Army Company Command - What to Expect as a Unit Commander

Army company command is an awesome experience unlike few other experiences in
either the military or civilian life. If you have never been a company
commander (CO) before, you might not understand exactly what I am talking about,
but I'll do my best to explain anyway.

An Army company usually consists of 100-200 soldiers. These soldiers are
assigned to different platoons. Each platoon has 20-40 soldiers and is led by
a Lieutenant. Most companies have 3-4 platoons.

A (CO)is usually a Captain or Senior First Lieutenant with 5-7 years of military
experience. Most COs previously served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive
Officers and/or Battalion Staff Officers prior to taking command.

The CO is the formal leader of the organization, similar to that of a CEO of a
small business. Their primary mission is preparing their unit for combat.

Additionally, they are responsible for mission accomplishment, soldier morale,
training, unit readiness, equipment readiness and a combination of other things.
In essence, they are responsible for the unit, the soldiers and everything that
does or does not happen in the unit.

The CO works together with the First Sergeant. The First Sergeant is the
the senior Non-Commissioned-Officer in the unit who advises the CO on soldier
issues. Typically, the First Sergeant also handles discipline and individual
training.

The relationship between a First Sergeant and CO is often compared to that of a
husband and wife. In other words, the two work together towards a common goal.
They both place the needs of their soldiers and their unit, above that of their
own.

Although the CO and 1SG have different roles, few commanders ever achieve success
without the hard work and continuous support of a First Sergeant and Company XO.
They must rely on each other to do their specific job, in order to achieve
success.

In the Active Duty Army, company commanders take command for 18-24 months,
whereas in the military reserves commanders typically serve 24-36 months. After
command, Captains return to life as a Staff Officer and prepare for promotion to
Major.

Most officers will tell you that their time as a commander was their toughest
assignment as an officer. And, those same officers will all tell you that the
blood, sweat and tears were worth it.

Whenever I ask any retired officer what job they enjoyed most in the military,
they all tell me company command.

If you are considering becoming a CO, you should. Although the position will
require personal sacrifices, the rewards are very fulfilling. You will grow
as a person and become a better leader.

You will also have a better understanding of your leadership capabilities. You
will be tested and challenged, but will become a seasoned officer with an
experience like no other.

In conclusion, company command is an awesome job. It's tough. It's challenging.
The responsibility is enormous, but leading soldiers is a privilege. You will
look back and cherish the time you spent serving in command.

To learn more about Army Company Command visit our website, the Company Commander Resource Center. Charles Holmes is a former company commander and author of the eBook "Part-Time Command, Full-Time Responsibility: How to Effectively Lead a Company in the Army National Guard.