Posted on Oct 27, 2013
What is the best advice you can give a Jr Officer?
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Mentorship
Officers
Junior Officers
Professional Development
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 90
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1. Respect: Respect your NCOs for their experience. Respect your superiors (obviously). And strive to respect everyone since it's an Army Value
2. Communication: Communicate your intent to your subordinates. Communicate your plan and actions to your superiors. And it never hurts to communicate with your peers to get their opinions.
3. Teamwork: Good communication is key to teamwork. Avoid adverbial relationships. Don't burn bridges because you might have repair and cross them later.
4. Presence: A good leader is present with his troops. Helps with #2 and #3.
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Your Soldiers and NCOs don't work for you. You work for them! If you perform your duties to ensure they are successful (provide common sense leadership, resources, realistic training, and provide and deflect positive feedback) they will always ensure the mission is accomplished.
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It boils down to character, committment, and competence (in this order of priority). Character is non negotiable and should have been instilled into an officer by his/her parents. Those who do not have character are or should be quickly weeded out. Committment comes from within an officer and can be answered by the question "do you have a job, a career, or a calling?". The difference is the amount of passion that an officer will bring on a daily basis. I prefer an officer who thinks being an officer is a calling but I can find uses for an officer who thinks it is a job. Finally, there is competence. This is gained through time and experience so I am not initially concerned that an officer does not have this. It is my job as the officer's leader to enable competence in the officer through training, education, and experience. The mistake that I see many junior officers make is they invert these three things or they believe that character is negotiable.
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Always remember that a soldier is not a piece of equipment. He has needs, wants, feelings and a life outside of his uniform.
Don't mess up his chow, his mail or screw with his free time.
Train to standard, not to time.
Know the difference between "Checking" and "Inspecting".
On Order is NOT a status.
Soldiers only do those thing which you check. Do not fail to follow-up after you delegate.
Be beyond reproach in your professional and personal conduct and demeanor.
Respect for the RANK is given. Respect and trust for the man wearing it is earned every second of every day.
Never make threats or promises that you don't have the means or authority to keep.
As a PL use your 1SG as your sounding board...He has the most experience in the company and is not in your rating chain. As a Commander use the BN CSM...for the same reasons.
The Army is a Team. Take responsibility for team failures. Give credit for team accomplishments. "I" never accomplished anything in the Army, but "I" failed many times.
An officer is a manager. Good managers know how to use the experience of those assigned to him to complete the mission in the most effective way. Incorperate your NCOs in all phases of your planning, prep and execution.
Let a Private teach you something everytime the opportunity avails. Even if you know how to do it. You'll be surprised....one way or the other...what you will learn.
Take care of soldiers because YOU are there for THEM. The are not there for you, as a training aid.
And last but not least, have a relationship with your PSG, where behind closed doors, you are on a level playing field and candid communication is expected. First names, cursing, finger pointing, back slapping, hilarity and real problem solving happens there, because once you step in front of that element/unit, you are one; unified and unflappable in leadership.
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I have always thought that the term "Junior Officer" was very distasteful. The Marine Corps refer to 01 - 03's as "Company Grade Officers". While this term is a great deal better, neither properly address these officers. These officers are those that actively lead enlisted soldiers in their mission(s). They are the 1st line officer leadership and are often the only officers that are seen to be actively involved at the point or leading edge of activities. So, my advice includes: Ignore the term, and concentrate of the job.
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The best advice I could ever give you Sir is to listen to your NCOs. They have a lot of valuable experience and most are more than willing to share it.
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Rely on the experiences and knowledge of the men who have done what you have not. The NCO's and SNCO's are there to provide guidance like how they have been all through training (Marine Officers are made by Marine SNCO's at OCS). Observe the Officers appointed over you and empower the SNCO's and NCO's to handle the business while you maintain situational awareness.
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I look at Senior NCOs as defacto officers with a lot of experience. A young LT should be mindful that today's military is better educated and more disciplined, I think largely because of the volunteer service.
My experience were most LTs were complimentary and if they got out of line usually a Senior Officer would set the situation straight.
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When working for someone from another branch always have a plan of how you can best support them, that way you don't end up doing what think you do you can do what you do best.
If you find someone you like to work for work for them as long as you can and keep tabs on them.
If you want to PCS somewhere contact that unit and see if they will request you, dealing with branch is a crap shoot.
Go after jobs you like, you will do better in them.
Take care of yourself and your family
Have fun, if you can't enjoy yourself you're doing it wrong.
If you find someone you like to work for work for them as long as you can and keep tabs on them.
If you want to PCS somewhere contact that unit and see if they will request you, dealing with branch is a crap shoot.
Go after jobs you like, you will do better in them.
Take care of yourself and your family
Have fun, if you can't enjoy yourself you're doing it wrong.
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