2IC Info

[Pte_Martin]

I've just been told that I'm now going to be the 2IC of our section, so i was wondering if anybody has any info or knows of a site of where i could get information. What i want to know is tips and other stuff that i should know, IE) job duties.

 

[honestyrules]

Just surprised that nobody answered yet. Anyway, I have no books to recommend.

Job of the 2 I/C...middle man between the I/C and the section members (how to pass on orders to your buddies without pi**ing them off)
Job of the 2 I/C...replace the boss if he get killed(or on leave)
Job of the 2 I/C...train to do what your boss does (of course, the I/C is supposed to "develop" you)
Don't know if you have access to the"warrior's handbook" which is a CF publication, but the more of that stuff that you remember, the better it is (general knowledge).

 

[TheNomad]

In addition in my day as an infantryman the 2IC of a section was also the admin man.  It was he who looked after the admin, managing the ammo state, making sure the men were being fed and watered, sentry rosters were made out etc.  All this was done to enable the Sect Commander to get on with attending O Groups, and writing his patrol orders etc.  of course this does not mean that the Section Commander is not personally responsible for all that happens in his section.

The same thing would also happen at the platoon level where the Pl Sgt did the same thing on a platoon wide basis enabling the Pl Comd to get on with the preparation for battle in terms of orders etc.

If you are any good as a 2IC your Section Commander should be able to rely on you to get the Section organised and ready for the next task without his direct supervision. Thus whenever he appears with the next set of orders, the section is as ready as possible and not faffing about trying to complete its basic personal admin.

 

[TheNomad]

Of course you can also think about what your own Section 2IC does or did, plus you can also ask your Section Comd what he expects from you.

Just as an aside, the lessons I learnt as a 2IC have been very useful later in civilian life.  I have always supported my managers in the same way as I did my commanders.  Ensuring that the admin of the staff is always taken care of, thus allowing the boss to get on with the big policy stuff and not get bogged down with minor details.

I also see it as part of my role as a 2IC to have an alternative option ready for consideration. I look for down sides in their planning and draw them out. This is important for example when writing annual reports on staff you can help ensure that the boss can actually back up what he is writing (good or bad) about someone.

All this does not mean I am argumentative, but I see it as part of a deputy's duty to challenge and offer alternatives.  However, the final decision lays with the boss and once it is made I fully support it and work to see it is implemented fully and correctly.