After Company Command What Do You Miss the Most?

2015-05-29T10:36:18-04:00

I am nearing the end of my second Company Command and I am already missing it. The thing I think I will miss the most will be the interactions with the Soldiers. The higher up you go the less time you spend with Soldiers. It is great to have a direct impact and see results with individuals throughout the years. What did/will you miss the most when leaving command?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 10:37 AM

2015-05-29T10:37:47-04:00

For most, it's the last time you'll really lead Soldiers.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made May 29 at 2015 10:48 AM

2015-05-29T10:48:44-04:00

What I would miss most after Company Command is being in a role with direct consequences and significant responsibility that can positively impact Soldiers lives. In many ways, one's responsibility goes down after Company Command... at least for a long time... potentially for up to a decade in my view.

I created the above chart a few years ago (using my Army learned powerpoint skills) comparing a successful civilian MBA career trajectory with and a successful active duty military career trajectory. In both cases, I am assuming a successful career.

It's a rough take, and people will be able to point out many exceptions or tweaks in the timeline... but I think it has a lot of overall validity on the active duty side. The grey lines indicate possible outcomes on the civilian side and the blue line indicates successful outcome on the military side, with "success" roughly equating to responsibility. On the civilian side, there is a lot more variability, which I would say is mostly determined by the individual. On the military side, there is very little variability, and there are a lot more downs than ups.

It's no wonder that two of the most common times people get out is after their Platoon time and after their Company Command time. The trough in career responsibility (which I also equate to fulfillment) goes down significantly after those two highlights.

Response by CPL Israel Rodriguez made May 29 at 2015 10:58 AM

2015-05-29T10:58:04-04:00

I was a Medic... I miss the medical Field and how I helped everyone... THAT job was more rewarding than working in the civilian sector.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-05-29T11:09:14-04:00

It's when you are the closest to the execution end of things, while understanding the most about why you are doing it and how the other stuff around you works.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Parker, DBA made May 29 at 2015 11:27 AM

2015-05-29T11:27:04-04:00

I really like the chart created by Maj Weiss. That said, from an active duty standpoint I found it difficult to move from a high level of responsibility in the military to a similar one in the civilian sector. My view is mid-senior officers (LtCol - Col) are getting into the civilian workforce late in the game and those in the civilian sector don't know what to do with them. Civilians have a hard time translating Brigade Command (or Group Command in my case) to something on the civilian side.
So civilians stick to what they know best - non-military candidates. I think the reserve and guard components have the best of both worlds - military command opportunities and civilian contacts.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2015 3:41 PM

2015-05-29T15:41:29-04:00

Foremost, I miss working with my 1SG, 1SG Private RallyPoint Member. Second, I miss the responsibility. It's challenging to go from being a captain, "clothed in immense power," back to the bottom of the food chain. Kind of like that Colonel flipping slides for GEN Schwarzkopf.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 1 at 2015 1:24 PM

2015-06-01T13:24:00-04:00

The challenge of leading a unit and having direct impact - mostly for the good - on soldiers and their careers

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2015 10:57 PM

2015-06-02T22:57:42-04:00

After my second command I felt the same. Having moved on and up, I still feel that role was my favorite. I had a better connection to my Soldiers and felt I had more influence, not to mention field time which I loved. I know that now I have more rank and ability to care and protect them, but I still miss them.

Response by LTC Mo Vanderslice made Oct 17 at 2015 4:26 PM

2015-10-17T16:26:36-04:00

Brian, Cool assignments will not be coming your way again until you pin-on O-4. You can still do relatively fun, but important work out side of FORSCOM. Seeing that you're command experienced, and at Bragg no less, rather that rotting away on staff there, try getting to The School Brigade at Benning and seek an assignment at the Jump School battalion. The fast pace nature of Jump School's work and the high personnel turnover should free up a third command if you're so inclined. It would definitely be serving with troops again, whether you're part of the school or in a command. After you are there at Benning, Infantry Branch might just give you a no cost move into a SGI slot at the career course. When I was an SGI, we had a few guys with us that had not served as an O/C at a MTC (like NTC, CMTC, and JRTC) but they were command qualified and already there on location, so branch took advantage of that in selecting their next assignment. Good luck!