Three of dougs books were amazon top new releases, and his books have sold more than 60,000 copies worldwide and. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read platoon leader. Platoon leaders must design a plan for carrying out instructions, delegate tasks to platoon sergeants, squad leaders or individuals, and follow up to ensure those tasks are completed. A communication perspective, michael hackman and craig johnson further explain, typical leaders fail backwards by blaming others, repeating their errors, setting unrealistically high expectations, internalizing their. Advice for new lts things to know as a platoon leader heyy its sj. This work is a collection of observations, insights, and advice from over 50 serving and retired senior noncommissioned officers. Check out my tips for success and get the common questions and answers about the platoon leader platoon sergeant relationship. This flaw, however, may not bother the book s intended audience. Leadership theory and application 209 forming the company commands when possible, platoons assemble near the formation site before forming. The detail and number of options have also been ramped up such that this game is guaranteed to be better than ever. One platoon s descent into madness in iraqs triangle of death, the army is attempting to learn from the 2006 massacre at yusufiyah so that similar tragedies can be prevented. Expeditionary land power januaryfebruary 2017 english.
It is narrated by mcdonough in first person view and tells of his story in the vietnam war as a lieutenant in command of 2nd platoon, bravo company, 4th battalion, 503rd infantryairborne plot introduction. Jul 05, 2009 a young officer, just out of west point is sent to vietnam, where the men dont respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander. From the green notebook developing leaders one page at a. Army nco leaders book item covering team squad section and platoon training deployment sequence of events suggested u. Platoon leader audiobook abridged listen instantly. This month, we feature excerpts from advice applicable to 2lts as they transition from being cadets to. Ive been writing a chapter about clarity for my book on credibility, and. The relationship between the drill sergeants and platoon leaders is one of mentorship, teaching, and learning. These experienced army leaders have provided for the reader, outstanding mentorship on leadership skills, tasks, and responsibilities relevant to. Army nco leaders book item covering the counseling data sheet.
It read, when was the last time you heard a unit commander ask for feedback, consider the input, publicly admit hes wrong, and change his opinion given that i have a vivid example of being humbled while in command, i felt compelled to share my story. I often see many test strategies that are highly defensive, but low on pursuit. Platoon leader quotes showing 11 of 1 the roads that lead young men to war are not political roads, or national and international roads, but individual roads. Through its suite of publication platforms and educational services, the. I was a supply platoon leader pl for 8 months in a brigade support battalion bsb. The second is the platoon 2404 book which has all organic equipment tracked by system, and the third is a 2404 book tracking all the tpe theaterprovided equipment that we received in theater. A remarkable memoir of small unit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. When he first arrives, he must win the trust of his men, who have been on their tours for a much longer time. This is especially true with communications equipment. R eading a post on the military leader one day, a question reminded me of a critical leadership lesson i learned from my time in command. Using a lean style and a sense of pacing drawn from the tautest of novels, mcdonough has produced a gripping account of his first command, a u.
Revolutionary new ebook for parttime platoon leaders in the army national guard and army reserves. Platoon leader details mcdonoughs time in vietnam commanding an undermanned platoon assigned to protecting a village in the strategic hamlet program. The platoon s leader was there the whole time, but the company commander. The ncos here come from a diverse background of experiences and duty stations. A young officer, just out of west point is sent to vietnam, where the men dont respect him until he gets wounded and returns to be a wiser soldier and a better commander.
Commanders and platoon leaders are authorized to modify the sop and publish their own versions, incorporating tactics, techniques, and procedures to reflect the unique sop requirements of their platoons and higher headquarters. Lessons learned from a distribution platoon supporting a. At that time the book had not made a very good impression because vietnam was still too fresh in my mind. I read platoon leader by james mcdonough because it was a firsthand account of a rookie. They understand that the osut platoon leader role is partially a role meant to prepare lieutenants for service in line units. Being an infantry platoon leader is the greatest job in the world. I have never come across one that i did not like at its worst it is a collection of books that i have already read or do not think apply. The successful lieutenant federation of american scientists. Along the way, mattis recounts his foundational experiences as a leader, extracting the lessons he has learned about the nature of warfighting and peacemaking, the importance of allies, and the strategic. Oct 16, 2019 the marine corps platoon leaders course plc is an alternative for nrotc or ocs for college students who wish to become commissioned officers in the united states marine corps. Enjoy every minute of it, even the difficult times, and give of yourself freely to your mission and your men. The day i contracted my oso gave me some good advice. A memoir of command in combat audiobook by james r. Mcdonough had spent the year after west point graduation assigned to bases where he could take the specialized training necessary to a member of an airborne.
As the author states he cannot claim to have written a definitive history of the vietnam conflict, instead his is. Platoon leader was a book my dad gave to me saying, here. Apr 23, 2014 i n his 2014 article, army first lieutenant scott ginther related 20 lessons from his path from west point cadet to platoon leader in afghanistan. And i have always wanted to join the marine corps for as long as i can remember but i had to go to college first. He talked about the responsibility entrusted to us as commissioned officers along with some of the best practices he learned over decades of service. Theres no functional difference once you get selected. Platoon leader was a great book to give you a concise glimpse into the reality of one young army leader in vietnam. Reading lists the company leader leadership lessons. Lally serves as a platoon leader with the 1st battalion, 4th infantry regiment at hohenfels, germany. You should have a property book for your entire platoon, while your squad leaders should have one for their entire squad. It is narrated by mcdonough in first person view and tells of his story in the vietnam war as a lieutenant in command of 2nd platoon, bravo company, 4th battalion, 503rd infantryairborne. The way platoon leaders and sergeants work together as a team can cause the success or failure of companies, battalions, brigades, and divisions.
The army university press the us armys premier multimedia organization focuses on advancing the ideas and insights military professionals need to lead and succeed. Finally, it will help you become a good officer and leader. Platoon leader is a wonderful book that could serve as somewhat of a text book in command and control of men in combat. Training notes a platoon leaders reflection on readiness.
A remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of age of a young soldier in combat in vietnam. Platoon leader 1987 ra battledrenched portrait of a west point lieutenant in vietnam. An overview of the army officers generational divides. Look at you, all brand new and shiny, right out of your basic officer leader course, hardcharging to take over your first platoon. One minute a communications check with the platoon leader is successful and the next minute you cant reach anybody. These pivotal events and monumental men are often relegated to lofty figures and dates in history books, not a. Mcdonough include basic principles of accountability, responsibility and camaraderie. Army nco leaders book item covering team squad section and platoon training. Aviation branch csm shares top 10 recommended reading list for leaders. Points about the soldiers personal burdens and the bond of brotherhood in combat are made so often that they become less rather than more effective. Lessons learned from a distribution platoon supporting a stryker battalion.
Tasks may vary from securing the high ground on a battlefield to preparing for a parade, but the platoon leader is always the director. During the session, the dcgo described his time in multiple leadership positions from platoon leader to his current position. If you like reading about leadership and personal development, and if you want to see a fine example of clear and credible communication. Advanced platoon leader apl takes the basic game platoon leader to a whole new level. Vignettes and lessons from current and former platoon level leaders allow newly assigned leaders to learn from those who have gone before. Mcdonough retired is an impecable example for future and current young lieutenants that are preparing to take command of their first platoons. I read platoon leader by james mcdonough because it was a. Courtney the lieutenant years are the time we officers get our first real lessons in leadership, training, maintenance, supply, and soldier care. The platoon leader s course is only for people who are students in a 4year program, but if you have a college degree youll enter ocs through the officer candidates course regardless of whether its an associates or bachelors. Spurred, perhaps, by jim fredericks 2011 book black hearts. Much credit goes to 1lt ginther for clearly learning the right lessons as a young leader. Though many people talk about the trials and tribulations of being a. Feb 12, 20 shows the men of leadership who take a platoon of men in battle, quickly assessing the situation and making the right decisions at the right time. Permission to speak freely, say anything, leadership lessons from west point, and hope unseen, which is the inspiring story of scotty smiley, the us armys first blind activeduty officer.
But, at its best, i find a treasure trove of new reading material. Army aviation center of excellence september 24, 2018 share on twitter. The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in vietnam to take over his first platoon. Essentially a knock off of platoon, this bloodsoaked war drama chronicles the experiences of a west point graduate and his colleagues in the ruthless vietnamese jungles. Instead, we focused on putting together a collection limited to 15 of books spanning history, fiction, and military, that provide a firm foundation for engaging leaders at the companylevel. Mar 01, 2012 the book s main flaw is a repetitiveness that becomes mawkish. Military academy at west point, ny, in 2015 with a bachelors degree in. Thing is, behind that brash exterior, youre probably confused as all getout.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. If you are running a 245 now there is no reason that you couldnt be near the top of the platoon when you take the initial pfts at ocs. The good news is that anyone can make it through failure. A remarkable memoir of smallunit leadership and the coming of.
The lessons you learn will fast remind you of the sacrifices our veterans made. The first 100 days of platoon leadership handbook this volume for new platoon leaders and platoon sergeants contains insights on leadership, training management, army systems, and more. The scout platoon sop is available on computer disk in microsoft word for windows and ascii formats. The book highlights the extreme nature of vietnam insomuch as long periods of boredom torn apart by extreme moments of violence and carnage. The film is about a newly commissioned infantry lieutenant who arrives in vietnam to take over his.
Army nco leaders book item covering the deployment sequence of events. Platoon leader is a 1988 cannon films film set in the vietnam war and directed by aaron norris. All products military ebook platoon leader ebook platoon leader book learn how to be an effective platoon leader. The platoon sergeant must keep in mind that he or she is training the future leadership of our army. College students can enroll in plc when they are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors in college. The harder you work out now the less it will suck once you get there. The first 100 days of platoon leadership iii foreword the platoon leader and platoon sergeant are two of the most important leaders in the u. You have the ability to mold men and make our country stronger 24 hours a day. As a platoon leader in a horizontal construction unit, i had nearly twenty vehicles in my motor pool, and. Platoon leader book memoir in combat by james r mcdonough lessons for new army officers related. Your first 90 days as a parttime platoon leader 34 mins learn the critical things to do during your first 90 days as a platoon leader in the army national guard and army reserves. To gain greater understanding of the platoon leaderplatoon sergeant relationship, more than 200 first lieutenants commissioned in 2009all of them current or past platoon leadersshared their experiences of working with their platoon sergeants in a january 2012 survey in the platoon leader forum. James mcdonough graduated from west point and served in vietnam as an infantry platoon leader in the legendary 173d airborne brigade.
Love is not always a two way street, sometimes you give more than you get, and love is a choice. Aug 12, 2011 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. This makes it all the more important for platoon leaders and company commanders to study recent army history. Page 1 of 2 1 2 team squad section platoon training suggested u. Advice for new lts things to know as a platoon leader. First, he says something profound even before he gets to his points. I n his 2014 article, army first lieutenant scott ginther related 20 lessons from his path from west point cadet to platoon leader in afghanistan. Would a distinction between defensive measures and pursuit, help your testing. The osut platoon leader experience the company leader.
Mcdonough, 1985, presidio edition, in english book club ed. The successful lieutenant by captain christopher j. The lesson is about the detrimental capacity of complacency. Apr 27, 2014 watch platoon leader 1988 full movie ursula strauss on dailymotion. I do turn to books written by people who have fought in the army for lessons on tactics and leadership. The army university press is the armys entry point for cutting edge thought and discussion on topics important to the army and national defense. Platoon leader book pdf platoon leader book pdf platoon leader book pdf download. The field grade leader organizational leadership in the. In conclusion, the various leadership lessons learned from platoon leader by james r. As time goes on, he slowly becomes hardened to the realities of the brutal life in the field. Much credit goes to 1lt ginther for clearly learning the right lessons as a young leader, and for taking the time to capture and share them with the force. Reading lists are very common to the profession of arms.
Aviation branch csm shares top 10 recommended reading. But when i ordered it and reread platoon leader i realized how very accurate and explicit the author portraid the responsibilities and dangers that a platoon leader could expect to experience during his tour of combat duty. As a commander, my platoon leaders and i strayed from this list at times tackling books like pat lencionis the ideal team player and jim collin. A memoir of command in combat ebook written by james r. As a leader, i know i will have to be accountable for the actions, both good and bad, of the people i command. When the noncommissioned officers form the company, platoon leaders normally observe the procedure. As a platoon sergeant starts his or her relationship with a new lieutenant, it is imperative that he provides the best leadership for the platoon. Army nco leaders book item covering the deployment sequence of events counseling data sheet suggested u. Chapters 1 through 3 address three critical officernco relationships. Call sign chaos is the account of jim mattis storied career, from wideranging leadership roles in three wars to ultimately commanding a quarter of a million troops across the middle east. I tend turn to books written by people who have fought in the army for lessons on tactics and leadership. Home of the infantry chief of infantry reading list junior ncos topic. I agree to adhere to the milsuite user agreement and the below terms and conditions. The property book should encompass your hand receipt, subhand receipt, a technical manual for each piece and quantity of equipment you are assigned, followed by the shortage annex of each piece of equipment.
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