Posted on Oct 2, 2015
As a former Enlisted Signal soldier to a newly commissioned Signal Officer, how do you successfully make the transition?
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Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 16
As a mustang myself, and observing other mustangs that both made easy and difficult transitions, my biggest takeway was to be able to stand back and let the enlisted do their jobs and make their own way without getting too directly involved. Lower enlisted now have other non-commisioned officers to immeidately supervise them, and the non-commisioned officers must have the latitude to make minor mistakes in order to learn, just like you did. It is tough to not jump in immediately to "help" them, or correct low-level mistakes. Your focus now to guide the organization from a more operational perspective, not from "the foxhole". You'll find there is more than enough to keep you busy in that regard. See yourself as the next level of "buffer" to keep less of the higher level crap landing on your enlisted, instead of trying to do their jobs for them.
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It's difficult, especially if you end up working with any of the same people. Try not to act like you know everything because you were already there (even if you really might) and remember as time goes on you are going to become less and less knowledgeable about the specifics you used to know a lot about, and more knowledgeable about a broad array of other things.
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Commissioned via ROTC so never had that issue personally but I served with a 2LT who'd been an NCO prior to commissioning. His biggest issue what that he seemed to want to remain an NCO but with the pay grade of an O1. He micromanaged his platoon and drove his NCO's nuts.
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1LT (Join to see)
I was a signal NCO prior, so I understand how it feels to be micromanaged by your officers. I'm use to being the Subject-matter expert, but I also know that I have to expect my NCO's to want the "trust but verify" leadership
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