How do you build your Leader's Book?

2015-09-04T14:39:54-04:00

I am currently an SMP cadet expected to commission as a 2LT in May 2016. In my military science course, my PMI recently mentioned that we should all have a Leader's Book as future Platoon Leaders. I know there is an NCO leader's book, but are there specific things I should have as a PL? Prior Platoon Leaders, how did you construct your leader's books? Is there a base template I can use? Where there any forms, documents, etc that you had in your book readily available to make your job easier?

Any help with this would be much appreciated. As an MSIV, we get assigned mentees in the lower classes, so I would like to create this book as soon as possible so that I can familiarize myself with it using my mentorship position and better prepare myself for the days of being PL.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 2:59 PM

2015-09-04T14:59:31-04:00

SGT Brian Rawlins, it's not necessarily an NCO's thing (IMHO). Though it may have slightly different info from NCO or Officer's perspective, a Leaders book is simply a Management Tool. You can make it as detailed as you see fit. Mine contains: Alert Roster, Qualification Range (pistol/rifle), Reports and their due date, Soldier and Mission references.
Hope this helps.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 4 at 2015 4:12 PM

2015-09-04T16:12:35-04:00

http://www.part-time-commander.com/platoon-leader-book_61-html/ Hope this helps you out. I would put some tactics in the book if does not already address it.

Army Leader Book Information for Small Unit Leaders | Citizen Soldier Resource Center

Army Leader Book Information for small unit leaders in the Army National Guard

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 4 at 2015 4:16 PM

2015-09-04T16:16:01-04:00

Trust me you don't want the headache of Movement Officer for the company.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 9:16 PM

2015-09-04T21:16:00-04:00

Sir,
Go to staples and get yourself a mini binder with tabs (mini post-its), doc protectors, and dividers.

In it have the following:
Alert roster
Training calander (60-90 days) glide path
Company METL
A section for company training meeting
Manning roster
8 step training model
TLPs
Shell for warno, OPORD, and FRAGO.

Make a seperate book for a picture property book with the following sections:
PBO HR
2062s for sub HR holders
Shortage Annex
Equipment in repair
TMs with equipment illustrations
Pics of equipment laid out with associated BII.

The above will make your life easier.

RLTW!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 4 at 2015 9:26 PM

2015-09-04T21:26:29-04:00

1SG Christopher Rocha, Copy, RLTW! I knew a fellow from
1 Ranger Bn, he was captured at Cisterna, when I mentioned reading a Ranger book, Ray O'Dell asked, "Who wrote it?". I said, "a LT Alteri", O'Dell said, "Jimmy!".

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2015 10:36 PM

2015-09-04T22:36:25-04:00

My T-BOLC brethren, Jimmy Ho created an App for IPhone. It's on the Apple App Store under "Army Leader Book" (not sure about Android).
Check it out.

Response by SSG Robert Spina made Sep 27 at 2015 1:40 AM

2015-09-27T01:40:51-04:00

NO 8 YEARS IN MY OPINION IS NOT A LONG ENOUGH PERIOD MOST PEOPLE WITH EIGHT YEARS WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY BE IN THEIR 30'S AND TO RECIEVE A CHECK AFTER 8 YEARS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE AND FOR SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF SERVICE DOSNT MAKE SENSE CONGRESS WOULD NEVER APPROVE SUCH A BILL

Response by SFC Billy Huether made Apr 2 at 2022 1:32 AM

2022-04-02T01:32:38-04:00

Hey Big Guy, I'm a crusty, dusty, old school, WAYYYYY non-politically correct, grouchy, unhappily Retired Platoon Sergeant. I'm going to give you a very poignant suggestion I hope you will take to heart. Oh, by the way, I don't sugar coat anything and in the event I hurt your feelings.....Suck It Up, Buttercup! Because I don't care if your feelings are hurt or that big ego you might be carrying around as you're a Commissioned Officer.
Here's a reality check Mr.MSIV: I could care less if you're a member of Mensa, have a Bachelor's in Under Water Basket Weaving, have a PhD from MIT or recited Shakespeare for the Queen at Oxford. Get it thru your head that you know nothing about being Leader. You wrote of being a "PL", huh? News Flash.....Platoon Leader is a position that is EARNED. When you arrive at your first assignment, you will be "LT". I implore you to become the most prolific "Question Askerer" my Beloved Army has ever seen. Your Platoon Sergeant will Teach, Coach and Mentor you more likely than not using Crawl, Walk, Run or the I Do It, We Do It, You Do It.
You only engage Soldiers when your Platoon Daddy tells it's alright. He will show you SOPs for everything up to and including your packing list, ie: what to pack, when to pack and how to pack.
Fancy yourself an unblemished slate who awaits a scribe to dispense all the worldly knowledge upon you.
Be prepared for your Commander to give you a shit-ton of tasks to accomplish with seemingly unrealistic suspense dates. You are going to be stressed. You are going to be frustrated. If you seek out your Commander and share the aforementioned states of mind, he will crush your Soul. This is where an modicum of humility will come in quite handy as a humble man has the capacity to reach out and ask for assistance. Whereas the egotistical, cocky, arrogant individual will find himself lonely and alone in the sea of dispair. This is where I would let those types of LTs literally flounder until they realized that experience is invaluable. My thoughts always went, when this inevitable event would take place, to this saying I learned from my very first First Sergeant, "Ya know kid, the biggest misconception in the world is people think just because you're educated doesn't make you smart!"
If you don't know or are unsure of what you're doing, Don't Guess! Guessing will get someone hurt or dead, be it in training or combat. If ask the question, some old, grouchy bastard, similar to me, will be more than happy to disseminate said information to you. For if that knowledge is not passed down and inherited, it dies a sad, miserable, lonely death. The knowledge is sad, miserable and lonely, not because it's dying, but because it no longer can assist and be useful to anyone ever again.
Last, however, not at all the least, I shall offer you the final bit of my sage suggestions. This should provoke a visualization as I posted it below my signature block on ALL my official paperwork, emails and documents:
IF YOU'RE NOT THE LEAD DOG,
THE VIEW IS ALWAYS THE SAME!

Response by SFC Billy Huether made Apr 2 at 2022 1:47 AM

2022-04-02T01:47:56-04:00

P.S
If you come across an anal retentive, bald ass Captain with Airborne and Air Assault Wings as well as a RANGER TAB when you go to the MP Basic Officer's Course, don't be intimidated. His name is Captain Huether(pronounced HEATER) and he's all bark and no bite. You should second guess and challenge everything he teaches. He loves it. I mean, he truly enjoys the initiative and moxy when brand new Lieutenants run up to introduce themselves as it demonstrates confidence. I tell ya, he absolutely appreciates the effort.
And it just so happens that I know just about everything there is to know about Captain Huether. We have had an in depth relationship for well over 30 years. "How might this be?", you may be pondering?He happens to be my Son.
Good Luck!

Response by John B. Valdez made May 25 at 2023 4:01 AM

2023-05-25T04:01:59-04:00

I understand that I may be late in replying to your post. But everyone always needs information. Everyone draws conclusions from what is supposed to be written in a book, and basic things have a price. There are three of them: people, equipment and mission. But in each section there is certain information. People: Your salad is everything you know about him and everything you find in his personal file. Equipment - all the equipment of the unit, everything you know about it down to the last detail. The mission statement is everything you need to know, your thoughts, and anything you learn from other sources.