Broadening Assignments, Changes of Command, and Essayons!

An electronic LPD plus a focus on Engineer training initiatives

— Harding Announcement: Our Deputy Director, SFC Marcel Blood, will be coming to an installation near you! Next Tuesday, January 14, SFC Blood will be hosting a mixer from 1700-1800 at the Sasquatch Saloon on JBLM. We hope to see you there! —

This month’s highlight of Line of Departure focusses on lessons learned in broadening positions as told by a Signal MAJ, tips for command success from a BN CSM, and new training initiatives within the Engineer branch.

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The Case for Taking the Hard Jobs

Author: MAJ Maribel Brown

Journal: Army Communicator

MAJ Maribel Brown, bottom right, poses for a photo with the front office team.

In “The Case for Taking the Hard Jobs” MAJ Brown discusses her invaluable experience working as the XO to the Chief of Signal. Despite being initially told interviewing for the job would be a mistake unless she wanted to make General Officer, she found the position to be both challenging and rewarding. The author claims she broadened in unexpected ways and continually learned new aspects of the military despite serving for 20 years. It seems while it may not be the most glamorous job, it is certainly a job worth doing and doing well.

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The Critical First 30 Days

Author: CSM Billy J. Atkinson

Journal: NCO Journal

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Billy J. Atkinson accepts the Battalion Colors at the 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion-Enhanced change of responsibility ceremony Jan. 22, 2024.

In this article, CSM Atkinson writes a guide for the first 30 days after assumption of responsibility. He highlights getting to know your formation, understanding the mission, and quick wins, among other keys to success. The author asserts the first 30 days of a command position set the tone for the entirety of your time in command. Therefore, it is critical you are able to seek out and identify immediate opportunities for relationship and confidence building. This is a must read for anyone stepping into command in the next few months!

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Operation Turning Point

Author: CPT Matias K. Sejersen

Journal: Engineer

The 92d Engineer Battalion, Fort Stewart, Georgia, participated in the first of a series of battalion level exercises as part of Operation Turning Point. The exercise focused on improving port damage repair (PDR) capabilities and offered valuable lessons in the planning and execution of this type of mission.

CPT Sejerson dives into Operation Turning Point—an exercise aimed at improving port damage repair (PDR) capabilities within the 20th Engineer Brigade. The exercise took place at Pier F, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, where soldiers performed pier repairs at no cost to the battalion, since construction costs came from Naval Facility Systems Engineering Command (NAVFAC). This symbiotic relationship made the exercise possible and cost-effective. The author also discusses the challenge of moving construction equipment from Fort Stewart to Norfolk; this would have been cost-prohibitive and made the training impossible. Instead, the unit requested support from Fort Eustis, VA. This cross-unit coordination is a phenomenal example of when there’s a will, there’s way to accomplish unit training.

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