What advice do you wish you were given as a new Field Grade Officer (MAJ/LCDR)?

2019-07-31T21:52:19-04:00

So they just released to the promotion list for Major. I’m humbled to say that I was selected for promotion to Major and I am looking forward to the transition. Any advice for a soon-to-be new Field Grade Officer?

Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 31 at 2019 9:55 PM

2019-07-31T21:55:41-04:00

Not advice, just a fact... "There will be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Why...? Because you have to be a grown up now."

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2019 10:00 PM

2019-07-31T22:00:04-04:00

The difficulty level will go up and so will expectations that you are the Iron Major. It is good to be humble but remember that the selection rate was probably like 80%, don’t let it go to your head.

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made Jul 31 at 2019 10:16 PM

2019-07-31T22:16:14-04:00

The term "Iron Major" refers to the fact that you will be expected to do difficult things and solve problems for your Battalion, Brigade and Division Commanders. It also means that you may from time to time have to intercede on behalf of your company-grade officers, NCO's and soldiers. That intercession may not always make you friends with your peers and seniors, but you must take care of your soldiers. Learn your craft, keep your sense of humor, and take care of your soldiers.

Response by COL Dana Hampton made Jul 31 at 2019 10:17 PM

2019-07-31T22:17:26-04:00

Be prepared to work longer hours and have higher expectations of everything you do, or don’t do.

Your time as a major will be rewarding and challenging. You will no longer lead Soldiers directly. At the field grade level, you will be the staff officer leader that becomes a key developer and shaper of your commander’s intent. Mentor the staff and develop COAs while driving MDMP 24/7!

PS—-In between all of the aforementioned, you’ll have to get ILE and AOC completed.

Now go out and have fun! You earned it!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jul 31 at 2019 11:14 PM

2019-07-31T23:14:50-04:00

Congrats on your promotion! :-)

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Aug 1 at 2019 1:26 AM

2019-08-01T01:26:57-04:00

Become the subject matter expert in: MDMP, TPMD, IBP, ROE, Liaison, the unit's capabilities and limitations, personnel administration, deployment/re-deployment, unit movement, Blue Forces, staff operations, etc. etc. etc. Except the the branch SMEs like the Signal Officer and Civil Affairs Officer, the other Captains are all at different levels and sometimes don't know their jobs well, so you have to be the expert. Hopefully you'll have a good maintenance officer so that you don't have to know everything. Look forward to being the battalion XO, for me it was the best job in the army.

Response by LCDR Chris Meyer made Aug 1 at 2019 1:55 AM

2019-08-01T01:55:17-04:00

Sound leadership skills demonstrated consistently to include respect, fairness and set the example by leading from the front. Show your team why they can, not should ,respect and trust you. Listen and hear your people. One old unwritten rule is discipline in private and praise in public. Acknowledge success, focused effort and strong individual and team performance. Basically, let them know your expectations (you should know them cold) and most importantly take care of your people.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Aug 1 at 2019 6:36 AM

2019-08-01T06:36:40-04:00

Congrats on your promotion
Not exactly the same level as most of the comments here but from an NCOs perspective:

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Aug 1 at 2019 7:34 AM

2019-08-01T07:34:35-04:00

You are given two ears and one mouth for a reason...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 1 at 2019 12:12 PM

2019-08-01T12:12:57-04:00

What is your branch?

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 1 at 2019 2:46 PM

2019-08-01T14:46:17-04:00

Survey the landscape talk and to find whats broken before you do anything!?

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Aug 1 at 2019 8:37 PM

2019-08-01T20:37:55-04:00

Congratulations on your selection. A Major I was working with when I was promoted told me to remember one thing when I pinned the leaves on, there are only two ranks that are gold colored, Second Lieutenants and Majors because they both had to go through a learning period until they were effective!

Response by CSM William Everroad made Aug 2 at 2019 8:33 AM

2019-08-02T08:33:58-04:00

Don't forget what it was like dealing with the BN staff as a Company Commander.

Response by MAJ Randy Mosele made Aug 2 at 2019 5:56 PM

2019-08-02T17:56:09-04:00

Don’t forget what you learned as a 2LT from your senior NCOs.

Response by MAJ Jonas Braud made Aug 6 at 2019 10:26 AM

2019-08-06T10:26:36-04:00

How will you earn an advanced degree, Master or PhD? You'll need it for promotion to LTC or Civilian.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2019 6:50 PM

2019-08-19T18:50:19-04:00

Get a mentor, then another, and another and compare notes.

Don't trust your Rating Chain - get everything in writing.

Hold your Rater & Senior Rater accountable to the Army requirement for formal (and written) feedback/counselling sessions. Don't let them say "go do good work" - ask their pet peeves, do/don'ts specific to their leadership style. (My last senior rater said regarding PT: "the standard is the standard is the standard; if a 60% is passing to the Army that's the standard". The previous Senior Rater, when I was explaining my goal to get back to the 90s after recovering from an injury, stopped me and said "OH, so you're the type that only aspires to a 90?" and then turned and walked away. You gotta know, if you want to earn the "top block" commonly referred to as an "Above Center of Mass (ACOM). I'm told that at your LTC board they only look at your last 5 evals, and you need 3 of the last 5 to be ACOM to be sure, and 2/5 is a maybe.
Then get informal feedback more often than that formal 1 "mid term" per year - (even if that's a "hey boss, I'm about to head out for the weekend and I think we had a pretty [good/bad/indifferent] week, what's your take?").

Take care of your own career - including assignments - map out the next three jobs you want and proactively work with your Branch Proponency Office and your Assignments Desk at HRC to convince them of your master plan.

Temperance - the Rater is now to exclusively rate your performance, and the Senior Rater exclusively rate your potential. Let that sink in - the Senior Rater will probably tell you in your Initial "what" they want you to "do". But that is not at all what they write on your eval - they should be telling you what qualities they want you to "be". I said temperance, because you can be the over-performing golden-boy 364 days, but in just 1 day if you do something like pop-off with your mouth, it can sink a professional reputation in an instant.

Study - Take a few hours out of every week (at LEAST) to read something other than your specialty. Ordinarily I'd say this was the "Profession of Arms" but MC, MSC, NC, etc are not Basic Competitive Category. At field grade level, they expect you to broaden.

Seek out and mentor those around you. I cannot tell you how great it feels, how much better an organization runs, how much esprit de corps goes up... when we lift each other up. The time you spend doing that will pay much greater dividends in the future. Best compliment I ever got was, "You know what I noticed about you, Sir?" (I'm thinking: Uh, oh, where's this going?) "You're the only one around here that is living up to the espoused Army value of 'Teach, Coach, Mentor' so I wanted to say thank you."

Response by MAJ Michelle Goodnight made Aug 19 at 2019 7:30 PM

2019-08-19T19:30:10-04:00

Watch your back.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2019 12:20 AM

2019-08-21T00:20:19-04:00

Go to ILE ASAP

Response by SGT James Hammons made Aug 21 at 2019 9:14 AM

2019-08-21T09:14:45-04:00

Always respect.

Response by MAJ John Flanagan made Aug 22 at 2019 7:17 PM

2019-08-22T19:17:24-04:00

Maintain your integrity, take care of your troops, don’t baby them.

Response by Maj Charles Porter made Jun 25 at 2020 4:48 PM

2020-06-25T16:48:58-04:00

What do you think now that you have seen the Great and Powerful Oz?