What did I spell wrong?

Regards,

Schuyler

1) Don't think you've got it wired just because you can do a few six-minute miles. OCS will demand much more of you then that. It is a test of character and adaptability, of mental and physical endurance.

2) Read "One Bullet Away, the Making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick. It  is an autobiographical  account of Lieutenant Fick's sojourn through the Corps, up to and including his command of a Recon Platoon in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It details his experiences in OCS and the Basic Officer Course.

3) In your first command, listen to your NCO's. The NCO's have far more experience in the Corps that you will at this point. They already know how to run the unit. This level of command is really an apprenticeship for junior officers. One of your main goals in that first command is to learn what works from them.  So command them (certainly), but learn from them.

4) The Corp is a secular religion, you have to believe in it, believe in its values and believe in your place in the Corps.  

 

  Can only repeat what is posted above.  A good PT score is only a partial measure of physical condition.  How are you at carrying heavy loads long sentence or scaling walls with a lot of short sprints in between after maybe two hours sleep? Try writing a op order in the rain.

 It never hurts to get a head start on the Commandant?s reading list. Infantry Combat, The Rifle Platoon by John F. Antal is a good primer.   

Pray you get good NCOs. There are some bad ones.

Details, Details, Details. Always take the time and make the extra effort to take care of the small things so they do not become big things. Learn how to delegate, you cannot do it all, that is why you have a Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leaders.

 

 

oops make that long "distance" see about the details.  Fortuantely I am retired.

How does teh Officer side of the house work with regards to what field you go into?

How can I prepair myself for delegating assignments to people?  What is difficult about doing so?  I have been reading lots about leadership.  The key difference between the great leaders and the meteocre ones is the ability to empower otheres and not worry that they will take your position,  I dont think I will have a problem with that.  I am really looking forward the leadership training I will be getting and being able to apply much that I have learned.  I have read alot of theory, but besides leading my basketball team, I have not done much else.

I am really excited!

Thanks for everything

Schuyler Witt 

How can I prepair myself for delegating assignments to people?  What is difficult about doing so?  I have been reading lots about leadership.  The key difference between the great leaders and the meteocre ones is the ability to empower otheres and not worry that they will take your position,  I dont think I will have a problem with that.  I am really looking forward the leadership training I will be getting and being able to apply much that I have learned.  I have read alot of theory, but besides leading my basketball team, I have not done much else.

I am really excited!

Thanks for everything

Schuyler Witt 

Thank you for all of your help.  My GySgt. told me I better be able to run more than just 3 miles, I change my work outs up often, running 8-10 miles every other day, or running 2 miles a few times daily.  And I love backpacking, I can carry a good amount on my back.  I really need to keep up on my studies so I can make those decisions and right up reports in the rain.

Colts,

First let me say I am not in the military and have never been, however I do work with the Marine Corps and Army on a daily basis, and have done so for the last few years.

 

You asked a VERY good question about how to prepare yourself to be able to delegate!!!  Ill be honest and say that you cant.  The ability to delagate goes hand in hand with the abilit to "Trust".  Unfortunately "Trust " is earned and not generally freely given. 

 

However as a Marine Corps Officer you do have a bit of an advantage over us civilians.  Those you are delegating to are also Marine Corps personel.  All you have to remember is that they are supposed to have the same standards and work ethics as you have had ingrained in you.  You dont have to trust the "Person" you have to trust their "Training".  Thats your starting point.  As you get established in your unit you will learn who you can rely on and who you cannot, and as a result the ability to delegate gets easier.

 

Now as a young officer you will be expected to "Make Decisions", all i would ask of you is that you think through the implications of every decision you make to the best that the time available allows!  Unfortunately I deal with the repurcussions of decisions made by young officers, usually made in the heat of the monment to deal with an immediate situation with absolutely to regards to the wider implications.....lets just say that can get a bit messy!!!!!

That is a very fair and true point worth considering.

 

While in training, when those who can't cut the military haven't yet fallen by the way-side, when undertaking command appointments and delegating taskings you will have to babysit people to make sure they conduct them in an orderly fashion.  On the plus side, you will be living with the people you are assessed alongside, making it in your best interests to get to know well those placed in your training section/squad.

Regards,

Schuyler Witt

Mental and physical endurance are the main things. You don't need to be the smartest to win a fight just the guy that remembers the details. Like the Germans in WWII, forgot to get that cold weather gear.