Past and Present NCOs, what do you wish 2LTs knew or had before assuming command of their first platoon and how can they bridge the E-O gap?

As a former EM....humility and willingness to learn. You have to trust that most good NCOs want the unit to succeed and survive for the next engagement or mission. The bad ones become apparent in due time and sink themselves. I was blessed with some great NCOs who forced me to be a fair officer....I had a lot to learn.

Be understanding, willing to listen to you Platoon Sergeant and his or her subordinate leader, understand the military culture is not what West Point or being at a cadet command told you. I have had friends go through the GTG and told me the shenanigans they were told by the cadre about what the "Army" is like. I had a brand new LT as my PL once and he struggled with me telling him that he couldn't be so friendly with the junior Soldiers and that my job was to train the Soldiers as well as keep him on the right path to success for his career as well. A Platoon Sergeant and PL should compliment eachother and work together, not against eachother.

They need to learn how to listen, to trust the SrNCOs, and not try and bluff their' way through things. We all knew that 2Lts were next to useless, it was our job to teach them. I mentored several 2Lts during my career and it was a pleasure. Only had 1 who refused to listen, so I let her swing on a couple of things, she got the message.