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Army Reserve
Army Reserve
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USAR & NG commanders and 1SG/CSMs should be given the option to be on ADOS during their tenure
After two company commands, my biggest recommendation to the brass is to turn ALL compo 2 and 3 command teams (CPTs & 1SG, LTC&CSM, COL & CSM, etc) into ADOS/active duty tours if those Soldiers desire it. IMO, this single action will improve readiness metrics and morale of commands throughout the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, while making those positions a lot more competitive in order to attract the right level of talent.
An active duty officer typically goes through a mentorship queue that looks like this before taking command: Platoon Leader, Company XO, Company Command. Additionally, before taking command, that officer typically goes through his/her branch CCC. Command tenures are usually 24 months in length.
On the reserve side, there is no guarantee that this learning process in assignment occurs for commanders. In addition, although the tenure is still 2-2.5 years in length in total, the actual time in command duty is only about 1/5 of that officer's active duty counterpart. Count 24 days a year for battle assembly over 2 years for 48 days, then 2x 21 day Annual Training/ECT for 42 more days, for a total of 90 duty days. Compare this to an active duty captain who has, counting a conservative estimate of 300 duty days a year, 600 days of command-- a paltry 15%
Moreover, Reserve commands are typically spread over a large geographical location, in multiple states and duty locations, separated from higher headquarters. In contrast, AD companies are almost always colocated with their battalions at the same fort. In addition, active duty commanders have a lot more tools in their toolbag to influence the behavior of their troops -- nonjudicial punishment hits a lot closer to home when it accounts for all and not 1/15th of an expected monthly income or time.
Aggregate all of this and you have Reserve components with less incentive, less training, and more difficult commands. All Reserve component commands being automatically given the option for ADOS/active duty would go a long ways towards equalizing this difference while also incentivizing the position to encourage competition for those command teams.
After two company commands, my biggest recommendation to the brass is to turn ALL compo 2 and 3 command teams (CPTs & 1SG, LTC&CSM, COL & CSM, etc) into ADOS/active duty tours if those Soldiers desire it. IMO, this single action will improve readiness metrics and morale of commands throughout the Army Reserve and Army National Guard, while making those positions a lot more competitive in order to attract the right level of talent.
An active duty officer typically goes through a mentorship queue that looks like this before taking command: Platoon Leader, Company XO, Company Command. Additionally, before taking command, that officer typically goes through his/her branch CCC. Command tenures are usually 24 months in length.
On the reserve side, there is no guarantee that this learning process in assignment occurs for commanders. In addition, although the tenure is still 2-2.5 years in length in total, the actual time in command duty is only about 1/5 of that officer's active duty counterpart. Count 24 days a year for battle assembly over 2 years for 48 days, then 2x 21 day Annual Training/ECT for 42 more days, for a total of 90 duty days. Compare this to an active duty captain who has, counting a conservative estimate of 300 duty days a year, 600 days of command-- a paltry 15%
Moreover, Reserve commands are typically spread over a large geographical location, in multiple states and duty locations, separated from higher headquarters. In contrast, AD companies are almost always colocated with their battalions at the same fort. In addition, active duty commanders have a lot more tools in their toolbag to influence the behavior of their troops -- nonjudicial punishment hits a lot closer to home when it accounts for all and not 1/15th of an expected monthly income or time.
Aggregate all of this and you have Reserve components with less incentive, less training, and more difficult commands. All Reserve component commands being automatically given the option for ADOS/active duty would go a long ways towards equalizing this difference while also incentivizing the position to encourage competition for those command teams.
Army Reserve
Army Reserve Elements
Command
1SG
CPT
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 35
14
14
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CPT (Join to see) I have had two Company Commands (6 years), one Battalion Command (4 years), and two Brigade Commands (7 years) and over that time period my duties included extra weekends and a lot of extra work at home in the evenings and on weekends when there was no duty scheduled. When no one was looking and I raised a family during that timeframe. We know (or at least I did) that when we take command positions there would be a lot of extra personal sacrifice and time dedicated to those duties. It's like having a second fulltime job. I did it and I gave that time without pay because I loved what I was doing, because I cared about my commands and my soldiers, not because I wanted to make money. Those ADOS dollars are usually allocated throughout the command and I wanted to make sure at the Battalion Level and Brigade Level my Commanders below me were using them for the right reasons. I can't tell you how many times I got on Commanders for using all of their allocations for themselves and not for mission essential objectives. I never had a problem in taking them away if they weren't being used or if they were abused. I agree it is a little tougher today then it was in the 80's and 90's to get school allocations and to be competitive, but it can be done. You have to go after it and you need to access your civilian career to make sure you can get the support necessary to go after it. This is just an opinion for the group. There have been some really good comments and discussions around this issue. This is just another perspective.
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COL Charles Williams
COL Mikel J. Burroughs One of my good friends from one of my deployments... is a NY ARNG Colonel... traditional guardsmen, business owner, commanded several battalions, a Brigade, a Group, and will likely be the TAG one of these days. He made it work, and his unit in Iraq, the problematic people for him, were his AGR Soldiers... I am no expert, but I agree if this is your chosen path, you figure it out.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
COL Charles Williams Roger that! We all had problems with some AGR personnel, but I usually figured out a way to make them productive and get them on my team as well. I was fortunate to have some really sharp AGR personnel that really cared!
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1LT William Clardy
COL Mikel J. Burroughs, in retrospect, I have always been thankful that the AGR cadre at Camp Roberts were top-notch folks, when I was assigned there as a brand-new lieutenant, especially the post commander (who was disappointed when I didn't choose Ordinance as my branch, but never slacked on his mentorship) and the (ahem) colorful chief wobbly down in the Motor Pool who graciously endured my tenure as Post Motor Officer (among many other hats worn at the same time -- we were *very* thinly staffed, and I was slotted in an O-4 position).
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MAJ (Join to see)
I was fortunate to Command under COL Burroughs! You were a great mentor and a leader; the care and dedication for your troops did not go unnoticed. Thank you for your service sir!
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CPT Yifei Zhang,
You make a good argument on the issue. But I don't think that turning the command team into ADOS will resolve or improve the readiness metrics. I failed to see how having two individuals on ADOS will resolve the fact that PVT Joe doesn't have CAC access or the time to make an appointment with his dentist, or take the time to PT on his own time. I believe the course action that is in place now to pay the Soldiers that take the time to complete those requirements on their own time is better than having the command team on ADOS.
The other issue I see is that the leadership from the squad leader/team SGT, and CDR have to get out of the mentality that their duties and responsibilities to the Soldier starts and ends when battle assembly/drill start or ends.
You make a good argument on the issue. But I don't think that turning the command team into ADOS will resolve or improve the readiness metrics. I failed to see how having two individuals on ADOS will resolve the fact that PVT Joe doesn't have CAC access or the time to make an appointment with his dentist, or take the time to PT on his own time. I believe the course action that is in place now to pay the Soldiers that take the time to complete those requirements on their own time is better than having the command team on ADOS.
The other issue I see is that the leadership from the squad leader/team SGT, and CDR have to get out of the mentality that their duties and responsibilities to the Soldier starts and ends when battle assembly/drill start or ends.
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1LT (Join to see)
Not to mention the problems that will do to that Commander/1SGs work life balance. If I am going to school am I supposed to stop for 2 years? If I hold a professional degree can I take a hiatus from work? This would be hard for a lot of us. My opinion is that either the Commander or CSM/1SG should be AGR in larger units. We certainly have enough AGR slots for that.
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Definitely! I quit two military full time jobs because my commander duties and responsibilities took so much of my time. My superiors were not supportive of allowing me a couple of hours out of the day to do unit business. I wanted to do my job right and not fail my Soldiers.
I'm told that I'm trying to do too much. It's not that. I'm trying to improve my unit and Soldiers. Achieving greatness has no limits or conditions. Yes we will succeed when we take the easy route, but the point is to make a positive difference taking the road less traveled. I won't reach my fullest potential or grow professionally if I settle for just getting by, nor will I do the unit and Soldiers justice.
It would make it a lot easier to justify to my family all the time I spend on unit business. I continue to ask for their support and trust, but it can get challenging at times to alter their perception.
Someone once told me, "Ma'am, you need to get a real job." (Because I was asking this individual to do their part in the planning process and he was busy with a project at his civilian job). Being a commander is something I've prayed for and I won't take the opportunity for granted.
I'm told that I'm trying to do too much. It's not that. I'm trying to improve my unit and Soldiers. Achieving greatness has no limits or conditions. Yes we will succeed when we take the easy route, but the point is to make a positive difference taking the road less traveled. I won't reach my fullest potential or grow professionally if I settle for just getting by, nor will I do the unit and Soldiers justice.
It would make it a lot easier to justify to my family all the time I spend on unit business. I continue to ask for their support and trust, but it can get challenging at times to alter their perception.
Someone once told me, "Ma'am, you need to get a real job." (Because I was asking this individual to do their part in the planning process and he was busy with a project at his civilian job). Being a commander is something I've prayed for and I won't take the opportunity for granted.
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