How many team leaders can I assign to a squad-size element?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 01:50:37 -0500

I have 8 Soldiers under me. One CPL, three Promotables SPC, two SPC and two privates. I want to make the CPL, the three Promotable SPCs to be in charge of the rest of the squad. In fact i want to assigned a Soldier to those 4 Soldiers. The idea is to have them starting supervising others Soldiers. I am a young NCO that is looking for advice. How many team leaders can i have in this. Ussually i have two.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2021 3:34 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 03:34:52 -0500

If this is your squad and you want to have people supervise others, you can arrange that any way you like. If you want the Privates to supervise the SPCs you can do that. If you want to know the way your section is broken down in assigned leadership positions, then open up FMSWEB, look at the positions, the slot you are filling and the ones left to be filled

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2021 4:25 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 04:25:08 -0500

So I'm not sure how your company operates, but it's often 4 man teams. There are plenty of other tasks to assign your other potential leaders to. Be straight up with your troops. You can rotate team leaders as well. It will can be a learning experience for you and all members of your squad.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 29 at 2021 5:55 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 05:55:25 -0500

I am sure your motives are genuine and you simply want to get your subordinates OJT leadership training. While I agree with others that you can do almost anything you like, I recommend you stick to your units organizational structure. A sign the senior members to the NCO positions (of course with the concurance of your leadership). You then coach and mentor them. As for the your desire for all of them to lead, do not assign lase positions, there are a multitude of tasks to be completed in a daily basis in any Company. Simply a sign them, or volunteer them to oversee these tasks, providing guidance and support ensuring there success.

There are many ways to develop your Team.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2021 7:35 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 07:35:58 -0500

You can arrange them however you want but talk it over with your NCO first. I would stick with the original MTOE layout.
However, in order to allow your people leadership chances assign them tasks and make them the MFIC for that task. You can also make them give classes to each on the different systems and functions in your shop.

Response by SSG Thomas Simpson made Jan 29 at 2021 9:28 AM

SSG Thomas Simpson — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 09:28:15 -0500

A squad is composed of two fire teams. That means you’re authorized to have 2 team leaders in your squad.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2021 10:05 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:05:20 -0500

I understand you’re a 42A and it’s a different breakdown than an Infantry squad, but you have to understand that the UMR follows the MTOE. Soldiers can be leaders without being in a leadership position. By creating “unofficial” leadership positions, it will effect counseling’s, the rating scheme, TLPs etc.
I absolutely wouldn’t allow my squad leaders to create other leadership positions because it will have a significant impact on the mission from planning to execution.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 29 at 2021 10:06 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 10:06:33 -0500

I understand the intention but maybe work with your immediate supervisor to bounce organizational ideas off of. There may be ways to achieve the overall goal without overcomplicating things or re-inventing the wheel by creating some off the wall structure to allow a square peg into a round hole. I would suggest looking into a squad mentorship program. That would allow your young Soldiers to evolve into leaders without making this top heavy format. Also consider and try to understand how overwhelming this may be for the bottom 4 members of the squad. If you want to have half of your squad in a leadership position that creates this stacked system where you have too many chiefs and not enough Indians. It's your squad and there are plenty of ways to do things but just try to avoid an Office Space scenario where some poor guy has like 7 immediate bosses.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jan 29 at 2021 1:38 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:38:13 -0500

Two. That was the TO&E when I was a squad leader. Pick the most qualified of your candidates for your number two team. Your COC will sort out the rest if you cant.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Jan 29 at 2021 2:28 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 14:28:38 -0500

Did we lose the E4 fire team leaders, that was 4? Or Sr LCPL with experience and promotable? Promotions were on time up to E4, maybe times have changed.

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Jan 29 at 2021 3:39 PM

SSG Steven Borders — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 15:39:08 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member As a Squad Leader myself, it all falls on you on how you want your team broke down. I have two teams myself Charlie Team and Delta Team. I have two E5's and 5 SPC's and 1 PFC. I have one E5 in each team, and they keep track of the troops. You could easily have the CPL and the Senior E4 as your Team Leader's and they track the rest of the troops.

Response by SFC Kelly Coleman made Jan 29 at 2021 11:22 PM

SFC Kelly Coleman — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 23:22:57 -0500

You can use the old “ranger buddy” ideology to accomplish your goal. But you don’t want as many chiefs as you have subordinates. It will not go well. Good intentions though.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2021 2:16 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 14:16:20 -0500

You can give people different tasks and training to give them training opportunities (i.e. making a SPC act as a team leader for a lane during training) but you can only assign and promote to what the MTOE has available.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Feb 3 at 2021 6:44 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 18:44:42 -0500

MTOE has specific slotting, and S1 is required to slot the Soldiers according to MTOE on the ERB.
Most likely you can officially only have two TLs. My recommendation would be to make your other two SPC (P)s assistant TLs (ATL). The TL is in charge of the ATL the SPC and the PVT. However the ATL is in charge of the PVT, and the TL delegates to the ATL when practical. Additionally, the ATL fills in for the TL when the TL is away (leave, pass, TDY, quarters, etc.).

An even better recommendation is to get with your PSG (and, if necessary, your PSG to get with 1SG) to get those SPC (P)s their own team in another squad or platoon. Having 6 E4s, 4 of them promotable, in a single squad is overkill.

Response by SGT Gary Tob made Feb 12 at 2021 6:16 PM

SGT Gary Tob — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 18:16:20 -0500

In my day we had cross training. That will give you alot of insight as promotions of others. In my day we also had non formal and formal evaluations per MOS