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Here’s what “This is My Squad” means to me. This is the intent behind People First. These are things YOU can do right now - you have the authority.
This is my platform in 2021. https://twitter.com/austingcommons/status/1340509535736274944
This is my platform in 2021. https://twitter.com/austingcommons/status/1340509535736274944
15 months ago, I took a great concept and grew it to be more comprehensive. It started with a simple premise: junior leaders who feel a sense of ownership of their small unit and want to build a POSITIVE, cohesive team.
I believe that when a group of people truly care about each other they won’t tolerate when someone in that group is the aggressor or victim of corrosive behavior.
All of us can be an agent for change and intervention for racism, SA/SH, suicide, etc. But, as we try to operationalize #PeopleFirst some of the tactics come across performative, prescriptive, intrusive, insincere, and unwanted by Soldiers.
When there’s no trust, all of those are common and logical reactions.
(Re)Building trust starts with listening to one another. I’ve found that asking “how did you grow up?” is a great way to learn what context someone is coming from.
(Re)Building trust starts with listening to one another. I’ve found that asking “how did you grow up?” is a great way to learn what context someone is coming from.
If the team truly knows one another, they’ll spot when a member is going through a tough time and rally around them. (I remember living in the barracks and when someone got dumped, we took them out on the town to forget about it)
Likewise, they’ll call out inappropriate acts like grooming, bias, unproductive leader traits...
When you trust your Squad is actually listening, you’re more likely to engage.
When you trust your Squad is actually listening, you’re more likely to engage.
I settled on “Squad” as a term of endearment - but you can (and SHOULD) substitute the smallest group of people you’re in: team, section, department, command group, tank crew, whatever...
It starts with the Leader and requires OWNERSHIP of that “Squad.” NO ONE else should care about the members as much as you. (Notice care “about” vs. “for” ...we’ll come back to that)
As a Leader, it should be a red flag if someone else is helping your Soldiers with their personal readiness. It may mean that you’re not establishing a positive climate of trust.
MANY of you have said “we’re already doing that!” or “we just call that normal leadership!”
I’ve got a 150-page report that suggests there are gaps...you should read it sometime. http://www.army.mil/forthoodreview
I’ve got a 150-page report that suggests there are gaps...you should read it sometime. http://www.army.mil/forthoodreview
TIMS is not about caring FOR your Soldiers (miss me with the “mommies and daddies” argument). It’s caring ABOUT your Soldiers - and your Soldiers caring ABOUT each other.
TIMS means “if I want a Squad that is “Ready” (read: fit, disciplined, well-trained), then I need to take a holistic look at what MY Squad needs.”
I promise there is no other Squad like yours in the Army. Which is why prescriptive tasks and policy WON’T fix this. Leaders will.
I promise there is no other Squad like yours in the Army. Which is why prescriptive tasks and policy WON’T fix this. Leaders will.
This will look DIFFERENT in
every unit
every Squad
every Leader/Soldier combo
in the Army. That’s a feature, not a bug.
every unit
every Squad
every Leader/Soldier combo
in the Army. That’s a feature, not a bug.
We need adaptive Leaders who can take the intent and apply it appropriately to the individual PEOPLE that make up their team.
Focus on personal readiness FIRST and the tactical readiness will be SO MUCH more efficient.
Focus on personal readiness FIRST and the tactical readiness will be SO MUCH more efficient.
A Soldier having financial troubles is less able to focus on the range to qualify with their weapon.
A Soldier being harassed at PT is less likely to stay in those runs, much less take time outside of work hours to seek self-improvement.
A Soldier being harassed at PT is less likely to stay in those runs, much less take time outside of work hours to seek self-improvement.
A Soldier whose child is doing virtual learning may not have a second computer to dial into that Teams call or work on correspondence courses.
Soldiers with strained family relationships may legitimately dread Christmas tomorrow, but went home anyway to avoid staff duty.
Soldiers with strained family relationships may legitimately dread Christmas tomorrow, but went home anyway to avoid staff duty.
How would you know if you never asked?
And how could we reasonably expect Soldiers to focus on Readiness
when their mind is clearly elsewhere.
And how could we reasonably expect Soldiers to focus on Readiness
when their mind is clearly elsewhere.
This chart to helps break down the actions Leaders can take. Again, the key is knowing how to apply these for YOUR Squad.
Nothing on here should be controversial.
Nothing on here should be controversial.
When we say NCOs (self included) could have prevented some of the findings in the Report, it’s not passing blame.
These are some of the simple measures we’re talking about.
O’s have a role too: time, resources, policy. All within your span.
These are some of the simple measures we’re talking about.
O’s have a role too: time, resources, policy. All within your span.
When we say #ReadTheReport, it’s not a hand waive. It’s a cautionary tale of things that are probably already going on around you.
These aren’t just “talking points and playback” - they’re what our Soldiers are asking for (and deserve). Leaders who will listen, ACT, and care.
These aren’t just “talking points and playback” - they’re what our Soldiers are asking for (and deserve). Leaders who will listen, ACT, and care.
I hope all of you have a great Holiday, and at some point during leave you think about how to implement this where you are. I’ll do my best to support with policy, but I need LEADERS in support.
THAT is “This Is My Squad” and how YOU can put People First.
THAT is “This Is My Squad” and how YOU can put People First.
