What should I expect on my first day of Drill as an Infantry Officer?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:19:47 -0400

Got my first Drill coming up this weekend I was wondering what should I expect.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 1:01 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 01:01:29 -0400

1LT Private RallyPoint Member I would expect to be welcomed into your unit, have a sit down with the CO and learn his expectations. Hopefully you will find out which platoon you are going to and get a chance to meet with your PSG and your Soldiers. I would also ask about upcoming training. I would go in with an open mind ready to learn and be part of the team.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 2:13 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 02:13:29 -0400

Paperwork. Probably lots and lots of paperwork

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 9:12 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 09:12:57 -0400

There will probably be enlisted people saluting you. And asking who you are.

Response by CPT Laurie H. made Jun 2 at 2015 10:49 AM

CPT Laurie H. — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 10:49:50 -0400

I believe you've been summoned CPT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 11:41 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 11:41:18 -0400

I would go in with basically no expectations. Someone will let you know what needs to be done and quite possibly someone will be talking to you and letting you know where you are assigned and what is expected.

Other than that you need to get to know your new unit and those who belong to it.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 2 at 2015 12:43 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:43:59 -0400

Paperwork, Office call with the boss and some enlisted either going out of their way to salute or not salute.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 12:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 12:49:19 -0400

It was a bit rough. I was a SSG but then I came back as an officer. I recall getting to my unit and then moving to a new unit the next month. There really wasn't any time to just sit back and take it in. As soon as I got there I was working. I meet my PSG and he was off making stuff happen. He really didn't have time to get to chat really. I would try to ask him to have lunch together away from the armory of you could and ask him what he wants from a PL. I would ask him to counsel you on his expectations. I know he would like that and it would help you out to have a common understanding. But be prepared to soak up as much as you can.

Response by SSG Paul Setterholm made Jun 2 at 2015 1:18 PM

SSG Paul Setterholm — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 13:18:35 -0400

My 1st day I was assigned a sponsor and we became best friends. The rest of the unit I really got close with once we had 1st annual training. Hope this helps

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jun 2 at 2015 1:44 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 13:44:14 -0400

I'm active duty but i assume the initial experience I had isn't that different from National guard officers. So here is what I did on my first day as a Lieutenant in my unit:

I was already given my assignment so I knew the Platoon and Company I was assigned to so I introduced myself to my CO and 1SG then we had a brief chat about inital expectations (verbally), the written one came later. The rest of the day was spent with my PSG, we went over the packets of everyone of my Soldiers. We talked about the troublemakers, the ones with potentials, the ones that are ready to take charge, the ones that try, fail but don't give up. We talked about their families and any issues they might be having that may impact their performance. The next day was spent with my Squad Leaders. I got a feel of their perspective of the Company, my Platoon and their Supervisor (1SG). I asked them what they had experienced in the past and how they could bring that to bear to the Platoon's success. I laid out my expectations of them and told them what they could expect of me. The next day was a platoon-wide formation where I introduced myself to the entire team, a somewhat condensed story of my life and what led me to the platoon. Open door policy was made known to the entire formation. For the first two weeks I was more an observer than anything else. It helped to watch the men and get a feel for them myself instead of relying solely on what was said of them. I hate micro-managing, then and now. I joined in on team and squad exercises and allowed the SPC or SGT/SSG to lead. After I had a solid base on how the Platoon worked I then worked in tandem with my PSG to mold and improve it. First days are nerve-wracking a bit. It is only normal. But there is a wealth of experience there that you can avail yourself of. You are in charge of that Platoon, this is already known. If you have to say it, then you don't and it will show. Lean on your PSG, take his advice even the ones you already know. Better to have an abundance of shared experience than to dismiss one and lead him not sharing the others. Don't micro-manage (difference between giving guidance and directing every action), give left and right limits and allow your junior leaders to self-develop and use their initiative, allow the little mistakes but correct them (that's how we all learn), deflect praise to your men when the platoon accomplishes something great, shield them from the criticisms, and finally protect them from mundane duties that take away from their collective training. They don't want you to fail. Good luck.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 2:42 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 14:42:45 -0400

You're in charge. What happens is all dependent upon you. You set the tone for the future.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 4:08 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 16:08:42 -0400

Expect to listen and learn who the KEY NCOs are inside your platoon. Expect to be a physical example of fitness and standards. Look to find input, hear guidance, and understand your role as a planner, communicator, decision maker, and leader. Let others be doers and let your NCOs teach you the SOPs and technics. There are numerous ways to do things and in time you will cultivate the best set of methods to fit your platoon and people around you. This is not to say be timid. In fact, be enthusiastic, energetic, and never be shy about setting the example. Just listen to the your NCO Team, 1SG, and PSG. Neglecting the occasional bad apple of the bunch, those men will steer you in the right direction. Remember, you are a part of their unit. Relax and enjoy being an Infantryman, letting your leadership style be natural. FOLLOW ME !

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 1:46 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 01:46:19 -0400

Hey, Alex, I'll see if I can help you here. Of course, everyone's experience will vary greatly, so here's mine.

I agree completely with SGT Leland L on here- your first few drills will and should be mostly observation and learning (of course, my last 4 years of drills as a LT have all been learning).

Your job as a leader is Mission first, Soldiers second, yourself last. Get to learn your NCOs and your Joes by seeing how they interact with you and each other- horizontally and vertically. They have been there longer than you and know their jobs and positions. You run the platoon (for 1-2 years at least), but always remember that it ran before you and it will run after you, and often without a PL in the Guard. Your NCOs, especially your E6's, 7's, and Top are there to teach you every bit as much as your fellow PL's, XO, and CO. You need to ask them questions and realize that you aren't the end-all for how everything is done. I have a very laid back relationship with all the Soldiers in my mortar platoon now, and I did with both platoons in the Heavy Weapons Company I was at for my first 2.5 years- I will smoke and joke with them when we have the opportunity but make sure that doesn't get out of hand. They know that, when the time comes, I'm the boss and they get it done for me- not because I'm the PL, but because I have taken the time to relate to them and show I care about them not just as a bullet on my OER, but on a personal level.

In terms of your doctrinal duties, you're going to find the Guard is a whole different animal than your IBOLC class trained you to handle. A lot of what you would normally handle (training plans, etc) is handled more centrally in the Guard and dictated to you. This is a natural and necessary process that has grown out of the nature of having 2-4 days a month and 2-3 weeks in the summer to train. Your CO will dictate the schedule and priorities of work and most of your field time will consist of ranges- either running them or shooting on them. Your best option (in my opinion and hindsight) is to ask your CO to walk you through his training schedule and point out where you have time to plan your platoon's training. Then offer some ideas you have and get his guidance on what area of training would best nest inside of his. On the MUTA 6's or 8's when you aren't running a range, come up with some hip-pocket training that you don't normally have the room to do at your home station armory. Make use of your local training areas (LTAs), too. My unit is a detachment which is actually about to be reconsolidated with the main HHC within the FY. That will be great for the incoming mortar PL because he will have access to our main NG facility in central Arkansas (Camp Joseph Robinson) as an LTA. Since I am moving to the BN S4 after this AT is over, I will be able to help guide him in his between-drill planning and try to continue looking after these Soldiers when I've been moved. Help those around you and they'll help you too. I wasn't expecting to write that much, but it's almost 0100 hrs, so I apologize if this was rambling. Good luck, brother

This is a hard job, being an officer in the National Guard- it's way more than 2 days of work each month, but you'll be fine. I constantly find myself jealous of the active duty guys who get to do it every day. You'll get through it as long as you are always willing to ask for help and admit when you don't know something.