If you had a chance to speak with cadets and/or midshipmen before they commissioned, what wisdom, advice, and lessons would you offer them?

Listen to your enlisted experts first and foremost. Get to know them, understand them, and learn about them, their backgrounds, their families, their hobbies, and ask tons of questions. Take an active interest in their careers and help them achieve whatever they ask for.

As a newly commissioned Ensign (Its been about 5 months now) you’ll know basically nothing and you’re in for a whole new world. It might be uncomfortable at first, but you’ll adjust. Most know that you’re new, don’t be afraid to ask the dumb question. I can hear Gunny telling me assumptions make a$$es out of both of us.
Find a JO you like, and strive to replicate the things you admire out of then. Spend time with all of your JO’s and get to know them. Networking is huge and those who have gone before you can help you avoid repeating their mistakes. Lean on your peers, and let them lean on you. No one is an island.
Nobody cares about your qualifications more than you. People will help, but you have to ask for it. You have to put in your 10,000 hours to become the expert your community needs you to be.
Find some time to separate work from home. For example; As a sailor, you live on the ship. For weeks or months you will live where you work. When you’re home, don’t bring your work home. Otherwise you won’t have any healthy boundaries.
Take care of your people. They will do so much more for you when you show the, you care about them as a service member but also as a person. Find out their birthdays, ask about their kids, ask about their quals and living conditions. I think Theodore Roosevelt said it but “Nobody cares what you know, until they know that you care.” You’ve got to earn their trust and commitment to you and your objectives.

Just learn your job, be confident but not arrogant. Become an expert at MoBoards, understand how the bridge team works and where you fit in. Get into the Capes and Lims of SPY. Always say what you mean and mean what you say. Lastly, foster respect up and down the chain of command.

As a Navy Mustang CDR my recommendation would be to listen for understanding before responding to subordinates or seniors. Make sure to “answer the question” no more, no less. There will be time for guidance once you rank up. That was my hardest lesson … transitioning from senior enlisted to JO the newbie with all the bling. The O’s don’t understand and the CPO’s don’t get it but your Sailors will love that you remember where you came from. Lead, follow, mentor! Enjoy the junior ranks while you can … first 4 years are non compete and instant JG and LT … then the real work begins. Fai Winds Shipmate!

These are things I wish I were told as an Ensign (now I'm a LT with 7 years experience, for reference). Read any instructions that relate to your collateral duties and any joint pubs that relate to your job. You may not understand what they're addressing at first, and that's ok. Ask questions respectfully to learn, and when you speak make sure you have something to say. If you don't know how your comment or input makes the conversation better, it's ok to withhold comment. You can learn from anyone (Junior enlisted, senior enlisted, fellow JO, your CO), so try to do that. Know what your command's objectives are and make your departmental and professional objectives line up to meet those command objectives. It's not about you, it's about the team.

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LCDR Marc Soss (ret.)

Never underestimate the abilities and capabilities of your subordinates

You are not better than, smarter than, more capable than anyone solely based on your commission .

My first piece of advice is to trust your NCOs but verify what they tell you. Manage by walking around. Don't be afraid to ask questions, better yet, ask a question even if you know the answer and have your troops and NCOs explain WHY they are doing what they are doing. Many ways to skin the cat, build tools to keep in your kit bag. When you have to act in a crisis, act and try to keep your head on a swivel. Lastly, remember your troops eat first, you eat last...all the time. If you can't grab a bite, have you PSG get you a meal and eat it cold.

What would I tell them? Listen to your NCOs! They have the experience and the knowledge that you lack