Support Operations Officer (SPO)
Support Operations Officer (SPO)
Posted on Aug 15, 2018
Transitioning from company level to brigade level officer position?
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I'm currently a platoon leader with a TPU reserve company as a platoon leader and I'm in contact with a brigade level unit to become a plans officer (slotted for CPT) for the SPO section. I was wondering if I could get some insight as to how differently everything functions, expectations, etc. since I haven't experienced things on a level higher than the company, much less a battalion?
Support Operations Officer (SPO)
90A: Multifunctional Logistician
92A-Officer: Quartermaster Officer
Brigade Operations (S3)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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CPT (Join to see) everything happens at a longer interval, but there is much more going on. Companies really live in that 6-8 week training cycle and are worried about platoons (Battalion Evaluates, Company Command team trains them) and squads (Company Commander evaluates, Platoon leadership trains them). Companies are tasked by Battalions based on mission analysis of orders from Brigades.
The Brigade evaluates Companies trained by Battalions. Brigades execute missions from Division or their reporting HQs. The Brigade Command team fights the Brigade by issuing orders and making resources available to Battalions.
CPT (Join to see) If you are a SPO plans OIC, then you will likely have to review all the assigned tasks, exercises, CTC rotations and all the associated coordination meetings feeding this back to the SPO who is responsible for coordinating support to all these units and functions. If you have a DSCA mission you will be coordinating exercises and mission response with US Army North in San Antonio TX. The SPo has the challenge of balancing current operations and future operations ensuring that missions are resourced appropriately....among people who don't plan well, or plan late, or not at all.
The Brigade evaluates Companies trained by Battalions. Brigades execute missions from Division or their reporting HQs. The Brigade Command team fights the Brigade by issuing orders and making resources available to Battalions.
CPT (Join to see) If you are a SPO plans OIC, then you will likely have to review all the assigned tasks, exercises, CTC rotations and all the associated coordination meetings feeding this back to the SPO who is responsible for coordinating support to all these units and functions. If you have a DSCA mission you will be coordinating exercises and mission response with US Army North in San Antonio TX. The SPo has the challenge of balancing current operations and future operations ensuring that missions are resourced appropriately....among people who don't plan well, or plan late, or not at all.
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LTC Jason Mackay
CPT (Join to see) as a Sustainment Brigade you have to think at the Division or Corps or theater level depending on your missions: sustainment, port/theater opening, and RSOI. http://www.cascom.army.mil/g_staff/g3/SUOS/site-sustainment/pages/sb.htm
You will also need to be conversant on the war trace and OPLANs your Brigade and subordinate units are assigned to. The mix and match employment can be pulling your HQ and subordinate units down to Platoon level in 50 directions. I am assuming your SB is a non-Divisional SB, which makes you a target for all kinds of random missions within the RC boundaries.
You will also need to be conversant on the war trace and OPLANs your Brigade and subordinate units are assigned to. The mix and match employment can be pulling your HQ and subordinate units down to Platoon level in 50 directions. I am assuming your SB is a non-Divisional SB, which makes you a target for all kinds of random missions within the RC boundaries.
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CPT (Join to see)
Yes sir, the sustainment brigade falls under an expeditionary sustainment command. The one guidance the brigade SPO during our initial phone call was that I report to her and her alone, seeing that I may be working directly with commanders and senior NCOs from different battalions and companies.
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LTC Jason Mackay
CPT (Join to see) - I despised the rolling parts bin treatment our SB got from The cast of thousands that seems to have tasking authority on us. Just a manpower pick and pull. No unity of effort. All our Battalions were war traced to others, and the BDE HQ was under ARNORTH for DSCA. Our platoons and companies were tasked out to CENTcOm, EUCOM and others formyet other missions. Made no sense. The Division alignment was supposed to fix that, but didn't. They want he comfort of big DISCOM to fix all the BCTs and Div units, but not any authority to do any of it.
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i would prefer you go a BN S4 role, then back to a company, and then move up to brigade staff. if this is the only slot to get you promoted then take it. Hopefully the DCO will look to find you a BN primary slot or a company after promotion.
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CSM Charles Hayden
The Company Cdr time is valuable and provides insight into the ‘system’, it’s strengths and failings.
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1LT Dong, at the company grade you are executing systems and processes. At the Brigade level and higher you are managing systems and processes. If you wish to be proficient, and 'value added', at Bde and higher, learn how the log systems and processed actually work and how they intermingle to work together. Understand what they really do, then you can help others apply the the right efforts to accomplish the right things - rather than having them chase their tails because that's the way everybody has been doing it. Good luck.
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