Candidate: OC Co, Alex

Unit: B CO 3/11th Infantry Regiment

Duty Position: XO

Dates: 27MAR2016-10APR2016

Phase: Intermediate

Summary of Performance:

On 27FEB2016, I was assigned the position of Executive Officer of B Company, 3rd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment. I was assigned the position because of my openness to seeking and accepting positions of authority with substantial responsibilities. Throughout the two weeks, I was consistently given a list of tasks to accomplish in a timely manner in addition to consistently anticipating and planning for company training and movements. These tasks included maintaining control of the company XO detail and ensuring all tasks are completed to standard, maintaining accountability of all assigned equipment, personnel and facilities, ensuring the company receives necessary information to accomplish missions, ensuring additional duty officers receive supervision and coordinate their work to ensure timely completion of assigned missions, ensuring the Senior Trainer receives a daily briefing on the status of the company, and keeping the Student CO informed of the company’s status as often as necessary.

Throughout the past two weeks, I maintained control of the company XO details and ensured all tasks were completed to standard in B CO. This included coordinating with a civilian supply technician, as well as student S4’s, to determine the supplies that were available and/or in need of restocking, to be used while in garrison or in the field. I accomplished this by taking inventory of B CO supplies downstairs in the basement supply room and the supply shed outside next to the training field, after communicating with the civilian supply technician and the student S4’s about supplies available and supply needs. Secondly, this included developing Loud-Out plans and a priority of work plan for loading and unloading supply vehicles moving from in-garrison to the field during the company’s ten day Field Leadership Exercises, as well as for vehicles moving from the field back to the garrison. I accomplished this by approaching candidates with prior service in developing load-out plans, having them draw out rough sketches of the supplies that needed to be loaded into our trucks, then consolidating and clarifying their sketches with my own personal, hand-drawn sketches. Thirdly, this included ensuring that supplies were readily available in garrison at Officer Candidate School, as well as in the field during the Field Leadership Exercises. I accomplished this by anticipating the needs of candidates of B CO based on the training on the training schedule—i.e. the physical training in the morning planned by candidates tasked the XO with providing access to the supply shed. Fourthly, this included ensuring the hydration and heat casualty stations were setup on the training field at the barracks, as well as outside of the classroom during class training, and while in the field for Field Leadership Exercises. I accomplished this by assigning an additional duty officer to be in charge of a squad that I trained to assemble, maintain, and disassemble the hydration and heat casualty stations as I supervised and coordinated their work, and ensured its timely completion.

Throughout the past two weeks, I worked closely with the student 1SG to ensure that there was enough manning and supplies available to complete training tasks. My tasks included determining the number of personnel necessary to complete a specific task, such as refilling water cans out in the field after they

have been used to refill the hydration station, hand-washing stations, and ice chests in the heat casualty station. I also worked closely with the student CO to keep him informed of the company’s status as often as necessary. This was accomplished by informing him of the tasks that have been delegated to duty squads for specific details—i.e. hydration station and hand-washing stations in the field. Thirdly, I kept cadre and the Senior Trainer informed and briefed the Trainer of the Day about issues concerning B CO and its supply needs as often as necessary. This was accomplished by preparing squads for details that included collecting and disposing of garbage, MREs, dinner chow, and ammo, and clarifying duties during Charge of Quarters (CQ) while in the field—i.e. receiving and responding to radio communications, and recording cadre and squad movement in the field (on the FLX white board next to the Tactical Operation Center (TOC) entrance). My tasks also included prioritizing critical information that needed to be passed up and down the chain of command, as well as presenting instructions and details to Platoon Leaders, Platoon Sergeants, detail Squads or all of B CO. My performance portrayed a shaky and undetermined focus at first, but once I became accustomed to the routine of my tasks and responsibilities, dissemination of information began flowing quickly and effectively, and I portrayed a more determined and confident focus.

Throughout my two weeks as XO, I understood that there was a standard in place for me to meet and exceed in terms of knowing how to conduct myself in a leadership role. During this time, I mimicked the models before me and rallied to out-do them to the best of my abilities. These models include previous student XO’s in B CO, who were instrumental in preparation for the position. I counseled with OC Kabbabe, OC Warren, and OC Richardson for a few hours at the beginning of my leadership assignment to ensure my success was based on the experiences of those who have prior service and who continue to grow in their careers in the Army. This included familiarizing myself with the routines of daily garrison and class preparation, tasking out candidates for duties with the support of student 1SG, and becoming aware of supply location and availability.

Primary Strengths:

-Balancing a show of compassion to my peers and subordinates with regard and respect for tasks and responsibilities as a student leader

-My coachability and willingness to learn and change how I have performed tasks or learned skills in the past to reflect what is presently being taught to me

-Focus and determination in seeing a task through from start to completion

Primary Weaknesses:

-Lack of experience with, and familiarity of, each person’s responsibilities in the chain of command, Army rules and regulations outside of the OCS SOP

-Accepting the results and performance of subordinates when I perceive their results and performance as substandard

-Reverting to an introversive perception during moments of high stress