5 Tips for Being the Best Platoon Leader
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- Опубликовано: 29 июл 2024
- These are 5 tips I think would be most helpful for someone to know before becoming a Platoon Leader. These tips are all from my experience of being a US Army Platoon Leader twice.
My name's Brendan and I'm a US Army Lieutenant who runs a RUclips channel. Be sure to join me on my journey through the army and life by subscribing. Also, be sure to comment any video's you'd like me to make (ex: Platoon Leader advice, Deployment advice, etc.)
The goal is to help as many people as possible by having them experience my journey with me and learning from my mistakes/successes.
Initial Counseling Example
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Not really one to comment on videos but as former NCO transitioning over to being an O this is some solid applicable knowledge Brendan is sharing.
Brendan keep up the great work. Thanks for the tips and reminders.
Bryce Allen glad to hear this video was helpful for you and appreciate the compliment. Good luck on your transition, if there are any videos I could make that would help you let me know
Here's a solid tip from the enlisted side of things- do not confuse your level of PT ability with your level of competency.
Senior scout here. Not really sure why I clicked but good video with good points. Some additional points I think that are very important:
- you mentioned counseling. PLEASE only counsel who you rate. Don’t counsel your other NCOs. That’s the job of your NCOs who rate them. In other words.... stay in your lane and know your role.
-when you need to check the status of a task, ask your NCOs, don’t go to the Joes. To establish that professional relationship, your soldiers should not come to you, they should go to their TLs and you should respect that line of communication as well. By all means lay down your expectations for the whole group say, during cool down for PT etc. but trust your NCOs to take the task, task organize effectively and report to you when mission complete,
- this goes in hand with the previous a bit but allow the NCOs to do their job. If they are messing it up correct them/give expectations privately to set them back on course. Don’t take the responsibility upon yourself because now you’re in charge. When that happens you deteriorate the chain of command, destroy the faith in leadership in said chain and then now have the burden of expectation that you are now taking care of everything within the platoon. Again, know your role. Take charge when that is in the realm of your role. If it is not, correct the corse so you can move along as a team collective.
- Respect time. This is the time it ACTUALLY takes to accomplish tasks. Don’t be the leader who expects 10 things to get done but doesn’t FULLY understand the process of completing even one of the tasks. Often times this leads to bad expectation management, depleted moral as the soldiers start to get frustrated, and overall just a bad time. Many tasks can end up relying on outward resources such as mechanics, supply, arms room, etc. be patient on your soldiers with these considerations in mind. If a task is taking really long ask what the hold up is and how you can best assist. This approach vs. the “what is taking so long” approach will go a long way. Respecting time also means the time on duty AND off duty. Don’t waste soldiers time unnecessarily. They work hard all day for you, they need time to decompress. Of course mission takes precedence sometimes, BUT when something can be accomplished tomorrow instead of today, then take the opportunity to do so. Everyone will appreciate it. That being said if they worked hard, say during property layouts, to get everything together, obviously now you wasted their time laying those items out if you were to make them pack it all up. Always ask: in what way am I valuing these soldiers time? Make a course of action based on this and RECOMMEND it to your PSG to make the final call.
- Take accountability of yourself, your actions and the team. If this means sticking your head out and taking an ass chewing, so be it. It sucks but it is the burden of a good leader. Why is it important? Because your soldiers know when you are for them or not. The more you throw others under the bus to diffuse your personal responsibility over the PLT, the more people catch on. Especially when your PSG is with you during these interactions. Take the heat, professionally pass on the deficiencies to your PSG and tackle an issues together by sitting down with whoever to again, correct the path and send them on their way.
Sorry for the blabbing. Hope this helped for you new PLs. Remember: the PLT is relying on you so be humble and take your role by the reigns. You are the future of our success!
This is great advice. I'll be sure to use it all
I really enjoy these videos sir. I'm an MS2 in the Army ROTC and am further developing the mindset necessary to lead as a new 2LT in my future unit. Learning from those who have gone before you is invaluable. I appreciate you sharing your experiences for the purpose of developing others.
Nice man, keep up the work and don't forget to have some fun in college. Happy to hear me sharing my experiences is helping you
Great advice man! Thank you !!
Wow I just came across your channel and just watched a video from a few years back and now you look better, fitter! Not that you didn’t look good before
This is really great advice, I needed this a lot. Just started as a Corrections Officer at 18 and my Stg wants me to be a platoon leader, so this is very helpful, thanks a lot.
I'm glad this video helped. Let me know if there are any other videos I can make that would be helpful for you
Great knowledge bro✊🏻
Okay I thought this is going to be one of the officers joke moments. I don't know you but if this is really who your are as a officer. You will be a great commander. Also best thing you've ever said is listen to your NCOs/good. Let them do their jobs and give them your support accordingly. Good luck sir. Thanks for your service. I'm out now but I would have enjoyed working with you. BTW I didn't look for this kind of videos lol. But hey makes me feel good there's still officers there like you.
Hope all is well, thanks for the advice! RLTW...
Melissa says hello
Damn dude welcome back! Great advice
Thanks, I'm glad to be back
You look great as well.
Pause
Great video, Is there any game you would recommend playing to practice battle drills and commanding on the battlefield?
It's called Life Outside With Your Battles. Army veteran 12 Bravo, B Co. 1st Inf Div." Beast at the Breach" here, during our weekend BBQ we would take the intiation to train in our off time ( makes for better soldier in my book) go over battlefield tactics and other stuff. The following weekend we would gear up( even made some old school smoke grenades, homemade dummy claymores and landmines for more realistic touch) and play it out. We'd go through a couple runs, and after training hard sometimes play grown man cowboys and Indians to lighten the mood, over exaggerated dying and all that fun stuff. Best training is done in the field.
Hey Brendan, I'm a Junior in highschool with a 3.9 GPA (no SAT yet) and am in 3 sports and lots of clubs including NHS. Any ideas what my chances are for a scholarship? Also when in the Army as an officer, how would life be if you had a girlfriend and how often would you get see her? It would be awesome if you could answer these for me :)
caden perry I really don’t know about Rotc scholarships out of high school but it sounds like your scores/profile are competitive. In terms of your second question it really depends on what branch and what unit you are a part of. Hope that helps
Yes it helps thank you. And keep up the great work on the videos! I always look forward to watching them
as a platoon leader, you are responsible for everything your people do or fail to do. The people above you in the chain of command do not want excuses, so do not think of giving them any.
Most importantly….don’t wear your rank on upside-down.
Soree,Bapak,Mh,mau,anjak,kerja,mau,datang,Bapak,datang,lah,...Abang,kakak,sakit,???Mh,Stress,???👍👍👍
Mh,Tidakpaksa,Abang,Sam..
SoaL,Agama.Mhjanji.🙌🙌🙌Bapak,
Rule number 1. Always remember that you are expendable. Number 2. There is always going to be somebody to take your place, no matter how inexperienced.
the quick cuts hurt my feelings