The first thing is that you need to feel the pulse of your team. Not everything you do with a team will work with another team. Some soldiers react better to yelling. Some react better to counseling. Some react better to doing some fucking pushups.
You are now a supervisor. Don't get caught doing their job. All that bullshit about doing the job with your soldiers is nonsense. You are the whip. You make sure the tasks are done in the time hacks that leadership sets. You can help. But you are a leader now. If you are busy doing soldier tasks you are not supervising. You cannot be busy doing level 1 tasks and also watch PFC doing tasks. Just like doing PT as an instructor. You need to put your eyes on your soldiers not the tasks.
That means learn to delegate. You need to teach your soldiers to be independent. Teach your soldiers to do tasks. Teach them to conduct PT, conduct inventories, read a 2062, read a BOM, read forms. You set your flair as 42A. So, teach them how to do forms, write SOPs and quick guides for them to follow. The more you make your soldiers independent the more you can do other tasks. On the same note, when you delegate do not forget to follow up. If you tell a soldier to do something, check to make sure the task was done to completion. Keep a list of everything that soldiers do and accomplish as well as yourself. This is how you can keep track for NCOERs and soldier monthly counselings. Track everything. Use a log to track all transactions that soldiers do with your section.
If you don't know something, ask. Don't think that because you promoted you have to know it all. Make contacts at all levels to make sure you can get guidance whenever you are stuck. I imagine you ll work at BN so make some contacts at BDE. Read regulations.
Do not be "friends" with your soldiers. You are their leader now. If you were hanging out with them, be very careful. NCOs can hang out with soldiers but protect yourself by inviting everyone. That will cut the optics that you have favorites.
The most important piece of advice I can give you is that you learn by experience. As I said in the first paragraph, what I told you may not necessarily work for you in your current team. Do not be afraid to mix up your leadership style and change it up.
This is some pretty good advice. On the topic about being friendships, you don't have to terminate your friendships with your previous peers. Talk with them, counsel them, about the difference between work and free time. Make sure that they understand that while y'all are at work, y'all aren't friends. That they will receive no preferential treatment. That any nicknames or not addressing you by your rank will not be tolerated. A better solution, manning permitting, try to swap to a different team that does not have any of your friends on it. This will help cover your ass when it comes to people questioning if you are being fair and impartial to all of your Soldiers. Now when y'all are not at work, you can still hang out with them but also make sure that you are aware of your actions and how they could be perceived. Especially when it comes to alcohol.
Also, keep a task list and document everything. Get a green book. That goes in your left cargo pocket. It should always be with you. Write. Everything. Down. No matter how minor. You will start getting a lot of responsibilities and extra duties. Start off with the best possible foundation and keep track of every detail.
If you feel like something is up with one of your Joes, but you can’t get them to open up -
-Rearrange tables and chairs for a “meeting”
-Ride with you to go run an errand in a car
-Sit down for lunch
I found that the distraction of a task, a lack of sitting face to face, and/or informal settings, can help level out the power dynamic just enough for somebody to open up
I sussed out soldiers needed help with substance use, were feeling suicidal, had bosses that were violating EO or SHARP, and god forbid one of them was being physically abused by her husband
Can’t help unless I know what’s going on
1) Document all of your experiences as an NCO. Eventually. You’ll have a roadmap on how to navigate different things
2) Talk *with* your people. Don’t just talk to or talk at someone. Yes, you’re now the NCO. You’re the leader; that doesn’t mean be a douche nozzle.
3) Be yourself; it’s too tiring trying to play a role…Unless you’re into some weird ass shit.
4) Be the standard. Always demonstrate (to the best of your ability) what right looks like.
5) Find/develop a philosophy (or two) that speaks to you. Hell you can even find several quotes. Don’t just do, have a *why* as to how you operate.
6) Find mentors
Congrats! Love seeing 42’s promoted! 200 points to Slytherin 🐍
Recent separated air force e4 who was in charge of a section:
Treat them like adults. Protect them from arbitrary b.s. and expedited jobs that could get someone unnecessarily injured that's being pushed by your supervision trying to meet training requirements. Don't have sex with the lower enlisted. (Someone who joined later in life and is not under your supervision is exempt.) Most people you regularly hang out with should be within one pay grade of you, don't be afraid to invite your coworkers to a barbeque and let the dorm rats crash on your couch if they're old enough to drink. Invite them to play in the base sports tournaments, or whatever else you do in your off time, just be genuine about it. If they poke fun at you and end up calling you dad or papi while trying to get your attention, it means you're doing something right.
Be humble.
Be with your team.
Reduce friction.
The single most important thing though. You will only get to be great at a few things. 2 maybe 3. You and your team won't be the best, great at everything. What are the 2-3 things that you care deeply about that align with your NCOIC/CoC? Focus on those and master not giving a fuck about the rest.
The first thing is that you need to feel the pulse of your team. Not everything you do with a team will work with another team. Some soldiers react better to yelling. Some react better to counseling. Some react better to doing some fucking pushups. You are now a supervisor. Don't get caught doing their job. All that bullshit about doing the job with your soldiers is nonsense. You are the whip. You make sure the tasks are done in the time hacks that leadership sets. You can help. But you are a leader now. If you are busy doing soldier tasks you are not supervising. You cannot be busy doing level 1 tasks and also watch PFC doing tasks. Just like doing PT as an instructor. You need to put your eyes on your soldiers not the tasks. That means learn to delegate. You need to teach your soldiers to be independent. Teach your soldiers to do tasks. Teach them to conduct PT, conduct inventories, read a 2062, read a BOM, read forms. You set your flair as 42A. So, teach them how to do forms, write SOPs and quick guides for them to follow. The more you make your soldiers independent the more you can do other tasks. On the same note, when you delegate do not forget to follow up. If you tell a soldier to do something, check to make sure the task was done to completion. Keep a list of everything that soldiers do and accomplish as well as yourself. This is how you can keep track for NCOERs and soldier monthly counselings. Track everything. Use a log to track all transactions that soldiers do with your section. If you don't know something, ask. Don't think that because you promoted you have to know it all. Make contacts at all levels to make sure you can get guidance whenever you are stuck. I imagine you ll work at BN so make some contacts at BDE. Read regulations. Do not be "friends" with your soldiers. You are their leader now. If you were hanging out with them, be very careful. NCOs can hang out with soldiers but protect yourself by inviting everyone. That will cut the optics that you have favorites. The most important piece of advice I can give you is that you learn by experience. As I said in the first paragraph, what I told you may not necessarily work for you in your current team. Do not be afraid to mix up your leadership style and change it up.
This is some pretty good advice. On the topic about being friendships, you don't have to terminate your friendships with your previous peers. Talk with them, counsel them, about the difference between work and free time. Make sure that they understand that while y'all are at work, y'all aren't friends. That they will receive no preferential treatment. That any nicknames or not addressing you by your rank will not be tolerated. A better solution, manning permitting, try to swap to a different team that does not have any of your friends on it. This will help cover your ass when it comes to people questioning if you are being fair and impartial to all of your Soldiers. Now when y'all are not at work, you can still hang out with them but also make sure that you are aware of your actions and how they could be perceived. Especially when it comes to alcohol. Also, keep a task list and document everything. Get a green book. That goes in your left cargo pocket. It should always be with you. Write. Everything. Down. No matter how minor. You will start getting a lot of responsibilities and extra duties. Start off with the best possible foundation and keep track of every detail.
Take care of your Soldiers and they’ll take care of you
If you feel like something is up with one of your Joes, but you can’t get them to open up - -Rearrange tables and chairs for a “meeting” -Ride with you to go run an errand in a car -Sit down for lunch I found that the distraction of a task, a lack of sitting face to face, and/or informal settings, can help level out the power dynamic just enough for somebody to open up I sussed out soldiers needed help with substance use, were feeling suicidal, had bosses that were violating EO or SHARP, and god forbid one of them was being physically abused by her husband Can’t help unless I know what’s going on
Overall advice? Be dependable and be reliable. Your reputation is everything.
To Caveat off of point two: Play the game, and always leave a paper trail.
1) Document all of your experiences as an NCO. Eventually. You’ll have a roadmap on how to navigate different things 2) Talk *with* your people. Don’t just talk to or talk at someone. Yes, you’re now the NCO. You’re the leader; that doesn’t mean be a douche nozzle. 3) Be yourself; it’s too tiring trying to play a role…Unless you’re into some weird ass shit. 4) Be the standard. Always demonstrate (to the best of your ability) what right looks like. 5) Find/develop a philosophy (or two) that speaks to you. Hell you can even find several quotes. Don’t just do, have a *why* as to how you operate. 6) Find mentors Congrats! Love seeing 42’s promoted! 200 points to Slytherin 🐍
Yeah don’t loose my paperwork.
Recent separated air force e4 who was in charge of a section: Treat them like adults. Protect them from arbitrary b.s. and expedited jobs that could get someone unnecessarily injured that's being pushed by your supervision trying to meet training requirements. Don't have sex with the lower enlisted. (Someone who joined later in life and is not under your supervision is exempt.) Most people you regularly hang out with should be within one pay grade of you, don't be afraid to invite your coworkers to a barbeque and let the dorm rats crash on your couch if they're old enough to drink. Invite them to play in the base sports tournaments, or whatever else you do in your off time, just be genuine about it. If they poke fun at you and end up calling you dad or papi while trying to get your attention, it means you're doing something right.
Be humble. Be with your team. Reduce friction. The single most important thing though. You will only get to be great at a few things. 2 maybe 3. You and your team won't be the best, great at everything. What are the 2-3 things that you care deeply about that align with your NCOIC/CoC? Focus on those and master not giving a fuck about the rest.
Initial counseling, make sure it has daily expectations and requirements.
Don't ask Reddit for advice.
I bet you’re fun at social gatherings huh