What do you put in your NCO Leader's Book?

2014-03-11T07:55:31-04:00

I never had a Sergeant really show me the contents of a really good leader's book. After a lengthy NCOPD with CSM Dodson of the 94th AAMDC, I feel that my Leader's Book may be lacking. I have what I feel is the basics, soldiers personal information (name, rank, dob, dor, etc), soldiers training (ind weapon, crew weapon, apft, ssd, college), I also have his awards, what his rack should look like, pov info, clothing sizes. I also have the units mission, BN guidelines. I guess what I'm getting at is, what do you have in your Leader's book that is helpful to have other than the basics or if you feel like giving away your secrets, what is in their that really sets it apart?

Response by SFC James Baber made Mar 11 at 2014 11:08 AM

2014-03-11T11:08:45-04:00

Other docs you should have are monthly counseling's, if you have junior NCOs under you, you should have their quarterly's as well as copies of any military schools, the same for your Soldiers (i.e. EMT, Driver's, School Bus, CLS, etc.) anything that could potentially help with their promotion or continued learning or training should be in your LB, I also always kept my own personal training records in mine to see and show them what they should strive for and to also show my junior NCOs how to prepare and manage theirs as well.

Hope my 2c helps a little.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 1:25 AM

2014-03-13T01:25:39-04:00

Just out of curiosity, what did the CSM recommend you have in a leader's book?

Response by SFC Aaron Calmes made Mar 13 at 2014 2:34 AM

2014-03-13T02:34:56-04:00

I always track medical readiness as well. You need to know when their annual dental exam, PHA, etc are due as well as this will affect schooling and deployability. Also security clearance type and investigation date if it applies.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 2:50 AM

2014-03-13T02:50:18-04:00

SSG Clausen,

I like to break this down into three books rather than one comprehensive book.

1. Leader's Book----contains current unit information, current training certifications, copies of licenses, unit specific items such as policies, rosters, etc. As well as some of the items you have mentioned. This book is the "grab and go" and preparation to answer questions, document unit progress, and all around leader book.

2. "I Love Me Book"----Awards, Certifications, COAs, all of the stuff for safekeeping that doesn't need to be hauled around.

3. Mentorship Portfolio/Deliverable----This is something I designed myself that has proved to be really useful for maintaining my own professional records. Also, I can drop one off when I make an appointment for an interview/mentorship. Sometimes senior officers are too busy just to have an open door so they will be able to view my files before meeting with me to discuss whatever needs to be discussed. I make two 1" ring binders that contain the following information in document protectors/dividers:

-Cover Sheet on the outside of the binder (Professional Appearance)

-Biographical Summary

-Professional Timeline

-ORB

-APFT Score Card/5500

-OER Support Form/Significant Contributions Document

-OERs ranging from most current in order to the first received

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 11:43 PM

2014-03-15T23:43:42-04:00

Content is fine if all you want is paperwork. It already seems like you have enough admin info on them. If I were you I would be asking myself if my mentor/professional relationship with them is strong enough? Do my guys know that they can come to me for their problems? Do they know that I support them? Am I the kind of leader that they would want to fight for down range? Or am I the kind of leader that they would have to fight for down range?

Response by SSG Genaro Negrete made May 21 at 2014 7:39 PM

2014-05-21T19:39:18-04:00

I agree with CPT Moss. The leader's book should allow you to answer questions about the unit and track your team's overall training. I always thought it was what a platoon sergeant or squad leader would use when having to task soldiers. If top needs a bus driver or a CLS soldier, you could look at your training records and verify who you could spare.

Even going to the field, you could mark your team's perstat, logstat, convoy OOM, etc. through the use of unit policies, rosters, and checklists in your leader's book.

The actual certifications and graduation certs can go in the soldier's i love me book. No need to have a million copies of that CLS cert floating around.

That allows the counseling packet to focus on counseling, instead of all that other mess.

The picture is a screenshot of a monthly tracker I used for my platoon. I would fill in if there were going on leave, to a school, or had duty. Known losses were grouped at the bottom and APFT, weapons qual, CLS Cert, and MACP level could be tracked down one side. This allowed my platoon sergeant and i to be able to immediately decide if we could spare soldiers for a detail, and back us up if we couldn't.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 11:08 AM

2014-11-15T11:08:46-05:00

I have always maintained that a Leader's Book has had it's value over time. Every unit will have a Senior NCO that will say something different. I keep in mine:

1) Soldier's ERBs and Personal Data Sheets
2) Profiles
3) Units mission statement
4) Platoon Monthly PT Calendar
5) 8 Step Training Model
6) FTX Recovery
7) Platoon Vehicle Assignment
8) Training Calendar (Long/Short Range)

After that, I have the basic: UCMJ breakdown, Creed of the NCO, strip maps to Soldiers residence, phone roster. The basics.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2017 6:17 PM

2017-02-18T18:17:06-05:00

i was kind of wondering about this too, im a e-4 about to head to the board and two things they are asking of me is my leaders book and i love me book. now for me what should be in mine? im still reading though comments on here so i may already have a answer to my question.

Response by WO1(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2017 12:00 AM

2017-08-28T00:00:35-04:00

Ever since I was an E-4 team leader I maintained a leader's book. I have only seen and used mine for when I take Soldiers to the promotion and recently when I went to E-6 promotion board as it was required per the MOI. But to answer your question, I personally keep it basic. I have the NCO Creed, Army Song and ADA march along with my current BDE and BN history. Then I have personal data sheets, ERBs, 705s and 5790-Rs. I personally think anything else would be belong in the individuals "I Love Me" book or a counseling packet.

Response by SSG Alan Pelletier made Sep 12 at 2017 4:45 PM

2017-09-12T16:45:20-04:00

What are you keeping in your book that your Training or Orderly Room is not?

To better understand what the leader-book was truly about learn the history behind it. If I understand correctly, a high speed NCO kept track of what the guys on his team were good/not good at. He modeled Sergeants Time Training to fill in the deficiencies. Great idea that in my mind has become over inflated. No matter what info I did or didn't have the soldier was always asked directly or leadership went straight to the orderly room.

Kind of a waste if you ask me. In fairness, I'm also not in the military anymore so perhaps things have changed for the better!

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Sep 13 at 2017 9:08 AM

2017-09-13T09:08:32-04:00

Story of the NCO and basic information not PII about my soldiers and the families and Unit history and things that are going to make me successful in the future. Basic Unit information that all Leaders need to carried but every LEADERS book is unique in its own way. You should not copy another leaders book because every leader is different.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2017 10:53 AM

2017-09-13T10:53:26-04:00

Here is my personal answer and opinion. For me I have nothing in my "Leaders Book". The reason is I do not have a leaders book. There are a few reasons for this. One is when I was a younger E4 team chief and such everytime I turned around a new platoon sergeant or 1SG would be putting out a new standard for counseling packets that required most of the in for I carried in a leaders book redundant. Two is the only time I ever needed it was when it was on an MOI for a board which I haven't seen in a while. Third and maybe the biggest reason is I am a Signal guy. There has not been a day in the military that has gone by where I have not had access to a computer. Everything I need is at the tip of my fingers or a key stroke away. So those important stats like APFT scores, marksmanship, and other stats I have a tracker for. As far as some of that other info people like to carry around I don't. I have never once in all my years been asked what size ACU pants my Soldier wears, POV inspections are almost always maintained by the platoon or company, and things like training schedules or PT schedules are posted.

Personal opinion a traditional leaders book was probably needed pre internet age and may still be needed for those MOS feilds that spend days on foot out in the thick of things. Just like 1SG use to keep accountability or PERSTAT on the inside of their little green book cover. Now the orderly room maintains a digital copy to be easily sent and reported to higher. Change is good.

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Sep 15 at 2017 12:10 AM

2017-09-15T00:10:43-04:00

I'm guessing it's an Army thing? It was not something I ever heard of in the CG. I had a wheel book I carried in a pocket at all times, but that was for noting things that needed attention, or that were brought to my attention. In the USCG, most units are small enough that everyone knows everyone's business anyway ..... Average unit size when I was in was maybe 20. The unit I was XPO at had 10, and my last unit where I was LPO had 78 IF we were fully manned, but only 3 that I was directly responsible for.

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Sep 18 at 2019 12:54 PM

2019-09-18T12:54:26-04:00

Hmm ... never even heard of such a thing in the CG. Maybe because our units were so small. Maybe because I'm an old fart. Our units were always small enough that if I did not have personal custody of all my men's service records, I could always stroll into the ship's office and get them from the yeoman who did. Of course all that may have changed in the intervening years, especially since PII security wasn't a thing 35+ years ago.

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2020-10-20T05:35:35-04:00

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Response by CSM Danny S. made Apr 3 at 2021 5:51 PM

2021-04-03T17:51:57-04:00

I know this post is old but I will add my 2 cents. So a leaders book should have varying info based on the level. My book is a 2" binder with all soldier data, various trackers, Battery vehicle status, DA6, alert roster, etc. Platoon Sergeants book should be very similar to mine with platoon Soldier data, vehicle status, NCOER tracker, PLT hand receipt, etc. The section sergeant book to me needs to be much smaller. It should have basic soldier data such as TIG, TIS, ACFT score and date, weapon qual, counseling dates, etc. Then they should have their section vehicle load plans and maintenance status. My directed section level leader book has 7 pages that can be stapled into a green notebook. A leaders book is only good if you use it, so always add things that you frequently use. I do leader book syncs to insure we are on the same page. They are your soldiers and if the question comes up about TIG/TIS for a promotion wavier and you don't know the answer, what good are you as a leader? My leaders book has allowed me to answer most questions on the spot. Just my 2 cents.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2021 11:07 PM

2021-05-07T23:07:41-04:00

That's pretty much what I had in mine. Our comoany had an sop that included certain regs, but I mostly only used the soldier portion. There's an app called leader book that I used more than anything. You could include medpros to help them keep track of when updates are needed.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Oct 20 at 2023 2:58 PM

2023-10-20T14:58:02-04:00

EACH COMMAND OR UNIT SHOULD AN SOP ON A STANDARD LEADERSHIP BOOK. IF NOT I WOULD GO TO FORSCOM WEBSITE. MAYBE THE SERGEANT ADUIE MURPHY HOMEPAGE BECAUSE I KNOW FORSURE THERE IS A STANDARD BOOK OR SHELL FOR NCOE'S, GO ON YOU MOST NCO'S DON'T DO THAT.
TOO MUCH INFO ABOUT YOUR SOLDIERS IS TMI.

BASIC STUFF.
BUT IF YOU ASK ABOUT THAT LEADERS BOOK YOU BETTER KNOW IT BECAUSE I TOLD ON BOARD ONE TIME. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHY THE HELL ARE YOU CARRING IT AROUND WITH YOU.
UNIT HISTORY
UNIT PATCH MEANING AND THAT LITTLE GAY THING CALLED A PACKING LIST
MAYBE EMG NUMBERS, MAKE A CARD FOR YOUR SOLDIERS TO CARRY INCASE THEY GET INTO A SITUATION.

COMING FROM SAMC MEMEBER 1997
GO FOR IT.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2024 7:17 AM

2024-03-27T07:17:04-04:00

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