What are some good suggestions for post-Company/Battery command assignments?

MAJ Jason Sierakowski — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 18:04:10 -0400

Curious if senior officers and fellow Captains can give some guidance on post Company/Battery Command assignments. I have been to busy to submit for broadening. I am tracking ROTC, instructing BOLC, ect. Any deeper thoughts?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2018 7:51 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 19:51:39 -0400

Depending on your preferences, it would be great for you to get some experience on a battalion/brigade staff.

Response by MAJ Syd Johnston made Jun 2 at 2018 9:13 PM

MAJ Syd Johnston — Sat, 02 Jun 2018 21:13:54 -0400

Consider Staff positions. What is your desired expertise 1,2,3,4?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2018 2:02 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 02:02:51 -0400

MAJ Jason Sierakowski; depends what you want to be doing and if there are any "non-career" goals in mind. Location matters to some and that drives it. It did for me. I wanted to be in the mid-west, so that's where I went. Also depends on how you did in Command. What are your chances for resident CGSC? If you are likely to go resident, are you interested in going to SAMS? I came out of command and did a year on Brigade staff and then went to the MCTP at Fort Leavenworth (then called BCTP). Then onto CGSC and SAMS. 4 years at Leavenworth. Stabilization for the family was the goal and it worked out. Do what you want to do. There are a ton of other options. You could go to the Pentagon, a service component command (USARPAC, ARCENT, ARSOUTH, etc), NTC or JRTC as an O/C, ROTC, BOLC, Captain's Career Course, AC/RC, multiple fellowships (but I assume you are out of the window to apply now if you are running to the end of your time as a commander), exchange programs with partner nations (air defense school in England...again, you may have missed the deadline for submission), and a host of other things. There is a team of air defenders here in Saudi Arabia advising the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces right across the street from me. Tons of things to do.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2018 9:19 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 09:19:51 -0400

I asked the same question when I came out of command. I was given very similar advice, take a primary staff position at a Battalion. I believe that to be better than being a deputy at the Brigade level. I’d also consider any special programs your branch offers. I see you earned a Masters on your own, I did the same thing so I took a key staff assignment within my branch and applied for an internship (I’d consider TWI). You usually can’t apply for these broadening assignments until you have commanded successfully for 18-24 months. Something to think about, you may not have the time as a Major, between ILE and two KD assignments. Looks like you still have plenty of time before you pin Major. Good luck.

Response by CH (MAJ) Luke Phillips made Jun 3 at 2018 9:54 AM

CH (MAJ) Luke Phillips — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 09:54:09 -0400

I highly recommend an AS3 (Assistant Operations Officer) assignment if you have not yet had this experience. It is not a "sexy" position but will benefit your development greatly.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2018 12:44 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 12:44:10 -0400

I would definitely get into the AS3 realm. It will prepare you for two of three Major KD jobs ( S3, battalion XO, or an additional Company Command job as a Major). If you haven’t been to Korea yet, I definitely would look at a hardship tour if your trying for stabilizing for your family.
As far as your future jobs look at where you currently are in your career. Are you past ten years looking for twenty then retirement or are you looking at staying in longer? Do you have kids and where are they in school? Is your wife a professional employee? These are things you have to consider when looking for your next job?
Start planning and thinking retirement now! Especially if your at 15 years or greater. Keep 60 days leave on the books at all times, not only for retirement but just in case you get a Red Cross message. Have about 6 months salary saved up when you retire ( there’s a lot of unseen expenses between moving, getting a new house, getting reestablished in a new state). Start getting any medical files together that you plan on submitting for VA benifits! Oh and if your going to retire soon and think you won’t be 100% disabled 1.5 years out you want to start looking for a house to use your VA loan. Once your under 12 months to retirement you won’t be able to get a VA loan until you get your first retirement paycheck and any disability letter from the VA.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Please look me up if you have any further questions!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2018 2:01 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 14:01:27 -0400

After my KD time I did ROTC APMS and ops officer at 2 star HQ's (one was WIAS to Afghanistan). I do agree with what some of the field grade officers have put out - BN staff time would likely be beneficial to you.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2018 2:55 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 14:55:45 -0400

Anything in the 3 shop is your best bet ... that's where all the action happens.

Response by LTC Richard Becker made Jun 7 at 2018 5:30 AM

LTC Richard Becker — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 05:30:05 -0400

After command, you should have a good 1-3 years before pinning MAJ. This is your time to open your aperture to see the army above the Company and Battalion level. If you have the opportunity to PCS, the main broadening assignments offered are Recruiting COmpany Commander or OC/T at either NTC or JMRC. That being said, there are a myriad of interesting assignments that aren’t so run of the mill. These are in the form of fellowships with other agencies and organizations. We have fellowships with the White House, Joint Staff, NSA, CIA, FBI, as well as our FFRDC’s like MIT Lincoln Labs. we also have training with industry and And advanced civil schooling.

You, (OP) mentioned you didn’t have time to submit for broadening, so I’m guessing you missed the application deadlines for a lot of the programs I mentioned. This is unfortunate and shows the lack of mentor ship we continue to see at the brigade and below. There should have been an Iron Major taking you under their wing and explaining the broadening process and what you needed to do, when. But I digress...

So what do you do now that you are weeks or days away from giving up the guidon and you don’t have your next assignment? You have about six basic options...

1) take the recruiting command
2) take the OC/T at NYC or JRTC
3) stay local and become the brigade planner or work on division staff
4) PCS to another Division or CORPs to work On their staff
5) talk to your assignments manager about becoming an Aide de Camp or XO for a BG or MG.
6) deploy on a WIAS tasker

There are pros and cons to each, and your family situation is going to be the largest factor in narrowing it down. I hope you have a field grade or flag officer who you can candidly discuss with to give critical thought based on experience.

Good Luck! And when you are the battalion XO in the future, don’t repeat the cycle with your commanders. Start talking to them about their next assignment as soon as you meet them. If they have aspirations for great things, they need to know what the gates are to get there. You as the field grade help with that, and guide them through their company command to ensure they are putting their best foot forward to remain competitive for such programs.

Response by MAJ Michael Nettrour made Jun 11 at 2018 2:40 AM

MAJ Michael Nettrour — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 02:40:26 -0400

Only one, what ever job you get, do it like it was the job you always wanted. I was prior enlisted and warrant officer. Spent four long years in ROTC while some of the golden boys got the plum jobs. Did it well, made a few life long friends. One GO and several 06s, from our classes. One medical doctor. Kinda cool to call the Army G8 by his first name. He has probably moved on.

Response by MAJ Chris Diez made Jul 15 at 2018 4:58 PM

MAJ Chris Diez — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 16:58:37 -0400

Whatever you do, don't go to USAREC.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2018 11:37 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 23:37:54 -0400

I know its kind of cliché to say but just do great in whatever job you get. That being said, when I was a BN XO I brought in one of the CPTs from a line company to take over the BN S2 position. In our branch the companies have 5-7 CPTs in each company. Also, he is not a 35 series guy. But he came in, absolutely killed it, and ended up ranked #1 out of 35 (?) CPTs in the BN, promoted BZ to O4, and just recently graduated SAMS. Now, I will say he is an exceptional officer, but it is an example of a guy going into a position not on the normal 5 Year Plan for our branch, and excelling. It pays of under normal circumstances. Not always, but normally.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 12 at 2018 12:41 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:41:39 -0400

MAJ Jason Sierakowski It depends on where youre in the continuum. I.e. How many years before your PZ for Major?

- If you have 18months, ACS or similar graduate school opportunity.
- West Point Instructor, be warned five year detour. 2 in school, 3 on the platform.
- Three Rs: ROTC, Recruiting, or AC/RC. Recruiting could be a second command along with risk. AC/RC is a statuatory three years but could get you almost anywhere in CONUS, HI, and AK.
- Nominative assignments like aid de camp, military exchange officer (like the British Army, not the PX). You have to do some digging to find these. Your file has to be stellar.
- DA Pam 600-3 branch specific broadening assignments.
- you could take a local option like being a BN S3 Air or similar.
- platform time at the school house (instructor certification comes in handy later in life if you wish to teach or do JROTC as a retiree)

I commanded early (you can see my timeline on my profile). I had been a Captain for under six months when I got a Command in Korea. 13 months later, BQ, I went to a three year ACRC assignment at Ft Carson. I made several attempts to go to graduate school via ACS to no avail. My Senior Rater made a deal and let me out early (that's how I found out it was statuatory, sorry branch). I went and became a BN S3 as a Captain. After branch was done yelling and some failed attempts to stay at Carson and get a second command, I was forced migrated to Redstone Arsenal for a second command with TMDE (2years). Deployed to OIF I. I started grad school on my own. Was selected to go to grad school via ACS. I started grad school as a senior senior Captain. A month into grad school the Army fixed a Major shortage by promoting the first 600 off the list on 1 October...6 months early for me. So my BQ timeline was seriously screwed. I went to sister service ILE after grad school and rolled right into a BCT and Deployment for my KD as a Major. Worked out, but a nail biter.