Were you ever Squad Leader?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:37:01 -0400

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 9:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:38:19 -0400

Yes

Response by SSG Glen Krinsky made Sep 25 at 2015 9:38 PM

SSG Glen Krinsky — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:38:39 -0400

Yes. I am one now.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 9:40 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:40:01 -0400

For 3 years with B Co, 1st Bn, 1st Mar, 1MARDIV

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Sep 25 at 2015 9:47 PM

SGT Forrest Stewart — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 21:47:07 -0400

Yes, for the 592nd Ordinance Battalion in Billings, Mt.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 10:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 22:06:58 -0400

For 8 years now, spanning 5 units. I've been directly in charge as squad leader of over 100 people over the years. My biggest squad is right now. We need a realign, I currently have 16 subordinate Soldiers.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Sep 25 at 2015 10:16 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 22:16:15 -0400

I was a squad leader in Vietnam with Bravo 1/3, a Combat Unit in I Corps, Quang Tri Province of South Vietnam

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Sep 25 at 2015 10:49 PM

SSG Robert Webster — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 22:49:56 -0400

Yes, a number of times. First time as several others have stated in Basic - received a merit promotion for it. Also in AIT. Later I served as an Infantry Team Ldr for a short period of time, than as an Infantry Weapons Sqd Ldr, then a Scout Sqd Ldr, then again as a Weapons Sqd Ldr, before becoming a Platoon Sergeant.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Sep 26 at 2015 12:40 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 00:40:51 -0400

Yes, had a 12B squad.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2015 12:57 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 00:57:45 -0400

Yes

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 26 at 2015 1:20 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 01:20:29 -0400

Hell I was functioning as a Division Officer (Jr Officer or Senior NCO) in my Position in COMSPAWARSYSCOM/CNO WWMCCS as an E-6. I was Communications Watch Supervisor for the Message Center in London and Functioned as the After Hours N2 for the Indian Ocean Theater while stationed at Diego Garcia.

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Sep 26 at 2015 1:29 AM

SSG Leo Bell — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 01:29:51 -0400

Yes I was. The first time I became a squad leader was a true learning experience. I had to learn to control my language and what I found and could not say to soldiers. The second time I had the job it wasn't bad. As and 11C. It gave me a new respect for leadership. I know as a private thru Spec 4 I didn't care and thought it was a joke but soon as I got corporal and Sgt. Leadership got real and I thought of how wrong I was in my earlier years in the military. Now in the civilian world it has made me a good supervisor and manager. I'm glad I got the experience I did as a squad leader.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2015 2:02 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 02:02:43 -0400

Does ROTC or in school count

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 26 at 2015 4:47 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 04:47:43 -0400

I was an LPO (Leading Petty Officer), as well as a Watch Officer, in charge of anywhere from 10-15 people. That's about the closest the "regular" Navy comes to Squad Leaders.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2015 6:50 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 18:50:51 -0400

I am currently

Response by SGT Kristjan Rahe made Sep 27 at 2015 6:21 AM

SGT Kristjan Rahe — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 06:21:10 -0400

As an MP art ft Bragg, in civilian law enforcement over the years.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 27 at 2015 8:35 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 08:35:20 -0400

I was a Squad Leader during AIT; as a part of the 165th Signal Company.

Response by SSG Michael Hathaway made Sep 28 at 2015 3:45 AM

SSG Michael Hathaway — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 03:45:22 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins I was SL first thing in basic training, not having a clue about proper D&C...it was awkward, but as a result, we got some really good PT sessions in. Since then, I assumed SL while with the 15th EN whenever the E6 wasn't around. Now being an E5 serving in an E6 slot, I find its a thankless job oft times.

Response by SGT David D. made Sep 28 at 2015 4:48 PM

SGT David D. — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 16:48:13 -0400

Yes I have the best ,and the most important job I've ever had.

Response by A1C Charles D Wilson made Sep 28 at 2015 4:54 PM

A1C Charles D Wilson — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 16:54:50 -0400

Yes in tech school I made green and yellow somehow. I survived but those where the days

Chuck D

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 6:49 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 18:49:58 -0400

Yes, 1st Battalion 6th Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq, and 2nd Battalion 8th Marines in Afghanistan. Best job I ever had.

Response by SSG Stephen Arnold made Oct 1 at 2015 9:38 PM

SSG Stephen Arnold — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 21:38:35 -0400

Yes. After my ETS date I wanted to be a hermit.

Response by SSG Rhett Harris made Oct 1 at 2015 10:26 PM

SSG Rhett Harris — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 22:26:24 -0400

I was FDC chief (E6 slot) as a PFC for a four deuce mortar platoon with HHC 1/67 AR, 2AD at Ft. Hood so I guess that made me FDC SL. Then later served as SL as a CPL then again as an E5 with C Co, 256 BDE 5th ID, Bradleys. Was a blast.

Response by SGT Dana Williams made Oct 2 at 2015 8:28 AM

SGT Dana Williams — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 08:28:53 -0400

At various times a squad leader, class commander, and platoon sergeant ... ususlly just before I had adequate experience to do any of the above,

Response by SSG Mike Sommer made Oct 25 at 2015 12:40 PM

SSG Mike Sommer — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 12:40:30 -0400

My last 2 years in active duty I was a Squad Leader. It was an awesome experience. I miss it tremendously.

Response by SGM (R) Antonio Brown made Feb 13 at 2016 2:37 AM

SGM (R) Antonio Brown — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 02:37:12 -0500

I was a Squad Leader and loved every second of it. I was a Squad Leader in 101st and 267th Chemical Company's.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Feb 13 at 2016 8:32 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 08:32:16 -0500

Yes I was a squad leader for about a year in 1st Radio Co FMF Camp Geiger NC and often filled in as acting platoon sgt ... I told my 1stSgt that I was an acting platoon sgt so often that I was thinking about joining the Screen Actors Guild. Needless to say he didn't think that was funny and tossed me out of his office ..

Response by SSG Mike Busovicki made Feb 13 at 2016 10:01 AM

SSG Mike Busovicki — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 10:01:05 -0500

I was an Infantry SL for my second year in Iraq (Ramadi 2005-2006). This is where I first really learned how military leadership worked. As a team leader, I felt more like a big brother looking over the shoulder of the younger kids and making sure that every individual was ok. As a squad leader, I had to learn to let that go - part of being a SL is developing leaders underneath you, and *letting them lead too*. Micromanaging hurts the whole system, and learning how to avoid this was probably the best lesson I learned. Second best lesson was learning to train "one level up" - i.e. now that you're a SL, you should be looking at what the Platoon Sergeant does in their job. You might find yourself bumped up into that slot a whole lot faster than you think!

Response by SGT David D. made Apr 22 at 2016 2:36 AM

SGT David D. — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 02:36:01 -0400

Yes I was a Squad Leader. for the Powerplant/Powertrain shop, for 8th Trans. Co., 11th Trans Bn., 7th trans Group, Ft. Story Va. We maintained twelve of the army's twenty-four LACV-30 Hovercraft. the other twelve were maintained by our sister unit the three thirty worst....ahem.... first.
The squad consisted of one half Army aviation branch Aircraft Powerplant Repairers 15B (back then it was 68B), and the other half Transportation branch Watercraft Engineers 88L.
Two different operational cultures crammed into a job that neither group really signed on for. because the LACV-30 was a cross between an aircraft and a watercraft, cool concept,.....but lousy execution, that was eventually scrapped.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Apr 28 at 2016 12:39 PM

SGT Scott Bell — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 12:39:41 -0400

Yes in d.co 1/26Inf

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Sep 27 at 2016 8:38 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 08:38:15 -0400

I was never in a combat role, however as a Weapons Troop, I have been a leading team member.

Response by SGT Philip Keys made Aug 5 at 2019 6:29 PM

SGT Philip Keys — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:29:57 -0400

Yes and then the platoon sergeant was gone for EIGHT MONTHS. So here I am a SGT being a platoon sergeant for eight months!!!! Wasn't too bad except the 1SG hated me. I wasn't a fan of his either. The SGM liked me so that was always a plus. Wasn't fun and being responsible for a whole platoon was interesting. No issues, no problems, except I had to step it up and be on time, responsible etc for eight months. I couldn't believe how happy I was when the SFC returned, I actually hugged the SFC and had a new found respect for him. He laughed and said "I heard you did pretty good, that came from the 1SG, he told me not to tell you".