COMPANY COMMAND

[Pages:30]COMPANY

COMMAND

The Bottom Line

John G. Meyer, Jr. 1990

National Defense University Press Fort Lesley J. McNair Washington, DC

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COMPANY COMMAND

The Bottom Line

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National Defense University Press Publications

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Meyer, John G.. 1944-

Company command: the bottom line /John C Meyer, Jr.

p. cm

Includes bibliographical references.

1. United States. Army--Officers' handbooks. 2. Command of troops. I Title.

U133.M47 1989

355-?dc20

89-27931 CIP

? John G. Meyer, Jr., 1990

Reproduction in whole or part is granted for any purpose of the US Government. First printing, April 1990. Third printing, July 1992

vi

To The Soldier

On The Importance of Company Command

A company commander is charged with a sacred trust: The lives of his soldiers, men and women he may be called upon to lead in combat. There's no greater trust that can be bestowed by the American people than a personal responsibility for the lives of their sons and daughters....

Company command, if it is successful, is the most rewarding, personally satisfying position the Army offers. It provides a young officer a fundamental knowledge, experience, and a sense of capability that will serve him well the rest of his Army career. If he can command a company properly, he'll be able to command a battalion, brigade or division. Successful company command is an absolute prerequisite for subsequent success in the Army.

GeneralFrederickj.Kroesen

viii

Contents

Foreword ................................................ x vii

Prefa ce ....................................................

x ix

Acknow ledgm ents ...................................... xxiii

1. WHO'S IN CHARGE? ................................ 3

2. TAKING COMMAND .................................. 7 To Be or Not To Be a Company Commander? ........ 7 What It Takes To Be a Successful Company Commander .......................................... 8 Your Actions Prior To Command .................... 17 Think-Educate Yourself-Spend Time With the Outgoing Commander-Draft lbur Command Philosophy First Days and Weeks in Command ................ 22 Dos-Don 'ts After 90 Days the Unit Is Yours ...................... 26 The Bottom Line for Taking Command ............. 27 Bibliography for Taking Command ................. 28

3. YOU AND YOUR FIRST SERGEANT ................ 29 The Company Commander Commands the Unit; The First Sergeant Runs It .......................... 30 Educate Yourself ..................................... 32 Talk With Your Fellow Company Commanders- Talk With the FirstSergeants in Other Companies-Talk With Your Battalion CSM-Talk With Your Battalion Commander

ix

Ideal Company Commander-First Sergeant Relationship ......................................... 34

Communication-Confidence-Cooperation and Teamwork-ClearGoals and Reasonable Standards-Friendship Com mon Problem s .................................. 35 Lack of Communication- Yu 're Bullheaded; The 1SG has a Different Agenda-Lack of Agreement on Unit Goals and Standards-Lackof Mutual Support and Respect-Personality Conflicts What a First Sergeant Wants in a Commander ..... 37 A Confident Leader-An Officer Who Leads by Example-A Leader Who Cares for His Soldiers-A "Cool-Headed" Leader-A Leader Who Trusts His NCOs-A Leader Who's a Buffer-A Leader Who Admits Mistakes What a First Sergeant Doesn't Want in a Commander .............................. 38 A Commander Who Won't Listen-A

Commander Who's Too Ambitious-A CcirmarderWho's Indecisive-A Commander Who Wings It-A Commander Who Micromanages-A Commander Who's a Desk Rider

What a Commander Wants in a First Sergeant ..... 40 A Strong Leader-A Leader by Example-A Competent Leader-A Trainer and Developer-A Good Communicator-A Dedicated Leader-A Loyal Supporter

What a Commander Doesn't Want in a First Sergeant ............................ 41

A FirstSergeant Who Doesn't Listen-A First Sergeant Who Doesn't Keep His

CommanderInformed-A FirstSergeant Who Doesn'tSupportHis CommanderA FirstSergeant Who Doesn 't Lead by

Example--A FirstSergeantWho Doesn't

Train andHoldHisNCOs Accountable-A FirstSergeant Who's a Desk Rider-A

First Sergeant Who Overrules Lieuten-

ants 'Decisions

Day One With Your First Sergeant .................. 43

A Bad First Sergeant ................................. 46

The Bottom Line for You and Your First

Sergeant ..........................................

. 48

4. MILITARY JUSTICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE

LAW M ATTERS .................................

.. 49

The Company Commander's Judicial

Responsibilities ...................................... 50

bnforce the Law-Protect Ybur Soldiers'

Rights

Educate Yourself .................................... 51

Talk With }bur Lawyer- Talk With }bur

Battalion Commander- Talk With Your

SubordinateChainof Command- Talk

With Your Fir,:Sergeont

Know Your Options .................................. 53

"* Administrative Options ....................... 53

RehabilitativeMeasures-Loss of Dis-

cretionary Benefits-Adverse Adminis-

trative Actions Short of Separation--

Separationfrom the Military

"*Nonjudicial Punishment Options .............. 61

Don 't Threaten-Don't Bluff-Don 't Go

it Alone-Don 't Make Examples-Don't

Forget Suspensions-Don't Forget Mitigation and Remission

"*Court-Martial Options ......................... 66

Serious Choices

xi

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