What are the pros and cons of holding Company Command twice?

2021-09-03T09:50:59-04:00

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Post command CPT, staff billet, Army National Guard, considering requesting to command a company again. Civilian job has settled down a bit and I feel like I have the capacity and would welcome the learning opportunity a second time. Great OERs the first time around but really wanting to command again. What are some of the pros and cons of pursuing this COA? How would this be viewed by my future BN commander? Thank you again folks.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Sep 3 at 2021 10:02 AM

2021-09-03T10:02:03-04:00

I don't know of a huge disadvantage, but I don't see an advantage to it either. I pulled two staff jobs, one l liked and one I didn't. S-1, the one I didn't, gave me the experience to answer a lot of the questions we get on this board, which shows the importance of the position. The other was Assistant Brigade Engineer, which was both fun and challenging since it's a Brigade Special Staff working directly with the S-3, so where the rubber met the road. Staff time is what you make of it.
If your job will allow it, I would try to pick up all those staff related schools and continue my education outside the military. Take a round out position somewhere. In todays climate, if you don't have an advance degree, you aren't going to be competitive when you hit the Light Colonel board.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2021 10:19 AM

2021-09-03T10:19:08-04:00

I agree with CPT Cable, no particular advantage or disadvantage. I had 1 command as a 1LT and 2 as a CPT, doesn’t make me any more or less desirable for further leadership positions.
It is good for your career higher up in rank to be familiar with all the staff positions in addition to command because you could get thrown into any OIC position from O4 and up (without it being your branch).

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Sep 3 at 2021 10:26 AM

2021-09-03T10:26:56-04:00

LTC Jason Mackay should have a valuable perspective here

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2021 12:07 PM

2021-09-03T12:07:07-04:00

I don’t know if this is relevant to your situation or personal goals but I have come around to believing that anyone selected as an HHC commander should be post-command at a line unit. Throwing a pre-command 1LT or new CPT into an HHC command billet robs him or her of the chance to *actually* be a commander and also opens them up to a lot more bullying from the staff.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Sep 3 at 2021 2:20 PM

2021-09-03T14:20:20-04:00

Assuming you did well with your company command and do well again in another company command, the second company command should not create any advantage or disadvantage in terms of promotion or assignment selections. As others have pointed out, there are other assignments that might be more advantageous.

As for the views of some future Bn commander, who knows? Everyone will have different experiences and different opinions. It is possible that some future Bn Commander might prefer officers with a strong record of command, but my personal guess is that a more rounded history would be advantageous.

If you do look for a second company command, I would suggest not seeking More-Of-The-Same, but to look for a distinctly different sort of command, perhaps a Headquarters Company (which is generally recognized as more challenging).

Response by CPT William Pearson made Sep 3 at 2021 2:28 PM

2021-09-03T14:28:05-04:00

Always plan ahead what the BN CO likes and dislikes as you listen to his directions. Know what he drinks for “Officer’s Call. Mine drank Scotch not beer.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2021 1:10 AM

2021-09-04T01:10:58-04:00

I'm in exactly the same boat. I've come to the conclusion it will not be the edge to further my career. I can either coast to retirement, bust my ass, or anything in between.

While I had a 1LT command and while that time does not count toward Developmental Assignment while in command as a 1LT (per the Career Mgmt Office) "at best" the Developmental Assignment only helps towards the consideration of MAJ at first look. It doesn't guarantee it. Being we are LG, we are in among the least competitive most in demand Branch.

So, I'm sitting here now with CCC behind me, a Masters degree, command as a 1LT, and OER's top block every other year. I have lessons learned from Command of an RFX company, the headaches of 160+ PAX and $53M in equipment. Without question the professional and personal risks of a similar command dwarf any professional enrichment another command would have.

So why bother? I seriously ask myself this. If I do noting, and sit in my TDA unit I can coast till I retire without any more risk to myself than my own accountability, a few NCOERs I have to do, and my own clothing record.

That said, 10 more years is a long time to twiddle my thumbs hiding in my cubicle with my coffee. Among other things, another command is on my short list. I am envious of those company commanders that got off easy with their time. It's a mixture of AGR staffing, property book magnitude, higher echelon support, and unit optempo. However, I will not stick my neck out again without an ability to cover my bases and cover my ass. Least of which will be positioning myself to do the AGR's jobs they themselves are BSing me with.

Anyway........... like I said. 10 Years is a long time, and I'm keeping an eye out for 01A command positions that are not HHC. Yes, I know they are rare, but Drill SGT units seem to pop up enough.

My #1 priority will be the unit is close enough to me I can get there in an hour. That way I can pounce on any stuff that would need my personal attention during business hours outside of BA's.

My hunch regarding all those Commander Vacancies I get in my Mil-Mail is I would think any of those slots would be filled more or less internally or by word of mouth. Otherwise, there's a reason many are not jumping at the opportunity. I would consider my command sheer hell, and higher still managed to fill my slot (from BN's own pool of CPTs) the moment I was re-assigned.

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Just be cautious where you step. You might not be able to get your foot out. When I lined up my ducks to leave I was currently driving 800 miles round trip each month. I found a CPT 90A billet 30 miles from home. So it was in a position I could promote into in a Branch I was currently qualified for and 370 miles closer to home. My transfer process took over 7 months and had to go through one Brigadier General, two COL's and one LTC in order for a 1LT to transfer TPU to TPU.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Sep 6 at 2021 12:17 PM

2021-09-06T12:17:23-04:00

Many units will get experienced commanders

Response by MSgt Steve Sweeney made Sep 6 at 2021 2:14 PM

2021-09-06T14:14:10-04:00

Your own parking space?