Week 2- Role Platoon Leader

Sorry this is a little out of order. Week 2 was a slow paced week with classroom instruction. This is a new week in the IBOLC schedule, they are focusing on how to train, counsel, award, and manage your platoon. Its a great to know the administrative side of being a PL so you don't have to rely on others for a crutch.

Monday- Role of a PL, we learned what a PL is responsible for and what he should do upon arrival to his unit. No secret there, everyone always says to listen to your PSG and don't try to re-invent the wheel, but if everyone says it and beats it into your head its got to be true. Later in the day we went to CIF and got our issue, it was a very efficient process the people there are actually good at their job. Side note, inspect every item you get even if you hold up the line, we had a few guys with missing or damaged equipment that they will have to pay for during turn in.

Tuesday- Army writing process, it is a direct to the point form of writing that the army uses. It takes a little bit to get used to it because buzz words or adjectives are omitted to make it shorter and to the point. Our first assignment was given to us after a block of instruction on counseling statements.

Training management and resilience training finished out the week. The training management briefs had good insight on how to conduct training, but it lacked the specifics of what type of training for your unit would be beneficial for certain tasks. Resilience training was brutal, it was a two day slide show of the feel goods. With so many soldiers coming back with PTSD or having other psychological problems, the army created resilience training to prepare soldiers for the rigger of combat and stress. Although it was hard to swallow at times it really is needed in the army and it could save lives.

Overall the week was easy but the instruction is very fast paced, so any knowledge on the subjects will help to reinforce or further your knowledge on it. Study how to write a good initial counseling statement for your PSG because it will set your expectations for the platoon as well as for the PSG, its very important. NCOER's shape soldiers careers and the difference between a good NCOER and a great one could mean promotion for him.