What Observer - Controller/Trainer (OC/T)s are saying now

Observer, Controller, Trainer team that conducts advanced collective training for platoons; conducts platoon and NCO After Action Reviews (AARs); coaches, teaches, and mentors rotational platoon's leadership and Soldiers on operations in the Contemporary Operating Environment (COE); professionally develops subordinates; ensures training is safe.

You will see tasks done in many innovative ways; some work and some don't. This gives you years of practical experience crammed into weeks. I was an O/C for 30 months at JRTC and saw just about every way possible to do some tasks. That gave me a great edge later on when there were discussions about how to do X task. I'd seen it done this way and that way and could make quicker decisions on how to proceed.

Secondly, you meet hundreds of people in your MOS/Branch and interact with them in a very close and personal way. Networking is the key to success in a long Army career.

The hours are rough on the family. I'm not sure how things are now but when I was an O/C (92-95) once a rotation started you never went home; plus 2-4 days prior and after the rotation you were working 14-16 hour days. So that was pretty much 20 days you missed everything going on at home.

Rotational units are not always appreciative of O/Cs pointing out their weaknesses, especially the seniors who are being evaluated on their preparation for and execution of the unit's missions (the commanders, senior staff, and senior NCO leaders). They can get pretty aggressive and downright nasty at times. Just keep your mission in mind.

You must become a SME on doctrine and the latest TTPs. Read and study. You should try to get a copy on the unit's SOPs and become familiar with how they do things. Then just be fair and unbiased when you give guidance and evaluate their execution. Things get easier and you become more of an asset as you gain experience with multiple units but NEVER think you know more than the people you are coaching; that comes across as condescension and ego.