretty personal thing... You see 'sides' of your boss that subordinates usually don't get to see-- hopefully not literally, but you never can be sure he won't have to change- clothes on-the-go...
A whole lot of the 'selection process' for a job like that is about chemistry and you can't fake that. You can't study for it, you can't increase or decrease it. It just is what it is.
Likewise if you do get the gig and later get 'fired' for apparently no reason-- it is chemistry. Don't take it to heart.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 11 at 2018 12:12 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 11 May 2018 12:12:53 -0400

Just like any interview, think about what a CSM wants/needs and if you want to do it, act accordingly.
You don't have to guess. Some said, look good while your'e doing it. It goes much deeper. Are you discreet? Can you keep your mouth shut? Can you stay away from gossip? Just like being an aide, Flag driver, etc. can you be trusted? So if you can do a great job and not contribute to the CSMs overhead, you can gain a lot of insight into how the world spins in ways you wouldn't ordinarily get at your current/next level. And it helps if your motivation is to make yourself and the CSM better off for the experience.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made May 11 at 2018 1:22 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Fri, 11 May 2018 13:22:37 -0400

Be respectful, be yourself. That way, you never have to remember what "hat" you were wearing. I used to drive my CO around a lot (ship CO's don't have dedicated driver's). It was a really great experience, except when I scraped the 15 pax rental van along a wall on the way to midnight Christmas Mass in Barcelona... He laughed, I laughed, and then we got a smaller van from then on out!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2018 12:02 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 May 2018 00:02:21 -0400

1. Ask yourself if you want the job - and find out exactly what the job entails (in the interview). It may benefit you to ask the current driver.

2. Don't develop any expectations or ideas about advancement and don't let anyone tell you it will help your career. It all depends on who you work for. Look back at 1.

3. If you want the job, ask yourself why and articulate it to the Sergeant Major. If you don't want the job, be honest and say you appreciate the opportunity, but you decline to pursue it.

4. First impressions are everything. Get a haircut, iron your uniform, brush your boots. Don't be a robot - be a confident individual with tact and humility. The Sergeant Major may engage in personal dialogue with you. They will want to see confidence, maturity.

I did what you are interviewing for as a Sergeant. It's a different world depending on the level you work. If you get the job, remember to exercise humility knowing you will have to leave it one day and being the Sergeant Majors driver won't mean a damn thing in later circles.

Good luck.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 6 at 2018 8:28 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 20:28:25 -0400

CPL Private RallyPoint Member Make sure you fully understand what the CSM wants you to do before departing his presence! Little ‘things’ can be accomplished by the ‘CSM’s driver’, aka personal assistant.

The CSM’s time is more valuable to the Army than yours, that is why he is paid more.

As your tenure lenghtens, so will your responsibilities; if you are up to it. Enjoy and appreciate the perks of the position and NEVER abuse/flaunt those privileges nor share any confidences!

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 6 at 2018 8:39 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 20:39:07 -0400

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1930599.Eisenhower_Was_My_Boss

She was his chauffeur, them a WAC Captain, though UK, and his aide...her second book, am expose, was beyond awful, I'd thought, however, gvem your circumstances, I honestly think you'd find this an interesting read, let me send it, them I'll give you some other thoughts, OK?

Eisenhower Was My Boss

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. ...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Sep 6 at 2018 9:01 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 21:01:48 -0400

She was depicted in the film with Like: Countdown to D-Day with Tom Selleck...now, when I was in, there'd been a senior staff conference where I was, I didn't do what I'm about to describe, however, I always kick myself I didn't, I think I had work at that point, and couldn't...anyway, a group of flag officers where I was needed aides for the multservice conference being held...all of us company graders were asked if we'd want be in the aide pool...now, interestingly, one guy I knew presented himself, yet in a fashion the general he was assigned to found irksome for some reason...the general, I gathered, said something like, 'Who the H are you? I was dojg this stuff before you were born, get outta my face'...needless to say, the one he said it to was crushed, I'm not sure if it was explained that all he company graders aders there had volunteered...here's the thing...I read all the rest others said here, and all of it was obv true...clearly. You'd need to be immaculate...an O-3 I'd been under once had !e spend a day with the base commander where I was, I've mentioned that on here sevl times...needless to say, I was immaculate...I attended a senior staff conference, watched the O-6 correct a young airman on appearance, got to listen to a lot of quite unusual stuff, so I've had a taste of what tour describing, not quite the same, however, close enough I think I can empathize...being immaculate, being early if poßsible, all that matters...however, there are four parts to every interview, and I've interviewed for everything that walks, crawls, talks, smd flies...everybody:s brilliant...everybody:s motivated...everybody:s gorgeous...all those are givems....here's part four...and that part you cwmt control, as others said Jere, and that:s whether you're liked or not...God knows, I've been there, God knows I've tree, God knows I've screwed up more often than even God can count that high...so, that being said, all you can do is make sure your Mary Janes shine, know as !much as you can about his preferences, likes, dislikes, as possible, and let him test drive your Audi, out know? I'd be most eager for your thoughts, and to know if you found any of that of any use, honest, I've had more than my share...one supervisor I had to go with on a conference was a GS-15, really way too high for !e, as a neophyte newbie to know how to please...it was only when I was placed under a lower GS-14 and had learned how to adapt to the role tat I started to learn how to function halfway properly, and God knows, even that tyok a lon time, honest, even then I did stupid stuff, like not answering a pone fast enough, no being sufficiently enthusiastic...I was in a totally wrong unit for me, where I hadn't expected to be, under those I'd never expected to be under..trust me, I !Ade every screwup known to human race, and invented new ones, I assure you...let me know your thoughts, OK? I'd honestly be eager to hear...also, the CSM is likely to want someone genuinely ambitious, without being obsequious, or toadying. I'd expect...so I'd be well able, were I you, to answer stuff about family, background, interests, goals, motivations, a!notions, objectives, honest, those are truly my thoughts, such as they are...your conduct is gonna need to be absolutely above reproach, that much is evident...now, that being said, you wouldn't be being considered, if you didn't have those attributes visible already, certainly...someone oncde said to !e about an interview...I wouldn't be there through the door if I weren't at least halfway deserving...so, the only one who could screw it up was me, and yeah, I really was told tat once, honest, I hope that was at least of some use, honest, OK? Say what happens, and tell me your thoughts about my notions, as I'd said also, OK?

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Sep 27 at 2018 11:08 AM

SSG Steven Borders — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 11:08:15 -0400

CPL Private RallyPoint Member Just be yourself but also keep your military bearing. There are a lot of good answers already. All, I can say is have confidence and be yourself. I know it seams like a big difference in Rank, but just know the CSM is also an NCO and is there to help SM's as well. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.