because of geographic challenges. Tis Soldier operates on limited experience without the benefit of having a mentor on hand to provide technical guidance.
BACK TO BASICS We must take steps now, such as read- ing, understanding, and complying with regulations, and creating mentoring relationships, to stop the erosion of our technical competencies. In the absence of such measures, the next generation of senior leaders may lack the requisite technical knowledge to lead our Logistics Corps. We now hear the call for “back to basics” from our senior leaders, and I believe the timing is spot-on.
In many instances, the “basics” for logis- ticians means reading and following regulations and standard operating pro- cedures and doing things by the book. Te keepers of these basics are our senior warrant officers, NCOs, and DA civilians who grew up in an Army with Inspector General and other command inspections.
I was raised by a group of warrant offi- cers, NCOs, and DA civilians who knew their trade. Te warrant officers made me read the Army regulations before I asked them questions. In this way, they made sure all of my decisions were based on a true requirement. If the regulations did not support what needed to be done, they knew where to go for an exception to policy. Tey did not fly by the seat of their pants.
Te supply sergeants and motor sergeants were hardliners. If it was not in black and white, it was not worth talking about. Verbal (or email) requests were not accepted for anything. Stock numbers and document numbers were manda- tory. I was never allowed to just do what I wanted; I had to sign for everything. In this time of diminishing budgets, we
ON THEIR OWN
Most combat outposts in Afghanistan, dispersed over rough terrain and difficult to reach, are supported by only one food service specialist, a junior Soldier running an expeditionary TRICON kitchen system by himself, often without visits from food service NCOs for months at a time. Here, SPC Curtis Bess, a food service operations specialist assigned to the 25th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, prepares the grill Jan. 2, 2012, before feeding Soldiers at Combat Outpost Lion in southern Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by SSG Nazly Confesor, 319th MPAD)
must get back to adhering to regulations, and we must train our subordinates to do the same.
I now see this type of mentoring happening regularly when dealing with the senior logisticians on the U.S. Army Europe staff and in its formations. I see chief warrant officer 5s and senior DA civilians mentoring junior warrant officers on Property Book Unit Supply Enhanced operations and the transition from left- behind equipment to the unit-maintained equipment program.
We need to encourage and formalize this mentoring process and make it a priority. We need to get back to these standards, because we cannot afford to continue business as usual. I believe that empower- ing the warrant officers, NCOs, and DA civilians who run the technical aspects of our Army is the best way to get there. When we identify mid-level leaders who are not ready, we need our senior war- rant officers and NCOs to prepare those
leaders through professional development programs and by coaching and mentor- ing them. If we do not, we are in danger of losing skills developed over decades, which are needed to get through the aus- tere times ahead.
THE WAY AHEAD
Leaders can help bridge the gap to get back to basics in the following ways:
First, make technical mentorship a priority. This is the best way to make sure the next generation of leaders understands their trade. Some of this may take the form of “tough love”— that is OK.
Read, understand, and discuss Army regulations, unit standard operating procedures, and other essential docu- ments. This should form part of your professional reading.
Train and empower mid-level man- agers. They are tomorrow’s future logistics leaders.
Do not make your surroundings a “zero
ASC.ARMY.MIL 173
COMMENTARY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212
