What advice would you have for someone taking a TRADOC Company Command?

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:09:14 -0400

BG: I have been given the opportunity to command an Military Intelligence AIT Company next April. I've been in the Army for 8 years (3.5 enlisted), I am attending CCC after the Command, and I do have experience as a Troop XO in an IBCT mounted cavalry unit.

Any current or previous TRADOC Company Commanders:

I'm looking for tips and advice from those that held a Command in TRADOC, specifically. I know there are many nuances to the job that make it unique to a command in FORSCOM. Given that all of my previous experience is in FORSCOM, I am looking for someone with more time on station. Thank you in advance!

Response by SFC Nancy Hawk made Oct 21 at 2019 4:56 PM

SFC Nancy Hawk — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 16:56:02 -0400

Congratulations.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 27 at 2019 9:37 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 09:37:15 -0400

In addition to what MSG Brian Johnston laid out (which is spot on) be prepared to referee between schoolhouse cadre and your drills / fight on behalf of your drills. I did two AITs at Huachuca (both as a reclassifying NCO), then went back later as an AIT PSG, before moving into the Huachuca G5, G3, and finally doctrine writing. In all of those positions I saw more strife between instructors and drills/PSGs than I did between trainees and cadre of any flavor. (Of course you will have knuckleheads, but AIT knuckleheads really aren't that different from FORSCOM knuckleheads.)

Oh, and if you are participating in a weekend safety brief, telling the troops not to go to Mexico, make sure you point towards Mexico, not Tucson (true story of one of my "finer" Company Commanders...).

Finally, you biggest responsibility as a Commander is very little different than in FORSCOM. The methods and tools are different, but at the end of the day, your primary two jobs (through the efforts of your NCOs) are A) the health and safety of your Soldiers, and B) ensuring your Soldiers are as trained as you can possibly make them to perform their wartime mission. Unless things have radically changed in the last 5 years, schoolhouse will take care of their MOS specific skills. You and your drills need to focus on all of those Warrior Tasks and Drills - and performing them with troops who are (generally speaking) more comfortable behind a computer than in the woods.