What is the best way for a new 2LT to counsel a platoon sergeant?

COL (Join to see) Excellent approach.

Right they need to work together as a team from the start, they both have a job to do and the end result it to make the platoon the best they can together. If the Sgt has 8-14 years of experience, use it to his advantage, and couple it with his officer training.

Sir, that's amazing advice. I will actually take that and use it in 2 years when I commission!

I will work with any new officer that is new, I always have told a new LT, that I have a lot of experience in the maintenance field. Sir if you want to learn about you equipment and maintenance I will teach you all you need to know. LT the Soldiers will respect your rank, if you want them to respect you as a person you have to earn that respect. LT my Grandfather all ways told me Son Respect is not given to a person, you have to earn that Respect. LT lets take a 25 cent tour around the motor-pool and explain how things work. I will introduce you to the Mechanics and Platoon Sergeants , if you have any questions please ask me.

Amen, brother. Amen.

I think some NCO could right a book about the care and feeding of a 2nd LT. Personally I think you have to have 'open dialog", we all understand chain of command, as CPT Morris stated RESPECT one and other.

Very True CPT

I was going to say - "with respect and caution". Regularly, respectfully, and hoping he/she will drop some pearly the 2nd LT can use

Whenever we get a new PL, I bring them in and talk to them after they speak to the CO. I always tell them that they are in charge of the platoon and not to ever doubt that and that they need to make that known to their PSG and junior NCOs, but that he or she will be better off if they're willing to convey that they are willing to talk to and listen to those NCOs and discuss decisions with his PSG whenever possible, before he makes them, and to consider his advice and understand that it will be based upon experience. I explain that they should be a team with one voice, but two different minds willing to talk to each other. I then tell them if anything is ever in question, my door is always open and let them know that they can always ask me questions so that they're not always asking the CO or their PSG what should be done. NCOs have a responsibility to load up the junior officers tool bag so that they can become the leaders that we want to follow. What a LT learns from his PSG and other NCOs will stick with him or her for the rest of their career, good or bad. An NCO does sometimes have a harder time figuring out the best method of communication with some junior officers, but any good officer will quickly recognize a good NCO and that always makes it easier for them to listen to you. Figure out a way to let them know they're the boss, but help them become a good one by letting them know that you're there to help guide them in the right direction.

1SG(P) (Join to see), an outstanding point, and sorry it took so long to respond. I need to do a better job of checking my posts once they have gone quiet I guess. I have found that almost all of the officers that make it to Battalion Command had a great first platoon sergeant. Whether they were actually great or if they just worked well as a team, I don't think it matters much. What is instrumental is that the young officer is left understanding that his NCO was the reason for his success and his soldiers were the reason they both succeeded. That builds trust for future work and leadership positions where that bond is mutual and necessary.

Sometimes everything clicks. Most of the time its constant effort on one thing or another. It gets better when the trust is built and justified. That's always about the time one of you is due to PCS.

This is actually a very important topic and can be pivotal in how young officers grow up and learn to interact with their SNCOs in the long term. I am a bit biased since I was a SNCO before I was a 2nd Lt but the way I approached it was with respect and the intent to learn and grow on both sides. The absolute worst thing the officer can do is come in with no experience or frame of reference and attempt to move all the furniture around. That is true of any rank in any command I have ever been part of. You cannot alienate the people you are in charge of and responsible for and then expect to be recognized as a leader. Conversely the worst thing the SNCO can do is to shut them out and not educate or support their officers. It creates a conflict within the unit, leads to a lack of unity, and a loss of esprit de corps. As a new officer in any command you must establish an open and interactive relationship with your SNCOs. That doesnt matter if you are the CO or 2nd Lt. Ultimately you are in charge and you are responsible, but you cant do anything on your own.