What kinds of things should I consider when becoming a Platoon Sergeant?

I believe you have a good list, I would make your number one last. Soldiers now days have an erroneous sense of entitlement without performing or pasing their basic standard evals, I.e. Weapons qual, APFT, SSD-1, height and weight. For a soldier those are the foundation elements they need. Promotions will come and go. Believe it or not, there is no such thing as an "automatic" promotion, specially if you properly counsel their performance and justify why a soldier should not be promoted at the time, whether it's lack of discipline, performance or basic inability to perform their job. You will sit down or at least should sit down with your 1SG and go through personnel reports every month, saying yay or nay to promotions, remember it needs to be justifiable and you need a plan of action to fix the problem. Don't hold a soldier back just because you don't like them either, I have seen that in the past and it's unethical. Ensure you coach counsel and mentor your NCOs. Your Squad Leaders will challenge you and test you, bottom line hold your ground accept positive input but let them know you are in charge. Work with your PL and Teach them as well, share the burden of tasks and don't do everything yourself, delegate to your SLs and share work with your PL. Be fair and impartial and be consistent in everything you do. It's easier to start strong and dial down than start weak and tune it up. Besides that it's a different experience for everyone and truly one of the best jobs you can have, believe me it's challenging but extremely rewarding. Good luck!

Try to get a copy of the UMR, and whatever "metrics tracker" the Command uses.

MEDPROS, PHA, and other personal readiness metrics like to sneak up on Soldiers, and the Command.

Try to lay out a calendar to track these items and NCOER counseling dates/due dates.

Greetings SSG- I'm retired Army- SFC after 24 years of service. In my experience, being a platoon Sergeant was one of the best, rewarding and most exciting and challenging jobs I ever had the honor of holding. Let us take your language and experience as you wrote!?

1. Your 1SG should introduce you to your new platoon as their new leader- this puts you in a certain place of leadership- power comes with experience. This action also demonstrates to your new platoon that your 1SG respects you and this is an excellent way to begin a new leadership position.
Retention and promotion- where are the soldiers in the platoon in their careers.
2. APFT and HT/WT issues

2. Meet with your new squad leaders in private very soon after you take charge- keep your requirements short, simple, to the point and absolutely. never preach and never talk to just talk. Ask your squad leaders to introduce themselves- ask what they already know about their soldiers and what their future and immediate goals are?

3. Military Education and DMOS skill level; can the soldiers do their jobs and where do they need more training

3. Regard to education- never preach about something you have not accomplished yourself!
I always gave my soldiers- squad leaders included, two (2) hours Army time and two (2) hours their own time for college.
NCOs job is to take care of their soldiers so, take your heart out of your chest before you leave the house for PT- be hard but fair. Also important, if you have a platoon leader- young LT., keep that LT informed- the two (2) of you should be like brothers or brother and sister- depending.

Finally, important to remember- always do and know your job inside and out- your LT should never feel he/she needs to do your job!
Also important- its not difficult to reduce a soldier in rank or just kick a soldier to the curb- its more difficult to counsel your soldiers, try to get inside your soldiers head and guide them in the correct direction. Folks really want to do the right thing the first time, we only begin cheating or cutting corners when we lose focus, when we feel our leaders really don't care and just want the issue over.

I think one of the first things I would do would meet with my squad leaders and have a open, "no-bullshit" conversation about the company and platoon climate. Do they feel the unit chain of command and NCO support channels work; how is the communication up and down; if there is a PL, is that LT respected, experienced or right out of college and still learning the ropes.

I assume I will have some sort of initial session with the command team to discuss any issues, my ability in the position to affect change, and to have a frank discussion about my learning curve as a new PSG.

If it depends on what kind of platoon you will be in charge of. The easiest is a straight line unit. You need to select your Squad leaders and learn everything about soldier in your platoon. Delegate responsibility to your NCOs while always setting the example as the leader. I maintained a binder with standard individual folders with qualifications and personal information.

I did my platoon sergeant time in a COSCOM HQs were I had a number of Senior NCOs. So I had to be diplomatic in insuring I got people to complete required activities.

1. Set the example.
2. Motivate your people to do things, not necessarily in their best interest, willingly, without fear of punishment.
3. Set the example.

I wasn't in a Plt Sgt. Position, what I have seen past military career is the Pl needs to stay out of Nco's Business. No matter how mad you get never cuss other Nco's in the Plt. out in front of other solder's creates havoc and distrust among Plt. Sgt and Sqd Ldr's. That's happened to me in my tour of duty in the AMRY. Hooah NCO'S LEAD THE WAY

The best I can tell you is, You can't do everything yourself.

Professional development, ensure that your soldiers get the opportunity to lead, succeed and fail, be there to assist in their learning an don't be afraid to learn from the younger soldiers, they have the latest and greatest info and skill in your MOS. First an formost, roll up you sleeves an train with them, don't find reasons to be in the office doing paperwork. Train your Lt, his career and the type of officer he or she becomes is based on your ability to be a mentor a well as supporter of their vision and to say when its right or when it wrong, you shape the future leaders of the army. You are ready for the challenge, if you weren't then you wouldn't have had the humility to ask for help from those that have already done it. The firs sign of a successful leader is the drive to search out what it takes to be that leader, you have done that. Good luck.

Be the leader you always want to lead you