Your First 90 Days in Company Command - Advice For New ARNG Company Commanders

As a leader in any type of organization (especially company command) your first 90 days are critical. In essence, your first three months will probably determine what the rest of your tenure will be like. If you start out strong, you have a better chance to achieve success.

As a part-time company commander in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, your first 90 days is different that your Active Duty counterparts. In essence, your first 90-days is your first three drill weekends. In other words, you must accomplish the same tasks in 6-7 days, compared to the typical 90-days reserved for Active Duty commanders.

Don't worry though. It is manageable. Your secret to success is to have a game-plan. If you don't have a plan, you will fail because "failing to plan is planning to fail."

So, what can you do to set yourself up for success? Here are a few simple strategies that worked for me.

Month 1

o Conduct Unit Command Climate Survey (has to be done by day 90)
o Conduct Initial Counseling with your Boss, the Battalion Commander
o Conduct Initial Counseling with all Direct Reports

Month 2

o Review Standard Operating Procedures
o Review Mission Essential Task Listing (METL) and submit proposed METL to Battalion Commander
o Conduct formal Platoon inspections of soldiers and equipment

Month 3

o Conduct Officer Professional Development with Officers
o Review Family Care Plans and Family Readiness Group
o Conduct unit level Army Physical Fitness Test to assess physical fitness

Once again, these were my objectives. You don't have to have the same exact objectives I did.

However, you must establish your own objectives and share them with your subordinate leaders. Show them you are the leader. Show them you have a game-plan. They will respect you that much more.

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