The Rucksack provides proven tools to improve your life and leadership. It includes unit-level products, productivity hacks, and other professional development resources. We will discuss some of these tools in future blog posts while others stand alone. Feel free to share with your team and recycle – if you find them helpful, please share The Company Leader with your community.
Career Timeline
Click HERE for a tool to map out your career, both the past and future courses of action. Planning your career is not the same as being a careerist. No one knows your goals, your journey, and what you want out of your time in uniform like you do. More importantly, this tool is a way to visualize a career in the Army and discuss it with those you lead (in counseling and development) and your family at home. My favorite part of this tool is the family integration portion of it.
Command Philosophy
Click HERE for an example Command Team Philosophy. I used this document in three different commands ranging from an Infantry Rifle Company to an Headquarters and Headquarters (Cavalry) Troop. There were edits, updates, and changes – but the core remained. I revisited it with each new First Sergeant to receive new feedback. Each time, the feedback was considered and incorporated to make the document a TEAM philosophy. Hopefully this resource will help you as your make your own. There is no ONE way to do this – just make sure it is authentic and what you believe; live it. Click HERE for a Military Review Article on “Developing an Effective Command Philosophy”.
Operations Order (OPORD) Template
Click HERE for the OPORD Template. I created this document at the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course (MCCC). It was tried and tested through the MCCC and then used during my Company Commands. It can be applied to PLT, CO, or BN Tactical Operations. We incorporated it into our Company “Battle Book” (SOP) with waterproof, heavy duty, tear-resistant paper. This allowed leaders to fill it in with map marker or pencil and easily erase for re-use.
OPORD Briefing Board
Click HERE for the OPORD Briefing Board. You can view the genesis and a brief description of this product HERE. The OPORD Briefing Board is a durable, compact, and intuitive design created for use when briefing tactical orders. We validated its use at the MCCC, multiple NTC rotations, home-station training, and a Pacific Pathways rotation. This product works best for platoon and company tactical mission orders.
Map Board
As a Light Infantryman “how to carry my map” was the least of my concerns. Sure, I used little hacks and tricks to help me fold it best. Maybe I carried it in a map pouch or in my cargo pocket. But, when you are moving 1 to 10 kilometers your map isn’t exactly unwieldy. And, the pace of dismounted movements doesn’t leave your map flapping in the wind. As a Stryker Company Commander, I quickly learned the importance of having a durable and functional Map Board that allowed me to track movements from 30-60 kilometers while hanging out the Vehicle Commander hatch. Overtime, I added cheat sheets and tools to the map board that allowed me to observe, assess, and direct. Click HERE for how to build your own Map Board.
Leader Development Process
Leader Development cannot be a check-the-box after thought within your organization. It needs to be one of the vehicles driving the character of your organization. Who are you (values)? What do you do (mission)? Where are you going (vision)? Why are you going there (purpose)? The answers to those questions should focus your LDR DEV. But remember, let’s get out minds right – it is a process…not a program. To read more on Process over Program, click HERE. For a practical example/overview of a Leader Dev Process that has been used before, click HERE.
CAVLOG
CAVLOG uses real time consumption data reported by the maneuver troops to project requirements. The sheet compares the on-hand, consumed, and capacity values by each unit to produce the values in the “LOG Projections” sheet. The user then selects the type of operation anticipated for the next 24, 48, and 72 hours (as it is projected by the S3). The tool then projects the Deltas that will be required to sustain the troops. It also displays the amount of time at the selected operation types before a unit will run out of supplies without resupply. You can find a full description HERE, a PowerPoint User Guide for it HERE, and the actual CAVLOG HERE. And for all you out there who don’t read so good – HERE is the TL;DR friendly version.
Commander’s Reconnaissance Guidance Template
FM 3-98, Reconnaissance and Security Operations states that commander’s reconnaissance guidance (CRG) “offers both freedom of action to develop the situation as well as adequate direction to ensure that their organic Cavalry organizations can accomplish stated reconnaissance objectives within the required timeframe.” Sound reconnaissance guidance, graphics, and a synchronized information collection plan are enough to deploy a cavalry squadron into the fight, pulling a BCT worth of firepower with it. For a tactical vignette and explanation of commander’s recon guidance, click HERE. To access your free Commander’s Recon Guidance Template, click HERE.
Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) Calculator
Systems and information management facilitate learning, create efficiencies, and help in communicating reality within and beyond your organization. With proper analysis of the ACFT, we will be able to identify weak spots in our PT plans and strengthen them. Although this was possible with the APFT, with only three events, it was harder to identify trends. Check out our explanation of this tool HERE and download your copy of the ACFT Unit and Individual Calculator HERE.
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