What is some advice you have for platoon leadership (PL, PSG, SL, TL) to create a more efficient platoon?

2020-07-21T14:42:44-04:00

A few days ago I had a brief conversation with 1LT Private RallyPoint Member giving him my advice to strengthen the relationship between NCOs and LTs in a platoon. Today I spent time thinking about all the ways we can get away from the NCO vs. Officer mindset and create leaders of both E and O grades to produce truly effective platoons. What are some practical recommendations you can think of?

For me, I say build the relationship that clearly defines roles and expectations of the PSG, PL, SLs, and TLs. Ensure there is clear communications and a true sense of commraderie within the platoon. And understand the 3M approach. A book titled the Mission, the Men, and Me is a great read that will help leaders develop a more cohesive unit.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2020 3:04 PM

2020-07-21T15:04:06-04:00

Having not lead a squad or team, I think that the main characteristic I look for when I'm assigned a new first line is, "How well does s/he clean up command comms". By which I mean, when he receives an order that s/he has to push down, do they just do an immediate turn-around and forward it, or do they take the time to figure out the why/how of the command and help subordinates understand the larger mission/task. This falls under the "clear communications" you mentioned, SSG.

I've had plenty of 1st-lines where they just acted as a forwarding machine for the 1SG, and never really helped translate it into something meaningful for subordinates. I think that a good PL/PSG/TL/SL needs to be able to both receive orders, as well as either figure out or be able to ask for more information before relaying it down. Asking your 1st line "Why are we even doing this?" and being told "I don't know Private/Specialist, [insert higher rank] said to do it, so do it". At that point, they aren't a *leader*, they're just a higher-ranked subordinate.

Obviously things like road-guard, "area beautification" and so on don't count in this situation, they're just things you do. But for other things, like "Why are we conducting so-and-so patrol", "Why are we researching so-and-so person", a leader needs to be able to respond with more than "Because we were told to". It doesn't just help with accomplishing the mission, it helps improve morale and camaraderie with a sort of "We are more than just superior/subordinate, we're working together."

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 21 at 2020 7:51 PM

2020-07-21T19:51:18-04:00

Here are the Big Ten. In no way be a "Joe Sympathizer" Train to the standard, you need to be technically and tactically proficient and know every piece of equipment and every weapon system better than anyone in the platoon and do these Big Ten Rules

1) Platoon Leadership knows each other and presents as a unified team. Communicate with each others. Senior Leaders let the Junior leaders know what is expected and how things are to be done.
2) Know the battle drills the unit uses cold. Leaders practice without troops until the leaders know exactly what to do when with or without troopers present. Battle Drills need to be second nature.
3) Know your men. Family information, strengths and weaknesses, birth dates of families, special circumstances, etc. Refer to your leaders books every morning before First Call so that if time allows and training permits you can give birthdays of kids and spouses off. Knowing it is PFC Smith's anniversary puts in the mind of the Smith family as well as the soldier that his leaders know him and care. This is NOT to be done if Smith is not proficient, but if he is a good trooper, this will also make him a motivated trooer.
4) Recognize the good and the great things your men do. Counseling statements can be given for recognition of accomplishment as well as for corrective action. Building a counseling folder of good things shows you appreciate hard work.
5) Be even handed and fair. Treat all your troopers in accordance with their proficiency level. Don;t hold a grudge or stay angry with a trooper. If he continually screws up, do the Magic Bullet Counseling, build the folder and if you can not get the soldier to change his ways, then Chapter for Failure to Repair.
6) Lead from the Front. Exceed the standards you enforce. If the standard is a 4 mile run @ minutes per mile +/- 30 seconds, then you need to run 7 minutes per mile. Meet or exceed the standards you enforce. If you require pressed uniforms make sure yours are done right, Set the standard and not just teach the standard.
7) Fight for your troopers. Get in there and pitch for them to get school slots, board slots and train them for Trooper of the month, incentive Jumps, and foreign award training. It should seem that the troopers from your platoon get all the slots, they won't but if it seems that way to your men, they will stay motivated.
8) DO NOT BE SOFT. No one wants to go to combat with a soft leader. You may have troopers that like certain leaders in garrison because they are push overs, BUT you will also find that no one wants to go to war being led by a cream puff Muffin. Be the same in season and out of season.
9) BE HONEST and HONORABLE. Tell your men the truth always. Make them trust you.
10) Never mess with their Food, their Sleep of their mail from home while you are deployed. Food goes without explanation, sleep--well tired soldiers normally are not motivated for anything but a nap, and Mail from home is their connection to the people back home reminding them why they fight.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2020 10:17 PM

2020-07-21T22:17:45-04:00

Always stay humble and respectful, don'tforget where you came from, you never know where a good idea can come from to include the lowest ranking private, be kind yet firm and always be honest and forthcoming

Response by MAJ Josh Beard made Jul 22 at 2020 11:11 AM

2020-07-22T11:11:55-04:00

This is one of the most critical jobs for your new Platoon Leader. This is his introduction to the Army and the rest of his career will be shaped by what you teach him and the relationship that he builds with his NCOs and Soldiers in his platoon. To this day, my first Platoon Sergeant is one of my best friends and mentors. Having said that I'd echo many of the comments below. Build trust - that comes through solid training and developing personal relationships. Create opportunities for the officers to get to know the Soldiers on a personal level. They should know their spouse's names and how many kids they have. Train together in non conventional ways, offsite NCO/Officer planning sessions worked really well for us. Most of all, let each other know that you have their back, create a situation where your unit WANTS to train together.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2020 12:10 PM

2020-07-22T12:10:44-04:00

The modern fit of military discipline calls for a differennf combination of leadership values/traits. Personally, my approach is what I like to call the “mullet”. It is business in the front and party in the back. We have all been where our juniors have been. It’s not difficult to implement. Simply ensure the leadership establishes a solid baseline of authority. At those point you are in a prime position to be the more relaxed and a more common sensed leader. Use that to both instill disciplined and comfortable, which is the key to handling service members tody.

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Jul 24 at 2020 9:33 AM

2020-07-24T09:33:17-04:00

I know I’m not army but I think this is a valid topic of discussion regardless of branch. For me and my troops I let them know that I am here for them and whatever they need. One thing I ask them when they become mine is what are their goals? Do they want to stay in or are they doing their time and getting out? I don’t have a preference either way because this is their career and their choice. Many don’t agree with that and cool glad they aren’t my supervisor. Whichever way they choose I want to help prepare them for that path.

Another thing I don’t do is social media with them. If they need to use it to message me that’s fine but until they can no longer be my troop they will not be found on my friends list. Can’t afford to blur the lines that way.

I know there are a lot of other things out there that matter too but I’m typing this from my phone.

Now the opposite perspective since I’m one that is a leader but still a follower. What is important to me as a follower of an officer.

Own your new leadership position. Emphasis on new. If you came from another unit leave it behind. You no longer protect them. You protect us now. Like that creepy chant “one of us, one of us”.

Show me that you care and have time for me as your troop and you will get the loyalty and respect you are searching for. I received a message on here about a general taking time to speak to the military about some new policy change. I met this general when he was my MAJCOM commander. He didn’t have time to talk to our unit of about ten people until the end of his day (even though we were the central node of his intelligence on our base) and when he did come to meet us you could tell how he didn’t really want to be there so much so that our NCO who was introducing us stopped introducing us. When I got that message I thought you didn’t have time for me why should I have time for you? I’ll find out about the policy changes from my base commander just fine.

Be careful how you treat those below you for one day you may find you didn’t treat them as well as you thought. The younger ranks are looking up to the higher ranks hence why we have ranks. Do them justice and show them what right looks like. Heaven forbid they screw up and say “I was just following your example”.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2020 4:53 PM

2020-07-26T16:53:50-04:00

You both are part of a team, SSG Williams. The most successful officers have great NCOs working with them and behind the scenes. Communication is paramount. You will not always agree with one another; however, you both have a responsibility to your troops and accomplishment of the mission. Train your troops hard to the standard and above standard if time permits. It's been my experience that some leaders are so focused on the mission they forget the soldiers. Mission first, Soldiers always! The mission will get accomplished regardless but how the troops perform will depend on how you and the PL train them to work together as individuals and team players. One example I utilized was Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers. Lombardi would make his players run the same play over and over again until it was like breathing for his team. This was evident in the 2 Superbowl wins he accomplished. The same can be said about Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Everyone won't like ti or understand it but everyone wants to win and be the best. Now, go and handle your business, SSG. Hooah!

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 28 at 2020 3:27 PM

2020-07-28T15:27:31-04:00

Learn about the origin of the SGT Morales Club and the principles behind why it was founded and who founded it. Then come back and read again what SSG Ayscue (SSG Roger Ayscue) wrote. You may then find and start understanding the background behind what COL Blaber was writing about in his book - The Mission, The Men, and Me. You will also note that the most successful Officers will normally credit their first PSG as being the foundation of their success.

I would also suggest that you learn a bit more about General Von Steuben and "The Blue Book" (Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States). I would also study the history of training of the German Army General Staff prior to World War I and then the training of the German Armed Forces between WWI and WWII.
Going back to "The Blue Book," and the US military tradition and knowledge, I would start expanding my leadership library with older versions of the Army Officer's Guide and the NCO Guide books. And this would include older versions of the Army Field Manuals to include the current edition of FM 7-22.7. I would go so far as trying to acquire a copy of the 1904 edition of the "Noncommissioned Officer Guide" and the corresponding "Privates' Manual" (my "Privates' Manual" is from 1917 and is the second printing of the second edition).
To put part of this in perspective, Chapter VI is titled Military Deportment and Appearance - Obedience - Respect to Noncommissioned Officers - Forms of Speech - Miscellaneous. A few snippets from that chapter;
"Whether on or off duty, he should always look neat and clean, ever remembering that in bearing and in conversation he should be every inch a soldier -- shoes must be clean and polished at all times; no chewing, spitting, gazing about, or raising of hands in ranks -- he should always be ready and willing to learn all he can about his profession -- he should never debase himself with drink.";
"Should a soldier ever stand or walk with his hands in his pockets? No; never. There is nothing more unmilitary than to see a soldier standing or walking with his hands in his pockets.";
"A soldier should obey first and if aggrieved complain afterward." (There is an explanation that follows, but it is really not necessary at this point.)
And Chapter VII, Care of the Health, can be an eye opener considering the world and national health situation.

And after all of this compare information from the past and look at the Army Values, the Soldier's Creed, and the NCO Creed with maybe a new understanding.

Good Luck with your endeavor, and teach and set the example for your new Platoon Leaders, your peers, and your Soldiers.

AALTW!
http://www.mihalko-family.com/Sergeant-Morales-Club.htm

Sergeant Morales Club

Mihalko family in Germany