Posted on Jan 18, 2015
What is the ONE thing EVERY young Officer must know?
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There's been quite a few discussions about how clueless young Lieutenants (and Ensigns) are when they hit the Operating Forces (and we often are). Here it is: your chance to publicly and permanently record the one topic you think is the most critical for us to know when we step in at your unit. With some luck, maybe those young officers will read it here and have the epiphany they need privately and everyone will be better off for it.
So hit it: let all the experience of the RP community be brought to bear: immediately after commissioning what's the ONE thing every O-1 must know ?
(Just so no one gets hurt feelings, lets say you're telling this guy here-but before his promotion and deployment in the photo-I cant find any pics from commissioning.)
So hit it: let all the experience of the RP community be brought to bear: immediately after commissioning what's the ONE thing every O-1 must know ?
(Just so no one gets hurt feelings, lets say you're telling this guy here-but before his promotion and deployment in the photo-I cant find any pics from commissioning.)
Platoon Commander
Officer
Leadership Development
Junior Officers
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 182
Mission first people always, remember you will get no where without good people. Trust and listen to your experienced NCO's. Always listen, except criticism and learn from mistakes. You will be a better leader for it.
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Capt Richard I P.
MSgt (Join to see) There's a great book by Pete Blaber: "The Mission the men and Me" that took those two, expanded them to three and made a series of great lessons out of it. Your post just reminded me of it. http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/book-review-the-mission-the-men-and-me
Book Review: The Mission, The Men, and Me | Small Wars Journal
In a time when military officers take leadership cues from Chinese sages, business executives and football coaches, it's clear that notions of leadership are diverse, if not confused. That’s why it is illuminating to read a book containing practical leadership maxims written by a man who has commanded at every level of 1st SFOD-D (Delta) during campaigns from the Balkans to Iraq and Afghanistan. In The Mission, The Men and Me, Pete Blaber...
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Listen and take heed to what your enlisted people tell you. just because you have a college degree, doesnt mean you know everything about everything. listen to the people who operate the equipment you are placed in charge of, might save your career or life one day.
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When it is time to act, do so quickly and decisively. Even if it is the wrong action, you have momentum and can adjust on the fly. Trust in your NCOs and never, never let them see you sweat. Speaking of sweat, don't sweat the small shit.
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Capt Richard I P.
Cpl Dennis F. When you need to act the best thing to do is the right thing, the second best thing to do is the wrong thing. The worst thing to do is nothing.
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As I think of some experienced folk I'm especially interested in hearing from I'll add them here:
SSgt Travis Grime (Maybe he'll re-activate)
Sgt Matthew Johnson (About to face this with his buddies soon-but with his own experience already)
Cpl Dennis F.
SFC Mark Merino
TSgt Joshua Copeland
MSgt (Join to see)
SSG Justin McCoy
CMDCM Gene Treants
MSgt (Join to see)
SSgt Travis Grime (Maybe he'll re-activate)
Sgt Matthew Johnson (About to face this with his buddies soon-but with his own experience already)
Cpl Dennis F.
SFC Mark Merino
TSgt Joshua Copeland
MSgt (Join to see)
SSG Justin McCoy
CMDCM Gene Treants
MSgt (Join to see)
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Capt Richard I P.
TSgt Joshua Copeland aaand know the difference between 1 and 16. (just a friendly jab-thanks for all the input)
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
Capt Richard I P., it was One list of 16 things. I guess I should/could add:
17. Learn to be very specific with your requests. 2 beer limit could be 2 12 oz cans of beer, 2 40 oz cans of beer or 2 kegs of beer!
17. Learn to be very specific with your requests. 2 beer limit could be 2 12 oz cans of beer, 2 40 oz cans of beer or 2 kegs of beer!
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MSgt (Join to see)
Most NCO's want you to succeed. Find a good one and listen to what they have to say. With that remember you are in charge and make the final decision.
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Capt Richard I P.
MSgt (Join to see) Excellent point. Same team. See I knew you always set me up for success for a reason....
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Listen to your Platoon Sergeant and 1st Sergeant. Just because you out rank them doesn't mean you know more.
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MSG Brad Sand
SGT Michael Glenn
I hope the typo is 'off' and not 'on'. Of course, young officers should avoid doing both.
I hope the typo is 'off' and not 'on'. Of course, young officers should avoid doing both.
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Capt Richard I P.
I can imagine serious breakage following for anyone pissing 'on' someone by mistake.....although....sometimes on a night patrol it's hard to see...
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I ask this of every leader at every level...."Who do you work for?" The initial response that I get to this single question helps me develop the plan for that subordinate's development.
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SSG (Join to see)
Sedalia Mo. Out there by Whiteman AFB and all those empty, water-filled Minuteman Ballistic Missile Silos.
Grade my answer to Question "Who do you work for?' A. Accused murderers pending trial. The owner of the neighborhood mutt that rips into my trash. The citizen who spit on the back of my uniform in Jackson Ms. Airport. Every US man woman, and child from Maine to Alaska to Hawaii, I don't know personally. All the distant relatives I throw out of my house after Christmas. The texting teenager who rammed into the rear of my father's car at 45mph in a construction zone. The "Private" sweeping dirt off the motor-pool deck after COB by himself. The "Specialist" who ripped open his hand during PM. The "CSM" back-logged with bureaucratic overload just before Annual General Inspection, and lastly: Company, Battalion, Brigade, Division Commanders that have far more important responsibilities other than my career development.
The end result of "mastered self-discipline" is selflessness.
Grade my answer to Question "Who do you work for?' A. Accused murderers pending trial. The owner of the neighborhood mutt that rips into my trash. The citizen who spit on the back of my uniform in Jackson Ms. Airport. Every US man woman, and child from Maine to Alaska to Hawaii, I don't know personally. All the distant relatives I throw out of my house after Christmas. The texting teenager who rammed into the rear of my father's car at 45mph in a construction zone. The "Private" sweeping dirt off the motor-pool deck after COB by himself. The "Specialist" who ripped open his hand during PM. The "CSM" back-logged with bureaucratic overload just before Annual General Inspection, and lastly: Company, Battalion, Brigade, Division Commanders that have far more important responsibilities other than my career development.
The end result of "mastered self-discipline" is selflessness.
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LTC (Join to see)
No grade needed as there is no one right answer. Each person views the answer within the constraints of their own character, upbringing and background. For me, it provides the insight into what shortcomings they have and then as the leader it is my responsibility to provide them the opportunity to fill those gaps. As always, it is their responsibility to close those gaps.
..personally, I work for those below me...along with my senior NCO we ensure that the people doing the work have the training, equipment and time to complete the tasks that they're given...I work for them. Sounds like you've taken it a step further and identified all those that are afforded the opportunities we guarantee. Then finally your last statement..."The end result of 'mastered self-discipline' is selflessness." Probably puts us in the same boat as every good leader I've run into is selfless by nature.
Hope that provides you the "grade" you were looking for.
..personally, I work for those below me...along with my senior NCO we ensure that the people doing the work have the training, equipment and time to complete the tasks that they're given...I work for them. Sounds like you've taken it a step further and identified all those that are afforded the opportunities we guarantee. Then finally your last statement..."The end result of 'mastered self-discipline' is selflessness." Probably puts us in the same boat as every good leader I've run into is selfless by nature.
Hope that provides you the "grade" you were looking for.
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In my opinion, and of course, with the utmost respect, the "Butterbars" that showed up to my Marine Corps infantry company were typically pretty arrogant. I understand there is a sense of "I'm an officer, so you better salute and call me Sir," however, there is also a great wealth of knowledge in that unit that would best serve you if you simply called a meeting and listened to some of the NCOs. Listen. Listen to the Cpl running his own squad, what needs fixing? Who's got an idea that would benefit the men?
Listen to the Sgt with an entire mortar section. What's broken? What's something that has needed to be accomplished, and for some reason hasn't been accomplished?
Use that new Gold Bar on your collar to get something done or at least show that you tried. This is how you garner the respect and loyalty of a platoon.
Earn that respect sir, even though you're entitled to it.
Listen to the Sgt with an entire mortar section. What's broken? What's something that has needed to be accomplished, and for some reason hasn't been accomplished?
Use that new Gold Bar on your collar to get something done or at least show that you tried. This is how you garner the respect and loyalty of a platoon.
Earn that respect sir, even though you're entitled to it.
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Capt Richard I P.
Sgt Branden W. Good points. Especially now in a 14 year Veteran Military, we've got a lot of experience intrinsic in our Marines.
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My 2 cents.... I have had 5 PLs, 3 COs, and a number of OIC since serving as a NCO over 19 years of a 22 year career. I still share this with my charges as a DA Civ.
This is my one.
Life ain't fair and don't complain! Don't complain to your boss... He already knows! Don't complain where the soldiers hear you! It destroys morale and it is contagious... Only one person you ever complain too.... That's you SNCO! That what's there here for... And to provide prospective to your challenges... As they have already been there in most cases... and share your frustration...
This is my one.
Life ain't fair and don't complain! Don't complain to your boss... He already knows! Don't complain where the soldiers hear you! It destroys morale and it is contagious... Only one person you ever complain too.... That's you SNCO! That what's there here for... And to provide prospective to your challenges... As they have already been there in most cases... and share your frustration...
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Capt Richard I P.
1SG Cameron M. Wesson Awesome point. SNCOs are great for commiserating with minimal destruction of morale, but I will say the LPA or JOPA in the navy is a good place to vent and gripe also.
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1SG Cameron M. Wesson
Capt Richard I P. Richard... I'm not familiar with either of those venues. Might be something that the "next generation" looks in to. Might I recommend you sharing that with the youth of our social network family?
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Capt Richard I P.
1SG Cameron M. Wesson sorry for the overuse of acronyms: Lieutenant Protection Agency (LPA) in the Corps and Junior Officer Protection Agency (JOPA) are informal organizations of JOs dedicated to venting and mutual mentorship.
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1SG Cameron M. Wesson
Capt Richard I P. That makes sense to me; however, never heard of either "informal org"... perhaps as they are informal that's why! :o)
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