What is the role of a Squad Leader? Should they be the only ones to build a climate of dignity, respect and inclusion in units?

2015-06-18T21:38:52-04:00

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jun 18 at 2015 9:46 PM

2015-06-18T21:46:16-04:00

The role of the SL is to facilitate the orders of the PL and PSG. All leaders need to build a climate of dignity, respect and inclusion in a PLT.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 1:01 AM

2015-06-19T01:01:30-04:00

@Stephan Garcia how did you formulate this question? Was it something that you read or is this a displayed behavior in your formation?

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 19 at 2015 4:44 AM

2015-06-19T04:44:45-04:00

The squad leader is the direct supervisor of both teams, to ensure discipline and welfare of the Soldier is being met at the most junior level. This is where the climate can be impacted, for the 8 - 9 Soldier squad. The challenge is to ensure the climate is consistent throughout the platoon, thus providing stability/focus/reliability throughout the company and higher.

We've all heard the phrase, every Soldier is a safety officer, words can be interchanged to share a similar focus....every Soldier is a ________ officer and insert the focal point of interest in the blanks. We are all responsible, at every level, to ensure we foster and project respect - and it is more important than people know to share and show respect for your Soldiers and subordinates. We've all seen the leaders that are out for themselves and could care less about their subordinates, but it you want your team to grow, if you really want them to grow, you have to challenge them, you have to respect them, you have to put them in a position so that they have the opportunity to flourish and grow. That does not mean to stand by, it means to constantly challenge, you have to make sure they get the direction needed, provide the nudge to get them moving in a certain direction, get them moving towards true development and true respect (for themselves and others). No matter if you are a team leader or a CSM, you can apply this method of leadership - those that accept the challenge will be forever changed and will openly and honestly foster the environment of dignity and respect, they will intervene when they should because it is the right thing to do, not have to refer to the CQ instructions to see when they should.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 5:34 AM

2015-06-19T05:34:56-04:00

Your a mentor and there first line supervisor. Your in charge of his welfare.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jun 19 at 2015 7:28 AM

2015-06-19T07:28:27-04:00

As the first line leader to the Soldiers, the squad leader is probably the most vital part of a unit's climate. They see and hear everything that goes on in their squads (or should be) and can either take action with discrepancies or ignore them...either way they're setting a tone.

I would liken this to a unit's retention mission (it's my profession). It's the commander's mission and Retention NCOs have oversight, but the Soldiers' Leaders are setting the tone for career advancement and continued service. Are the Leaders reenlisting? Are the Leaders encouraging reenlisting? More importantly, are Leaders conducting career and professional development counseling for their Soldiers? No? Why should Soldiers want to continue their Army careers?

Perhaps if more Leaders were involved (not necessarily overly-involved) in their Soldiers' lives, we could develop more Leaders and we'd see a better climate of dignity, respect and inclusion.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 9:27 AM

2015-06-19T09:27:22-04:00

He should not be the only one to build a great climate but as the first line supervisor and the one that spends the most time with the Soldiers the SL is definitely one of the most influencial leaders in building a strong cohesive unit based on diginity and respect.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 19 at 2015 8:38 PM

2015-06-19T20:38:23-04:00

The whole damn unit should be working on the unit culture.

Response by CSM Christopher St. Cyr made Jun 24 at 2015 7:10 PM

2015-06-24T19:10:47-04:00

I took and informal and unscientific poll in my section last drill about what what the most important rank in the Army. Participants ranged from LTC to SSG but there were no LTs or WO1s. Top three responses: SSG, SFC and 1LT. The respondents particularly identified squad leader, platoon sergeant and company XO as most important positions in the Army.

I mention this because SSG squad leaders are at the heart of your question, and they are the heart of the Army. By no means should Squad Leaders be the only ones building a climate of consistent with the Army Values, but they play a key role doing so. More senior leaders also play a role and when they ignore unit climate it is often detrimental to a unit especially if senior leaders are engaging in bad or illegal behaviors. If things are working right however, SLs are taking care of Soldiers. PSGs coach and mentor SLs and their PL. The 1SG teaches the PSG and the CSM provides over all leadership for the NCOs and officers. That is why the NCO corps has been the Backbone of the Army for decades. In the not too distant future today's SLs will be CSMs and will be expected to carry on that tradition.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 8:34 PM

2015-06-24T20:34:48-04:00

I believe it is the responsibility of all nco's to emulate the standard and foster an environment of dignity and respect at all times. The squad leader has a large role in the platoon. Like sgm said, he is there to facilitate the orders of the psg and pl. I think his other roles depend on the kind of unit you come from. In a scout platoon, we have two squads. Psg, pl, two squad leaders, two team leaders, and the soldiers. For us, team leaders are the first line and spend the most time with the soldiers training them. The squad leader ensures his team leaders are doing their job and making sure the platoon sergeant and platoon leader's intent is being met. Ultimately, the accountability of property, training, and well-being of the section falls on the section sergeant. Though, this is just a peek into the scout platoon of a RSTA squadron.

Response by SFC James Young made Jun 25 at 2015 12:11 AM

2015-06-25T00:11:00-04:00

The Squad Leader carries out the orders of the PL. This can get tricky. Most PLs are very green to the Army. With older, salty SLs, it can be challenging for a young LT to build a working relationship. This is where the PSG comes in. Bottom line, SLs work for the PL in a tactical scene, and they work for the PSG in the tasking and mentorship side.

The Squad Leader is not the first line to the lowest levels. They should focus most of their development to their team leaders....YES....there is still a rank of SGT and CPL in the Army and they are team LEADERS. I remember a time when young team leaders were given authority....now they dont. I was expected, as an SFC to do things that I remember SGTs taking care of when I was a young Soldier. Checking barracks? I showed up to make sure my young SGT and CPLs did that, not micromanage everything they did....unfortunately there are a lot of seniors that are managers rather than leaders.

So a SL should be supporting the authority of their TLs, developing their TLS and making sure their TLs are tracking the Soldiers individual task training. It is the SLs responsibility to facilitate and conduct Collective task training.

It should never be a SLs job to micromanage....which happens at all levels of the Army due to weak individual leaders (managers...)

A Squad leader should most definitely be the one to foster espris de corps and inclusion for the team....

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jul 7 at 2015 10:10 AM

2015-07-07T10:10:51-04:00

No. They should instill these qualities in their Squad members.