Posted on Oct 18, 2014
U.S. Army Officer Career Development and Management: How to efficiently and effectively plan and develop your military career?
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Thank you for the taking the time to read through the opening post of this discussion. I greatly appreciate your time.
As a newly-commissioned officer in the United States Army, I have several questions pertaining as to how to best plan for, manage, and ultimately control my military career. While I understand that one's military career development will differ depending on their service component, I feel that the general concepts on how one manages their military career remains generally the same.
With that said, I would appreciate any and all feedback from junior-to-senior officers, as well as from senior non-commissioned officers as well. Using this feedback, I intend to share this knowledge to the Soldiers whom I will lead, so they too can effectively manage their military (and even civilian) careers. My questions to the RallyPoint community are:
1. As a commissioned officer/senior non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, how did you effectively begin to manage your military career? How did you ensure that you would earn time to hold your recommended key developmental positions?
2. How exactly did you ensure that you successfully completed additional training opportunities that would keep (or otherwise) push you for promotion consideration?
3. What advice would you give to a brand new Second Lieutenant who is motivated to learn new skills, further develop their existing aptitudes, and to further broaden their operational experience while striving to hold key developmental positions, such as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and so on?
I am currently serving with the United States Army Reserve, which may make my developmental experience different from that of my Active Duty-component peers, however, I feel that the innate concepts towards pursuing professional development generally remain similar for everyone in the military.
Thank you again.
As a newly-commissioned officer in the United States Army, I have several questions pertaining as to how to best plan for, manage, and ultimately control my military career. While I understand that one's military career development will differ depending on their service component, I feel that the general concepts on how one manages their military career remains generally the same.
With that said, I would appreciate any and all feedback from junior-to-senior officers, as well as from senior non-commissioned officers as well. Using this feedback, I intend to share this knowledge to the Soldiers whom I will lead, so they too can effectively manage their military (and even civilian) careers. My questions to the RallyPoint community are:
1. As a commissioned officer/senior non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, how did you effectively begin to manage your military career? How did you ensure that you would earn time to hold your recommended key developmental positions?
2. How exactly did you ensure that you successfully completed additional training opportunities that would keep (or otherwise) push you for promotion consideration?
3. What advice would you give to a brand new Second Lieutenant who is motivated to learn new skills, further develop their existing aptitudes, and to further broaden their operational experience while striving to hold key developmental positions, such as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and so on?
I am currently serving with the United States Army Reserve, which may make my developmental experience different from that of my Active Duty-component peers, however, I feel that the innate concepts towards pursuing professional development generally remain similar for everyone in the military.
Thank you again.
Posted in these groups: 
Officer
Professional Development
Officer Professional Development
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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1. Talk to your rater and discuss your plans for your current position and future positions. Also, find a mentor to help assist you and guide you to what positions you should get and where. I have laid out my plans to my raters and asked for their blessing. As an AGR I then talked to my career manager to help ensure my next assignment was a good one for development.
2. I have volunteered to go to new training as it comes up or to training for mandatory items that units must have (master resilience trainer). Seek additional duties that need schooling. I also then ensured to be in touch with my career manager to ensure that I was enrolled in my ECCC to get it early enough in my career to avoid risking having it later in my Captain time and be in danger of not making it before the below the zone look.
3. Seek leadership positions always. When not I say go for the primary positions and excel. However, know your limits. If you need a break then go to school or do a position that is less demanding, but excel at that position. Get your break and move back into leadership.
2. I have volunteered to go to new training as it comes up or to training for mandatory items that units must have (master resilience trainer). Seek additional duties that need schooling. I also then ensured to be in touch with my career manager to ensure that I was enrolled in my ECCC to get it early enough in my career to avoid risking having it later in my Captain time and be in danger of not making it before the below the zone look.
3. Seek leadership positions always. When not I say go for the primary positions and excel. However, know your limits. If you need a break then go to school or do a position that is less demanding, but excel at that position. Get your break and move back into leadership.
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1LT (Join to see)
Sir, thank you for the response. I appreciate the feedback.
I would like to enroll (and complete) the Signal Captain's Career Course (SCCC) before I submit a VTIP application to transfer over to become a Military Information Support Officer (MISO). However, I would have to balance that requirement with attempting to earn my graduate-level degree before reaching O-3, Sir. I can definitely understand the aspect that we are our own career managers.
Thank you again, Sir.
I would like to enroll (and complete) the Signal Captain's Career Course (SCCC) before I submit a VTIP application to transfer over to become a Military Information Support Officer (MISO). However, I would have to balance that requirement with attempting to earn my graduate-level degree before reaching O-3, Sir. I can definitely understand the aspect that we are our own career managers.
Thank you again, Sir.
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As a brand new officer I recommend focusing on only two things. 1. Mission accomplishment 2. Troop welfare (of your guys first then of everyone junior to you, then your peers) these two principles should carry you until Captain at least, then you can start learning Office Career management to teach your Lts and take care of yourself while you're at it.
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CPT Zachary Brooks
And don't forget to show your NCOs some love too. They will take care of you and make you look like you are so much better than you are.
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1LT (Join to see) - great questions. You are your best career manager, as no one else has the same vested interest you do. Here are some suggestions:
1. Start you OER support form early (e.g., NOW) for the rating period. Chase your Rater and Senior Rater for input/suggestions for appropriate additional duties.
2. Map out your career timelines, educational/course requirements, and beneficial/desired positions. This will be dependent on your branch, but map out what is required for the next two or three promotions. Again, discuss with your Rater and Senior Rater for input and direction.
3. Learn as much as you can from your NCOs and enlisted. We have a lot of smart individuals in the force - don't ignore them because they don't wear brass.
4. Do as much training (courses, schools, etc.) now as you can - you will only get busier as you move up.
1. Start you OER support form early (e.g., NOW) for the rating period. Chase your Rater and Senior Rater for input/suggestions for appropriate additional duties.
2. Map out your career timelines, educational/course requirements, and beneficial/desired positions. This will be dependent on your branch, but map out what is required for the next two or three promotions. Again, discuss with your Rater and Senior Rater for input and direction.
3. Learn as much as you can from your NCOs and enlisted. We have a lot of smart individuals in the force - don't ignore them because they don't wear brass.
4. Do as much training (courses, schools, etc.) now as you can - you will only get busier as you move up.
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1LT (Join to see)
Sir, thank you for the information and advice! I appreciate it greatly. As I'm finishing up BOLC-B at Fort Gordon, I am working on a list of accomplishments, tasks, and responsibilities that I have held here that I could place on my OER support form, Sir.
I will be certain to learn from my NCOs and enlisted Soldiers, Sir.
Thank you again for the feedback.
I will be certain to learn from my NCOs and enlisted Soldiers, Sir.
Thank you again for the feedback.
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