What is the ONE thing EVERY young Officer must know?

Fortunately I was enlisted in the Army and Air National Guards before I got my Navy commission. I came in as a LTjg so never had the Ensign experience. At least I had knowledge of what to expect and had good E-6's and Chiefs and a great O-4 "Seadaddy."

TRUST YOUR SENIOR NCO'S

Keep the mouth shut! And learn!

Listen to your squarred away NCO's

No matter how good you think you are at it, you don't know how to read a map yet.

Two main concepts always struck me with new O-1s. First and foremost was the lack of understanding of the importance of the NCO. 2LTs (and Ensigns) are there to learn. No matter what college you went to, and what degree you earned, your platoon sergeant (or the Naval equivalent) knows more about how to do your job than you likely ever will. Treat the PSGT with the respect that they have earned through years of selfless service and you can be a success. Treat him or her like a lower class member of society unworthy of your interest or concern, and I guarantee your failure.

When you have signed in and are introduced to the PSGT for the 1st time, give one standing order: "Teach me what I need to know." And then shut up and listen. When you don't know the answer, the right thing to do is to ask your PSGT his or her opinion. Remember, they EARNED that posting, whereas you were slotted into a vacancy.

Secondly, don't fear failure. Your ARE going to make mistakes. That is the Prime Purpose of the 2nd Lieutenant/Ensign. Provided your mistakes do not repeat (too often) and do not result in death or serious injury to personnel, you'll probably be okay. When you FUBAR something- OWN IT! As a leader, you are responsible for everything that the led do or fail to do. Commanders do not want to hear excuses from their subordinates, and bad news is not like wine; it does not get better with time. The first time you sell out your troops to cover your ass, you're toast. Your bosses may not hear about it (don't bet on it) but the troops will, and once they learn how little you care about them, you're going to become the poster child for ineffective leadership.

Bottom line: respect those who know more than you and do most of the work, learn for your mistakes and own your screw-ups. Lastly, don't be afraid to laugh. Nothing is ever so bad that there isn't something to laugh at. If you find that there is nothing to laugh at whatsoever, then, hoo-boy, has it REALLY hit the fan or what?

Listen to advice from more senior officers, NCOs, and even lower enlisted because, no matter what you think or were told, you don't know everything and you can learn from anyone and everyone if you just listen and pay attention.

Listen to and follow what your 1SG or another Senior Enlisted Soldier tells You, they have longevity You're new.

As a young LT, dont come to the platoon acting le you know it all and want to make changes. Shut your yap and listen to the PSG and senior SL, recognize you may outrank them, but they outrank you in time and expereince. ALso pay particuliar to the 1SG, you may outrank him but he works for your commander. If the 1SG tells you are screwing up, you better stop and listen. I am not advocating you be a push over by any means, but listen and learn from the others aroudn you. Be willing to let the PSG and SL make decisions and provide input on your decisions. Listening and proving you care and want to learn from the expereince around you will get more respect then pushing rank around.

Listen to your NCO's... They may not have your college degree, (though a lot do have degrees, some higher than yours. They just choose to be enlisted) but they have a degree in life and experience.
Don't micro manage.
Don't mistake your higher rank for higher intelligence.
Don't let politics be your only concern.
Take care of your troops and they will take care of you.
Respect is earned... They will respect your rank, but if you want respect you have to earn it.
Respect your troops and they will respect you.
A good leader is not defined by the @55€£¥#$ above them, but by the men that follow them...
And always remember that if your NCO's are making fun of you, it means that they honestly respect you... Don't get butt hurt over an LT or officer joke... It is never meant as disrespect...