Mundergun

Hey all, Army NG guy about to Make CPT and take a company here in a few months. I知 also interviewing with Envoy next week. I知 a UH60 guy and am a CFII in airplanes. I知 just curious if anyone has any advice for juggling m day command with the airline world? Seeing as how I値l be starting both relatively close together. Thanks.

BeatNavy

My active duty company command (helo mx troop) required about 12-14 hours a day (sometimes more) 5 days a week, and a couple hours on weekends. Not sure how the optempo in the guard is. Hopefully you’re taking a flight company and not anything else. I was constantly dealing with joe issues, (pay, civil crimes, UCMJ/admin issues, chapters, etc), taskings from higher HQs, OERs/NCOERs, slides/spreadsheets, etc. Most of my work was done after 1700 due to meetings and stuff going on from 9-5 and no ability to get anything else done. No way I could have done a part time airline job more than 2-5 days a month, and that’s with no family life and assuming I had a strong 1SG and good PLs/PSGs. Hopefully the guard has fewer BS requirements and allows a lot more flexibility. Are you going to be a part timer, AGR, or tech? My opinion, and that’s as a former active duty army guy, so my perspective is different, but it is impossible to have a family life, a solid company command, and an airline job, unless one (probably two) of those take the back burner (and since command affects 40-120+ Soldiers, you’d be doing them and the country a disservice to sacrifice seeing the command through to the best of your ability, so I’d not let that slide). Hopefully you are single or have an understanding family, as command is hard enough to balance, but throw in a new airline job and you will have your hands full.

I guess you can take care of a lot of the admin stuff on overnights, but you’ll be balancing two aircraft, two sets of rules/procedures, completely different ways of doing things, one brand new, and your primary job is still commanding a company. So really it’s doing 3 jobs at once. Get good enough to be PC/AMC in the army before you go to envoy and make sure you are set on flying so you aren’t trying to progress there and in the airline world. Make sure your 1SG/PLs/PSGs deconflict schedules and can cover down when you’re gone, set them up for success. Make good schedules for yourself and try to compartmentalize all your separate duties, giving each the attention they deserve. Make sure your Bn Cdr knows where you’re at with everything and has your back as well. Good luck. Should be a fun two years.

Last edit: property was the bain of my existence. Not sure how it is in the guard but make sure you get all property issues settled within the first 30 days of command and don’t let issues persist. Make sure you stay straight on inventories and have a good relationship with the PBO, and make someone very competent your supply/property officer.