What is the ONE thing EVERY young Officer must know?

First thing I did as an Artillery Officer after my first formation was to pull my Fire Direction Center NCOs at the Platoon level over away from the unit and asked them how long they had been in the Army and the Field Artillery. I then told them they had 30 days to teach me what they had learned in their combined 19 years and that school starts now. That being said, I was blessed to have been enlisted and went through OCS. I also kept a watch full eye open and always sought guidance from the First Sergeant. My commander was responsible for my professional development on the tactical and technical side. Leadership in inherent because you have the skills and desire, but must always seek the good senior NCOs for guidance. If you have to go and find an NCO away from the troops you have a very big problem. NCOs that are watching soldiers are picking their successors. Theses are the NCOs that care and want to develop and would love more than anything a Junior Officer to teach and train. Observe, read and be very proficient and never be arrogant or condescending towards your NCOs. If you have to admonish do it in private after you have a conference with the 1SG and CDR. Good NCOs will guide you and mentor you. One day your Platoon Sergeant just might be your CSM or 1SG. Use you powers of observation, stay tactically and technically proficient and if you have learned something that will help your unit pass to your NCOs. Never send your NCO to do your job, but check first with your NCO and rehearse with him or her what you are going to say and do. Protect them if they are wrong and someone is stepping in to your AOR, never hang anyone out to dry. Have a winning attitude for your platoon, company and unit never fail. Winners love Winners, just don't cut corners, but do the extra training and always reward, reward and reward positive performance.

That's my advice as well sir, having been an NCO for years and then switched to the dark side that's the one thing I tell young direct commission officers these days- learn as much as you can because you don't really have experience to draw from and knowing all the regs, techniques and procedures is half the battle without which you can't function. I also tell young officers to understand the difference between leadership and management and how to make people follow without throwing rank in more experienced soldiers faces.

Some points to add to the captain's sage comments:
1. Be mature. You may be young, but you're their leader. (I was a 21 y/o 2dLT in USAF before I was in USN.)
2. Don't try to be their friend. You're their boss, not their buddy. REMEMBER THAT!
3. DON'T waste your time. (a nod to the Captain above.) Study. prepare. Have some fun-if you ain't havin' any fun, you're doing it WRONG-though that seems to be the M.O. these days.(Glad I'm retired.) Learn your job, and their jobs, and even that of the guy above you, if you can.
4. Ask your senior NCO's for help-if they're any good, they'll be doing it anyway, but some might have to be greased. Let the younger NCOs/POs show you what they know and do-they're pretty smart, too, and can be real allies.
5. DON'T drink with them. If you're invited to a party, GO to it,have a beer with them, and leave a few bucks in the pot, and excuse yourself. If you're having a BRILLIANT time, stay and have a second one-and then LEAVE! Do NOT stay around. Hang with other JOs.
6. TRY to find a mentor-a senior officer who can guide and even "sponsor" you. I never had one. Had a couple of seniors who were decent-had plenty that were one-way self promoting bastards-but never had a mentor. (sigh) It helped for the guys I knew who did.
7. REMEMBER-not everyone wants good things for you, in spite of all the crap you get told at the academies or ROTC or OCS!! Listen and learn. Be mature and be careful.
8. At the end, keep your integrity. I hated some of the people I worked for. But I managed to keep a few shreds of my integrity and dignity intact I sleep well at night. Its own reward. Be true to yourself-again, its own reward. Remember who you are, and what you stand for.
9. Good luck. (Napoleon once said "I don't want generals that are good-I want generals who are LUCKY.)

Yes, very strong and good advice. I went from Basic School straight to an Infantry Platoon in Vietnam. I lucked out got a good Staff Sgt. For a Platoon Sgt. He had one goal. That was to help in any and all ways and he looked after the kids like a tough mother hen.

I brought two things with me. One was an absolute precise ability to land navigate day and night. The other quality I had was I just liked the people who happened to be dropped off at the war. I viewed them simply as my younger brothers. As luck would have it the prior Lt. Just was not very well liked especially by the Plt. Sgt. The troops saw me and the Plt. Sgt and I getting along real well together and that really made everything quite comfortable. It was truly what anyone would call a sweet Platoon. That platoon took care of each other. That platoon went through a lot of fighting some really amazing hand to hand engagements, one time a beat up shot up platoon attacked and presided over a full Bn. Of NVA with only 23 of us inside their base camp against hundreds of enemy soldiers. That was all about not what I knew or what any of us knew, but was about every guy doing his best to cover and help each other. A lot of us are pals today. Troop Emonds

1stSgt (Join to see) I am going to offer the counter to your statement. I do agree with you, and found that I learned a lot from those who were similar to me and they definitely helped me find my comfort zone. However, as leaders, we can't afford to stay in our comfort zone at all times. I found that I often grew the most (even if it was simply learning which battles to fight) by being around NCOs that were dramatically different from me. This helped push my comfort zone and my ability to see things from different POVs.

I have a couple of NCOs that I go to for advice on Soldier issues. I have a couple of COLs and GOs that I go to for decision making advice.

I guess my only difference would be find NCOs that are respected by other officers and other NCOs and learn from them. Learning about various leadership styles and having a style that matches the situation can be a huge advantage.

I agree. While as an officer, you have a degree, the senior NCOs have the longevity. They have been around the block and have seen great and terrible officers, and may have incredible insight if you are willing to listen. Also, don't assume that NCOs don't have a degree. More of them have at least one.

SPC(P) Jay Heenan Mutual exchange of respect is crucial.

Excellent point. We all respectively salute rank, but only a true leader inspires those around them to truly respect both rank, and the soldier.