Leadership Questions

[Artius]

Hey everyone,

Not sure where to put this. I've just got my acceptance letter from Ottawa and have been selected for Armour Officer. I've been reading on the requirements of the job and while BMQ is often on my mind, my greatest fear is earning the respect of my squad. I would appreciate any advice and views on what qualities earn your respect and what a soldier looks for in their officers.

Thx,

Artius

 

[davidk]

Initiative. Incidentally, feel free to take the initiative to search the forums for a more detailed answer. There are many posts on what makes a good officer and a good soldier.

 

[Fusaki]

"How many people are you willing to kill to bring us home alive?" - Paul Howe

Ask yourself hard ethical questions and develop your moral compass. Once you've developed a set of principles, live by them. Sounds simple? Not quite. It's easy to take the easy way out when you don't think anyone's watching. Disciplined and respected leaders will do what they think is morally right, every time and regardless of the situation.

"Leadership is the practical application of character."  -  R.E. Meinertzhagen

 

[X-mo-1979]

Be competent.Listen to your troop WO's suggestions.

 

[lone bugler]

BMQ? don't you mean BMOQ. anyhow like what X-mo says, An experienced NCO as an adviser is a must, when when i say adviser it's better to just do exactly what he suggests when you first start out, no idea how many young officers have been saved by a good Sgt.(well WO since reunification).

lead by example
communicate well
be punctual
place the welfare of your men above your own
make informed and timely discussions

I could go on till world peace actually occurs but that could be a while :-\

 

[Neon]

Lone Bugler hits the nail on the head. His list is one to have tatooed on your forearm in case you ever forget. I was privelaged to have great mentors when I started out (rather a long time ago...) One of the enduring sayings though was from my first CSM - never say help - say Sgt (or WO). These guys have the experience and will share, but if you think or indicate you know it all, they will let you learn the hard way. If they do, then you can guarantee the Sqn Leader and the 2IC are both fully aware that it is about to happen...

As far as fearing the troops - they are much more scared of you! You have the potential to get them into really bad trouble very quickly if you make a bad decision (hence the first para!) When I had new subalterns reporting in for the first time, I would carefully select their Troop WO or Sgt - you must never forget we need to function as a team and that requires good mentoring and leadership at all levels. You learn from mistakes or overcoming the odds. If you are willing to learn, keep your eyes and ears open, treat your troops with respect, show true leadership in everything you do you should be fine. A keen sense of humour is always an asset too! ;D After over 28 years, this is still the best job in the World and I never have a dull day - I love my job!

 

[medaid]

Leadership, you either have it or you don't. You may develop leadership if it exists in any form no matter how great or small, but it must first exist some where. If you don't have it, you will realise it really quick.

Look out for your troops. Look out for their welfare at home and at the unit. Lead with determination and a clear purpose. Don't dily daly and don't flip flop too often. Be confident, but receptive, arrogance is not confidence, it is stupidity.

Remembert that coupled with others' advice and you should be okay.

 

[Red 6]

I fully concur with what others have already written. In addition, I'd like to add a couple of comments/observations. Please excuse my terminology in advance, but I think you'll get my point:

New lieutenants come out of their armor officers basic course raring to go and for most of them, it's the first time they're actually working with real flesh and blood Soldiers. Having worked for quite a few new LTs over the years, I always felt the best ones were those who knew when and how to take command of the platoon and when to turn it over to the platoon sergeant. Soldiers want their LT to be calm and decisive, and to step out and lead. They want a platoon leader who isn't necessarily their buddy, but knows how to listen empathetically and understands that the real world isn't necessarily like the one taught at the basic course.

A long time ago, I was the gunner on a platoon leader's track in Germany. This young officer had a temper and let it show in private after the commander dressed him down. The LT would climb back in the turret and unload on me, our loader and our driver. He'd yell, throw things around, pound on the coax ready box, etc. One day after one of these sessions on range 307 at Graf as he was jumping down through his hatch, he tore out the y-cable for our radios and threw his CVC helmet so hard, he broke one of the headphones. I looked over at him and said, "Sir, you can scream at me all you want, but don't break my equipment." (I was signed for everything in the turret.) That was the last time he acted like that in front of us.

Soldiers don't expect their leaders to do housekeeping tasks, but if the unit is doing PT, a hike or something similar, the LT needs to set the example. Soldiers hate to see their officers struggle with these events and an out-of-shape LT can end up with huge credibility issues. The same thing goes for tactical movements. Lieutenants need to know how to land navigate mounted and not rely on GPS to get them where they're going. Terrain association while mounted is an artform all it's own, especially at night. From extremely painful personal experience, I learned that GPS systems fail/break at the worst possible moments. if you're in charge and the rest of the unit is relying on you to get to your destination, make sure you're oriented. Your compass, turret stab, and a rubber band won't fail you as long as your drift is nulled. ;o)

cheers, Mark

 

[armyvern]

Soldiers don't expect their leaders to do housekeeping tasks, but if the unit is doing PT, a hike or something similar, the LT needs to set the example. Soldiers hate to see their officers struggle with these events and an out-of-shape LT can end up with huge credibility issues. cheers, Mark

An excellent and often overlooked point.

When your soldiers have the shitty tasks to do, you need to ensure that you are right there alongside them. Respect is much derived from that; it certainly isn't derived when the Officer is only to be seen during the "good times".

Last week, as I did the 13km BFT with my Unit ... we met up with another group doing their BFT coming in the opposite direction. This other group happened to be candidates on course at a certain school. The troops on this course looked bagged as we crossed paths and I made comments to them such as "keep up the good work boys" ... wasn't I disgusted as we came to the end of them only to find their instructors & Course O following them behind with not so much as a friggin' helmet on their heads let-alone a ruck sack or a Tac Vest or carrying a weapon. That is an example of BAD leadership, and although I've never had the pleasure of dealing with the "leaders" following at the end of that course in their floppy hats -- they've already lost any respect that I would have had them.

That's not the worst example though, it's only my recent example. The worst by far is the "leaders" at another school who set up their water point in the centre of the local "figure 8 track" (wide open to the elements & not a single drop of shade). They then stood in the centre of that figure 8 track dressed in their cadpat and floppy hats and watched as their students marched around and around in circles fully loaded down with their kits & weapons for 13km ... telling them to "pick up the pace" the entire time.

Me, I've done my BFT for this year (last week), but this Friday I'll be out doing another one because I have one of my troops out there doing their fitness test that day ... and as long as I have one of my own out there doing it - my ass should be, and will be, right there beside them regardless.

 

[OldSolduer]

It's me again Vern:

I just did my 13 KM BFT a couple of weeks ago. We do ours not as a formed group, but as individuals. Often a few guys will form a small team (two or three) to keep morale up.
When instructors/leaders don't fulfill their part, it sends a very bad precedent. It tell the troops they are training that as a leader you don't have to do anything except yell and be an arrogant a$$. People like that need a good swift figurative kick in the.....you know where. Perhaps releiving them of command......or rank/appointment to one will send a message.
THAT is how we lost a regiment. "Leaders" made rules that they didn't follow themselves. "Leaders" who did not enforce the rules/National Defence Act. "Troops" who vanadlized "leaders" personal belongings, and went untouched.
Not all the soldiers in that regiment were like that. These "rotten apples" were in the minority, but did enough damage to see that regiment disbanded.
One of my coy 2 I/Cs was almost posted there, and he stated later he was happy that it never happened.

So here's my advice:
Trust your gut instincts. If in your gut, you think its the wrong thing to do, it probably is. Check that out with your Pl/Tp WO, or another officer you trust, like thw Coy/Sqn OC.
If one of your troops gets in the sh!t (and they will, trust me), help him/her out of it. Discipline them if necessary, then set them of the path of righteousness.
Don't go off half cocked when they get in trouble. Get all the facts, then make the decision.

OK that's enough for now.

 

[Teflon]

As a Snr NCO who has help to develope numerous new young officers I can strongly suggest that you quickly develope a strong working relationship with your first troop WO (I'm Infantry but I believe that's the Armoured equal of a Pl 2i/c) Do your best to remember that if he/she is a good WO then his/her advice and suggestions are in no way him/her trying to take over your command but to ensure the Pl/troop succeeds. Because every good Snr NCO knows that OCs like successfull Jr officers and if the OC likes the Pl/Troop Comd then the troops in that organization lives are good and if their lives are good then the WO's life is good.

Listen to the experienced advice of your good NCOs
Put your troops before yourself
Do your job as well as be around them as they do thiers

and remember respect and loyalty are a two way street, NO One ever respects or gives loyalty to someone who doesn't return it

Do all that and your find yourself with a command you can honestly be proud of

 

[Kat Stevens]

Troops don't mind being worked hard, within reason, it's their job.  They despise being used as training aids.  If things are going pear shaped, and troops are paying the price, put your pride on the back burner and ask for their input.  Then make your decision, and follow through.  Most of them have done anything you want them to do about a zillion times more than you.  Use that experience.  They don't want another buddy, but they don't want another arrogant ass hat, either.  Use your filbert.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

As a Snr NCO who has help to develope numerous new young officers I can strongly suggest that you quickly develope a strong working relationship with your first troop WO (I'm Infantry but I believe that's the Armoured equal of a Pl 2i/c) Do your best to remember that if he/she is a good WO then his/her advice and suggestions are in no way him/her trying to take over your command but to ensure the Pl/troop succeeds. Because every good Snr NCO knows that OCs like successfull Jr officers and if the OC likes the Pl/Troop Comd then the troops in that organization lives are good and if their lives are good then the WO's life is good.

Listen to the experienced advice of your good NCOs
Put your troops before yourself
Do your job as well as be around them as they do thiers

and remember respect and loyalty are a two way street, NO One ever respects or gives loyalty to someone who doesn't return it

Do all that and your find yourself with a command you can honestly be proud of

Well said!  I'll add a few, having been a Tp WO myself in the past.

1 - don't be scared to admit you don't know something, if you don't know it. 
2 - remember the things you are taught in Point #1.
3 - remember the 3Ms.   "the Mission, the Men, then Myself"
4 - in training, do what you're told, when you're told, how you're told.
5 - lead when you are supposed to lead, follow when  you are supposed to follow
6 - always allow your crew and patrol commanders (recce side of the house) to exercise their initiative where possible.
7 - be prepared to plan, plan, plan and then change it all on the fly immediately following H-hour when you cross the LOD ;D
8 - lastly, your integrity will be the measuring stick used on you by superiors, peers and subordinates. 

Being a new Tp Ldr can be a tough spot;  accept it as the challenge it will be with a 'can do' attitude, trust the NCOs.  You have to be a good crew commander, patrol commander AND Troop Leader, all rolled into one, and still be an effective member of your own crew.  Best job in the CF, well second to a Troop WO slot, of course.

 

[AlphaQup]

Very good advice given out, much of it is similar to what I've read from Hackworth(I'm a civilian here by the way), check out his book 'About Face'(leadership related).

Here's a quote:

From Leonidas to Alexander the Great to Wellington to Stonewall Jackson to Rommel, the very core of leadership has always been to set the example and let soldiers see that their leaders care about them, share the same risks and conditions.... The best way to get this message across is by living as the troops do, leading from up front, and always, always setting the example: first up, last to eat and last to lie down.

ArmyVern, very good post.