Posted on Dec 29, 2020
Is a Pre SCCC 1LT taking command of a Brigade Signal Company a bad idea?
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Hey RP Community,
My BN Commander is looking at me to take command of a Brigade Signal Company. However, I have not completed Signal Captains Career Course (SCCC) nor Pre-Command Course(PCC). I transitioned from the said Company as the XO to the BDE S6 shop in an O-3 slot so I can promote to CPT once my promotion board convenes in the spring(2021). My hesitation/concern for taking command is that I do not have any staff experience(until recently) and do not know all the staff roles/responsibilities and how to leverage those positions to support the company mission and its Soldiers. In general, I feel like taking command with limited experience as a Junior Officer would probably be similar to that of a dumpster fire.
I am chewing on this a bit and currently leaning towards not taking command, at least until I complete my time in the BDE S6 and graduate from SCCC. I think then I would reconsider, having a better understanding of Staff roles and how I can use them effetely to facilitate the BDE Signal Company mission and METL tasks.
I would really appreciate everyone input in the matter. Thank you!
- Rob
My BN Commander is looking at me to take command of a Brigade Signal Company. However, I have not completed Signal Captains Career Course (SCCC) nor Pre-Command Course(PCC). I transitioned from the said Company as the XO to the BDE S6 shop in an O-3 slot so I can promote to CPT once my promotion board convenes in the spring(2021). My hesitation/concern for taking command is that I do not have any staff experience(until recently) and do not know all the staff roles/responsibilities and how to leverage those positions to support the company mission and its Soldiers. In general, I feel like taking command with limited experience as a Junior Officer would probably be similar to that of a dumpster fire.
I am chewing on this a bit and currently leaning towards not taking command, at least until I complete my time in the BDE S6 and graduate from SCCC. I think then I would reconsider, having a better understanding of Staff roles and how I can use them effetely to facilitate the BDE Signal Company mission and METL tasks.
I would really appreciate everyone input in the matter. Thank you!
- Rob
Company Commander
25A: Signal Officer
Reserves
Edited 5 y ago
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 25
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Take it.
I cant speak for the Army but I can speak as a CommO/SigO.
NO ONE coming out of school really understands their trade well. You have a few basic principles down but its not enough to do the job.
You need two skills. 1. Know how to work with your SNCOs and enlisted. They know what a good plan looks like. I wrote countless ANNEX Ks or portions there of as a Lt (and after), every single time I could I handed the draft off to my SNCOs to correct, and then to my enlisted to correct. The SNCOs will make sure its formally correct and is a good plan. The junior enlisted - the soldiers who have to actually execute that plan - will tell you if it will work and if they understand it. This will give you an extremely good working relationship with your soldiers who will not only know the plan but have ownership of it.
2. Humility. The best SNCO I ever had walked into my office the first day he checked in and told me he knew nothing about Communications / Signaling. He was a convert and had spent the past 9 years doing something else. He spent the next year drilling my Marines. Every week he would have them build and tear down a network in front of him. He (and I) didnt have to admit or say anything, we just pulled an old order off the shelf and had them build it. Then do it again and again. This not only trained the Marines but it trained us. Eventually my SNCO was the best at every aspect of the entire shop because he worked with every single Marine and knew all their jobs. If you walk into the job with humility and make sure your Soldiers know where you are at and work with them to improve YOUR skills you can improve theirs as well and build up respect for yourself and them. You will also very quickly learn who is strong and who is weak. Everything you want to know about your unit you can learn by having them teach you.
Last thing, Company Command is command. It doesnt matter the company or what they do. You dont need to be the expert. Your platoon commanders and SNCOs do. You are there to lead and organize.
I cant speak for the Army but I can speak as a CommO/SigO.
NO ONE coming out of school really understands their trade well. You have a few basic principles down but its not enough to do the job.
You need two skills. 1. Know how to work with your SNCOs and enlisted. They know what a good plan looks like. I wrote countless ANNEX Ks or portions there of as a Lt (and after), every single time I could I handed the draft off to my SNCOs to correct, and then to my enlisted to correct. The SNCOs will make sure its formally correct and is a good plan. The junior enlisted - the soldiers who have to actually execute that plan - will tell you if it will work and if they understand it. This will give you an extremely good working relationship with your soldiers who will not only know the plan but have ownership of it.
2. Humility. The best SNCO I ever had walked into my office the first day he checked in and told me he knew nothing about Communications / Signaling. He was a convert and had spent the past 9 years doing something else. He spent the next year drilling my Marines. Every week he would have them build and tear down a network in front of him. He (and I) didnt have to admit or say anything, we just pulled an old order off the shelf and had them build it. Then do it again and again. This not only trained the Marines but it trained us. Eventually my SNCO was the best at every aspect of the entire shop because he worked with every single Marine and knew all their jobs. If you walk into the job with humility and make sure your Soldiers know where you are at and work with them to improve YOUR skills you can improve theirs as well and build up respect for yourself and them. You will also very quickly learn who is strong and who is weak. Everything you want to know about your unit you can learn by having them teach you.
Last thing, Company Command is command. It doesnt matter the company or what they do. You dont need to be the expert. Your platoon commanders and SNCOs do. You are there to lead and organize.
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I'm with all the others who say go for it. Command, especially at the company level, is as good as it gets. The fact that your bosses think you have what it takes and that they'd rather have you than someone who's already been to your advanced course and/or the PCC (which they didn't have for captains back in my day) is really all you need to know.
On the negative side, if you turn it down, the bosses who think so highly of you may develop doubts about you because you opted out of a great opportunity when they clearly think you're the man for the job. . . .
On the negative side, if you turn it down, the bosses who think so highly of you may develop doubts about you because you opted out of a great opportunity when they clearly think you're the man for the job. . . .
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Suspended Profile
Please understand that I don’t at all mean this in a demeaning way...
I spent 5 years in a brigade signal company as their training NCO. I then transitioned to my brigade’s S6 shop where I’ve been for 7 years.
The signal company commander is more or less a signature authority. That’s not to say that you can’t have significant positive effect on the unit. But when it comes to use and deployment you don’t really get much say. You don’t need to understand much beyond the basic signal flow of the equipment. Brigade will tell you where to put the big stuff, BN will take their BnCPN and you’re left with a supply section, a 1SG and one retrans team. Your focus should be on IWQ/APFT/NCOES unless you have significant weak areas in your crew proficiencies.
Do not be afraid of this opportunity. If it’s a good strong company that is proficient in their METL tasks then pick one weakness and hammer it until it’s a strength. But don’t worry about a lack of unit or organizational knowledge. The signal company works more directly for the brigade HQ than any other company in the brigade outside of portions of the MiCo. Command doesn’t come along every day, and you’ll have time to get your schooling in.
Feel free to message me if you want to get further into specifics.
I spent 5 years in a brigade signal company as their training NCO. I then transitioned to my brigade’s S6 shop where I’ve been for 7 years.
The signal company commander is more or less a signature authority. That’s not to say that you can’t have significant positive effect on the unit. But when it comes to use and deployment you don’t really get much say. You don’t need to understand much beyond the basic signal flow of the equipment. Brigade will tell you where to put the big stuff, BN will take their BnCPN and you’re left with a supply section, a 1SG and one retrans team. Your focus should be on IWQ/APFT/NCOES unless you have significant weak areas in your crew proficiencies.
Do not be afraid of this opportunity. If it’s a good strong company that is proficient in their METL tasks then pick one weakness and hammer it until it’s a strength. But don’t worry about a lack of unit or organizational knowledge. The signal company works more directly for the brigade HQ than any other company in the brigade outside of portions of the MiCo. Command doesn’t come along every day, and you’ll have time to get your schooling in.
Feel free to message me if you want to get further into specifics.
Suspended Profile
I should probably mention that I’m in an IBCT with an Increment 1 signal company so mileage may vary slightly...
SFC Marcus Lewis
This is Facts right here, might not be what you want to hear but this sums it up. Rely on your 1SG doing this makes it even appear like you more user friendly to NCO’s. Focus on your stats & it being updated in the system so it appears in meeting L7 squared away.
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CPT (Join to see)
SFC Thomas Foreman Thanks for the reply. The company has INC1B. Mileage is high and hardware failures can't get fixed. Currently, If the company were to do a BDE level COMMEX we wouldn't be able to provide services at all. I can elaborate more on the issues off-line if you were interested.
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Don't do it. I did, and have nothing but counter productive complaints.
The main argument against it, is the command time as a 1LT will not count toward your Key Development Position.
Confirm with your Career Management Office. I did. 27 months gone that could have otherwise been rated in Staff Positions. Now I have to do it all over again as a CPT if I want to check the KD box.
The main argument against it, is the command time as a 1LT will not count toward your Key Development Position.
Confirm with your Career Management Office. I did. 27 months gone that could have otherwise been rated in Staff Positions. Now I have to do it all over again as a CPT if I want to check the KD box.
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LTC Raymond Buenteo
I was 12 years active and 18 as a reservist. Putting your oath to your country 3rd makes you a 3rd rate officer. Service to your country is a sacrifice because not everyone has the patriotic dedication to put that service as the priority.
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CPT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) I would be a CPT by the time I would be taking command. My CPT promotion board should be late winter early spring of 2021.
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CPT (Join to see)
CMSgt Virgil Horsley -
At the end of the day the USAR is held accountable to the Army Standard with 10% of the time and resources. It's reality they aren't #1 priority unless mobilized on full BAH orders that take care of priority #1 and #2 by the vary nature of gainful employment already enjoyed by the active component.
The commander's responsibility is to simply eat crow by the very nature of the position. I spent my time covering down for soldiers over stretched by the USAR so they could finish school or go to work against short notice mission changes (things that I personally couldn't do for myself).
At the end of the day the USAR is held accountable to the Army Standard with 10% of the time and resources. It's reality they aren't #1 priority unless mobilized on full BAH orders that take care of priority #1 and #2 by the vary nature of gainful employment already enjoyed by the active component.
The commander's responsibility is to simply eat crow by the very nature of the position. I spent my time covering down for soldiers over stretched by the USAR so they could finish school or go to work against short notice mission changes (things that I personally couldn't do for myself).
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LtCol Dennis Ivan
CPT (Join to see) - Dont take advice from bad officers or ones not experienced enough to know what matters.
He is right. No it wont count toward your career promotion (Maj and LtCol).. But he is way off and wrong about the effect. What it WILL count toward is your commanders who look at what you've done. They already understand what you need for your career and what you dont. Ive had plenty of Lts that have been company commanders. We still put them in charge of companies or we put them at an even greater key billet (G6 Ops or similar function).
Success breeds success. If you take command early its not going to stop you from progressing, it shows you are mature enough to take on responsibility above your rank. Commanders will look at your career path and keep giving you greater challenges as you prove yourself. Promotion boards will see that.
Promotion in any service is about what your record says about you and what your commanders say. Key billets are important but not critical if you have high marks in everything you did. No matter what, if you do well at what you are supposed to do the Army will take care of you.
Every one I know who wasnt promoted that I knew what their record looked like wasnt promoted for a reason that had nothing to do with key billet tours.
He is right. No it wont count toward your career promotion (Maj and LtCol).. But he is way off and wrong about the effect. What it WILL count toward is your commanders who look at what you've done. They already understand what you need for your career and what you dont. Ive had plenty of Lts that have been company commanders. We still put them in charge of companies or we put them at an even greater key billet (G6 Ops or similar function).
Success breeds success. If you take command early its not going to stop you from progressing, it shows you are mature enough to take on responsibility above your rank. Commanders will look at your career path and keep giving you greater challenges as you prove yourself. Promotion boards will see that.
Promotion in any service is about what your record says about you and what your commanders say. Key billets are important but not critical if you have high marks in everything you did. No matter what, if you do well at what you are supposed to do the Army will take care of you.
Every one I know who wasnt promoted that I knew what their record looked like wasnt promoted for a reason that had nothing to do with key billet tours.
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CPT (Join to see)
Yes they do along with the DCO of the Brigade. I am pulled into staff meetings all the time.
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Circling back around. So I decided to take command. CoC will be in August.
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Some great advice has been given. Back in 2003 I was activated with the 335th. I was in the facility Engineer slot then moved forward to Kuwait. Had no clue what I would be doing, and it wasn't till I was sitting in the conference room at Camp Doha I learned I would be the HHC Company Commander forward. Was a learning opportunity and a growth opportunity as well. You never know what you can do to thrown in the pit. You'll make mistakes, but learn and move forward. As I've fine a few 15-6 investigations on missing property in my career. Hand receipts are your life saver. Document and keep accurate property accountability. Learn your command team and build trust. ESSAYONS
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Hi 1LT:
You are being offered an opportunity that others would die for. Take the command!
Don't hesitate. Once in command, you will learn the ropes quickly from other officers and your NCOs.
Its an opportunity to LEAD, not follow and not get out of the way. If you don't take the offer, you
will likely live to regret it, particularly if you plan to stay in the Army.
Your Battalion Commander has already taken a look at you, and he (she) feels you CAN
handle it, otherwise, he (she) would not have recommend command to you.
If you refuse this offer, you likely will never get another opportunity......
You are being offered an opportunity that others would die for. Take the command!
Don't hesitate. Once in command, you will learn the ropes quickly from other officers and your NCOs.
Its an opportunity to LEAD, not follow and not get out of the way. If you don't take the offer, you
will likely live to regret it, particularly if you plan to stay in the Army.
Your Battalion Commander has already taken a look at you, and he (she) feels you CAN
handle it, otherwise, he (she) would not have recommend command to you.
If you refuse this offer, you likely will never get another opportunity......
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Do you know how few commands there are in the Signal community? Here is a hint when I was looking at a command on Fort Bragg in 2009 timeframe there was one command opening up and 30 officers applying. Realize if you turn it down the odds are not in your favor to take command again.
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MAJ (Join to see)
MAJ Ron Peery another time showing branch screwing over officers for their own benefit. Garbage officers and in 21 years have only met three that weren't trash.
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MAJ Ron Peery
MAJ (Join to see) - it all worked out fine. I spent so much time working with Infantry, that I almost are one. And being in Afghanistan as an Infantry ETT was a lot more fun than being in Afghanistan as a signal weenie at a FOB.
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MAJ (Join to see)
MAJ Ron Peery sounds very familiar. I spent most of my time off the FOB during my 10 years as a SIGO and it was great. Sadly it seems the people who hid out at NETCOM and avoided the deployments tend to move up faster but hey it is what it is.
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MAJ Ron Peery
I retired as a Major because of family issues. But the decision was easy because as a Signal officer with no signal battalion, I wasn't ever going to see a battalion command. I could see a future full of desk jobs, for which I am not wired. Besides, my folks were both sick and I didn't want to take a chance on another deployment, knowing they'd end up in an old folks home.
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Take the job! Offers to command don’t come around every day. You were the Company XO so you should know the Company. If the Company has a strong First Sergeant and no serious performance or personnel problems then this is a good deal. You can catch up on the schools.
Avoid problems with substance abuse, sexual misbehavior, and misappropriation of government funds and you’ll do okay.
Avoid problems with substance abuse, sexual misbehavior, and misappropriation of government funds and you’ll do okay.
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