What advice, REAL WORLD, MISSION ORIENTED, advice would you give to new Leaders

SSG Roger Ayscue — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:02:45 -0400

OK Career Gunfighters, You can give ONE, and ONLY ONE piece of advice to a New Leader of Gunfighters, right before his first deployment as a leader.

For Myself I would say: TAKE CARE OF YOUR MEDIC!, because Doc is Damn Sure gonna take care of you. Doc don't pull guard, because when you are copping Zulus Doc is checking feet and fevers...Doc don't dig his own hole, he don't need blisters on the hands that will start your IV. Doc eats FIRST, because he will spend 90% of that chow break making sure your NUGS and Privates are drinking water and eating something besides candy bars (I know this is YOUR JOB there Squad Leader, but Doc does it too, because he fracking cares). Take care of Doc, Help him carry his load, because most of his load, is for you and the platoon. One last thing, if your are still listening...Check Doc's feet once in a while, offer him a cookie from home in that box from your little sister, let Doc know he is part of the platoon, and is mis-assigned to HHC. Invite Doc to your platoon cookouts, and even to Christmas dinner if he is single. Take care of Doc.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jun 1 at 2015 8:07 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:07:30 -0400

The experience of others should not be discounted.

Response by MSG David Johnson made Jun 1 at 2015 8:40 PM

MSG David Johnson — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:40:39 -0400

You hit that one right on the head.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 1 at 2015 8:41 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:41:47 -0400

Practice and train on your react to contact drills where it becomes instinctive.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jun 1 at 2015 8:46 PM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:46:57 -0400

Take other peoples perspectives. Don't be afraid to fail.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 8:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:47:03 -0400

Accept nothing less than the best from your team and turn everything into a lesson to grow from...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 8:49 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:49:56 -0400

Listen to those older than you, they are full of advice and experience and have learned from the same mistakes you will make.

Response by SSG Sean Thoman made Jun 1 at 2015 8:59 PM

SSG Sean Thoman — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 20:59:17 -0400

Two things CSM Bobby R Butler told me during my promotion ceremony and the latter about a week before when I was assigned to the Brigade Command Group on the Rock right before I became a Mechanized Infantry Squad Leader back in the old days (1980's). "Do not be afraid of your soldiers, be honest, be loyal to them, and do not let your leadership position go to your head, use it to get the job done...' ...'The Army has Leaders and first line leaders, not supervisors and managers. You are a leader, not a manager at McDonalds or Montgomery Wards. Think" CSM Bobby R Butler. Having been both a Squad Leader and Small Trucking Business Manager, that in my mind is still true today, you have leaders and you have managers, in the end, Leadership get's the job done because it brings the crew or squad together to accomplish a common task(s) and goal(s) to succeed. Whereas management, well, it is just there seemingly without a purpose and tripping over itself, talentless, with no idea what really needs done outside of a piece of paper or two. Just my view and experience.

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Jun 1 at 2015 9:22 PM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 21:22:35 -0400

Manage expectations by being realistic about your platoon's cababilities and constraints.

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Jun 1 at 2015 10:38 PM

SGT Edward Thomas — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 22:38:11 -0400

SSG Roger Ayscue I couldn't have said it better. No one cares about Doc until Doc can't take care of you.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 11:00 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 23:00:55 -0400

My friend, when I'm humping with you guys, I am treated better than most hollywood diva's. I don't think most people understand the relationship between a dirt pounder and his Doc.

Response by SFC Fred Smith made Jun 10 at 2015 10:01 PM

SFC Fred Smith — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 22:01:46 -0400

Do not confuse rank with experience. Sometimes an E4 might know more about a subject than the actual subject matter expert.