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
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As a prior enlisted, I can tell you whole heartedly that you must listen to your NCOs. Remember that even though you are an officer, chances are you're not an expert in that shop. If you go into a shop and have the mentality that "I'm an officer, do what I say" then you will fail and so will your shop. Your NCOs are a wealth of knowledge and you should get with them. You're E4-E6s are typically the experts doing the job. The SNCOs will guide and mentor you in leadership.
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Young officers have to learn their jobs, but most importantly, they need WHY they need to learn their jobs. When they learn why they are placed in office of increased responsibility and authority to develop junior leaders... it makes all the difference in how they develop themselves.
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That the only difference between an officer and a enlisted is a sheet of paper. If your people do their job and do it well you should do everything you can to take care of them. But if they screw you over feed them to the wolves because they don't deserve you if you do your best to lead them. Remember they depend on you but you depend them to do what you tell them to get your job done. Be strait up with them and set your terms and they will either fall in line or fall out. Discipline and respect are everything never forget that.
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CAPT Hiram Patterson
Treating your people well and giving them respect works wonders in getting the job done.
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You MUST learn from your SNCO's. You may find some who have already dropped their pack, and are counting the days on the end of their career, but most truly care, and would love nothing more than to find a young officer receptive to the benefit of their experience.
Try to learn the challenges of the married folks and their spouses. I admit I gave little thought to it initially, but as we ramped up for deployment, I realized the spouses had issues I had never considered, and their sponsors had concerns their peers could not imagine.
Young and single is great, but it doesn't cover everybody!
Try to learn the challenges of the married folks and their spouses. I admit I gave little thought to it initially, but as we ramped up for deployment, I realized the spouses had issues I had never considered, and their sponsors had concerns their peers could not imagine.
Young and single is great, but it doesn't cover everybody!
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Your job is to learn from the SNCOs and to be some junior enlisted can aspire to be. Be approachable and realize you're a role model not just a leader.
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Capt Richard I P.
1LT (Join to see) I understand your frustration. There is a lot of that on both sides of this issue. That's actually why I chose to re-frame it positively (after lots of RP discussion threads griping about NCOs or new officers). I strongly recommend you edit your reply with two things in mind: 1. This is a good chance to give advice to a fresh 2ndLt, maybe you should point out they should 'have confidence, what you know is worthwhile" and 2. You may want to reconsider the professionalism of your post.
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Listen to your senior NCOs and stay humble until you at least reach Captain.
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SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
funny how you see the opposite of humble as arrogant, it never entered my mind, I was thinking more along the lines of making major decisions alone, speaking out with the famous LT Idea and such...all in good humor, great comeback!
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Capt Richard I P.
SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA I didn't take any offense at all. Your point was well made, I just like to poke fun with people that can take it.
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SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
Capt Richard I P. - I am actually a master smart ass but online it is sometimes hard to read into the comments, just being careful!
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The Sergeants probably know more than he does and will for 6 months to a year! A classroom seat and occassional romp in the woods isnt 43 days with no hot food, showers, and 40 hyped up infantrymen with the spirit of the bayonet in their eyes. Couple of those missions, he'll be fine or.... Not!
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Part of every transition of power, (ie... Change of Command, Change of Responsibility) involves a period of observation where no changes are made. During that observation period share your observations with your PLT SGT, Commander, and 1SG to gain their perspective before deciding on any changes. It will allow you to gain knowledge from their experience and allow you to possibly save face before making a big mistake.
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Capt Richard I P.
SSG Trevor S. Good points. One of my better officers recommended a similar procedure, to observe and see how things really work before changing anything.
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SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA
That is the first thing learned as an E4 in PLDC; Observe, Evaluate, Plan, Take Action.
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