Posted on Dec 3, 2015
Leaders, First sergeants, Commanders, Anyone in charge. How often do you notice the Privates who are squared away?
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How often do you, as someone in charge, pay attention to your e-1,e-2,e-3 soldiers? How often are the Aware that you have your eye on them. is there more than meets the eye? or do you just sign off on their promotion paperwork?
Promotions
First Sergeant
CPT
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 32
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PV2 Weeks,
It's not about knowing the soldiers that are squared away , it about knowing all your soldiers! It can be from attitude, appearance, and work ethics! Promotions come and go and I believe now it is better to have outstanding counsel statements!
It's not about knowing the soldiers that are squared away , it about knowing all your soldiers! It can be from attitude, appearance, and work ethics! Promotions come and go and I believe now it is better to have outstanding counsel statements!
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Promotion is all about potential to assume greater levels of responsibility. The only way I believe I can be confident about delegating higher levels of responsibility is to observe their potential myself. I do take into consideration their chain of command in case I'm missing something. However, it is my job to ensure their leaders are challenging them and allowing them to develop professionally and take initiative. If not, I will provide guidance to their leaders on how to do that. That's where I find the weak from the strong. Put someone out of their comfort zone and see how they react. It's ok to make mistakes and ask questions to gather the full intent, but don't sit up against the wall on your phone waiting for someone to spoon food you every action you should take.
I take it a step further to ensure my intent is executed and make it my mission to be present in everything the Soldiers do. If they are outside, I am outside. If they sit in a briefing, I'm in a briefing. Unless the battalion/brigade commander tell me I need to be at a meeting, I am with the Soldiers. This allows me to become personally informed of someone's potential because I see it firsthand. I can speak intelligently about someone in a letter of recommendation as well. I won't put my name on something if I do not believe in the content. Direct observation keeps my integrity intact.
I don't show favoritism but I do credit dependability. If a Soldier shows me that all she/he does is talk on their phone or walk by a full trash can and not take it out, that speaks volumes to me. My leaders know that I do not stand for Soldiers doing nothing because I won't waste their time nor anyone else's, including mine.
I also don't condone negative attitudes. My leaders and I do what we can to motivate and inspire Soldiers by being the example, for some it doesn't work. Thus, I say "if you aren't here to be part of the team and contribute to the unit's mission, I don't need you. I will help you out (get out)." I don't care about my numbers. Much more can get done with a few motivated Soldiers than with a bunch of pessimistic Soldiers.
My unit has the greatest Soldiers I've ever encountered. I know people can say that about their Soldiers, but if anyone ever gets to work with them, they will know that I'm not exaggerating. We truly perform as a family, looking out for each other and working together to achieve a common goal.
They make me proud to serve in the Texas Guard and humbled, privileged, and blessed to be their commander.
I take it a step further to ensure my intent is executed and make it my mission to be present in everything the Soldiers do. If they are outside, I am outside. If they sit in a briefing, I'm in a briefing. Unless the battalion/brigade commander tell me I need to be at a meeting, I am with the Soldiers. This allows me to become personally informed of someone's potential because I see it firsthand. I can speak intelligently about someone in a letter of recommendation as well. I won't put my name on something if I do not believe in the content. Direct observation keeps my integrity intact.
I don't show favoritism but I do credit dependability. If a Soldier shows me that all she/he does is talk on their phone or walk by a full trash can and not take it out, that speaks volumes to me. My leaders know that I do not stand for Soldiers doing nothing because I won't waste their time nor anyone else's, including mine.
I also don't condone negative attitudes. My leaders and I do what we can to motivate and inspire Soldiers by being the example, for some it doesn't work. Thus, I say "if you aren't here to be part of the team and contribute to the unit's mission, I don't need you. I will help you out (get out)." I don't care about my numbers. Much more can get done with a few motivated Soldiers than with a bunch of pessimistic Soldiers.
My unit has the greatest Soldiers I've ever encountered. I know people can say that about their Soldiers, but if anyone ever gets to work with them, they will know that I'm not exaggerating. We truly perform as a family, looking out for each other and working together to achieve a common goal.
They make me proud to serve in the Texas Guard and humbled, privileged, and blessed to be their commander.
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MAJ Monique Salinas
Thank you SPC (Join to see)!
The rule of thumb when you get into leadership positions is to do what you need to do prior to execution. This way you can be there to watch your Soldiers knowing that your other responsibilities are completed for your leaders to be able to do their part. It might take some extra time off duty, but as a leader, you owe it to your Soldiers to give them guidance to ensure they meet your intent.
I pray that you have a good support system at home to allow you to do what being a leader requires. Don't forget to thank them for their support with ways to show your apprectiation (the smallest things could make a big difference). Be patient to explain what they don't know about the military.
always seek a challenge, persevere through the hardships and rise above the rest
The rule of thumb when you get into leadership positions is to do what you need to do prior to execution. This way you can be there to watch your Soldiers knowing that your other responsibilities are completed for your leaders to be able to do their part. It might take some extra time off duty, but as a leader, you owe it to your Soldiers to give them guidance to ensure they meet your intent.
I pray that you have a good support system at home to allow you to do what being a leader requires. Don't forget to thank them for their support with ways to show your apprectiation (the smallest things could make a big difference). Be patient to explain what they don't know about the military.
always seek a challenge, persevere through the hardships and rise above the rest
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While in garrison, normally on a Monday or Friday formation I would challenge my soldiers to have the best squared away uniforms. Who ever was received the day off! This was a good way from them to compete with one another and also a way of making them better soldiers, now if it was a tie, I would then challenge them with questions, regulations etc etc.
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