Photo By Col. Cindi King | U.S. Army officers from the S.C. Army National Guard listen to Col. Jeffrey Jones,...... read more read more
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EASTOVER, S.C. - With every successful commander in the U.S. military are trusted advisers, the ones who help make things happen and solve problems, often behind the scenes. One of these important positions is called the executive officer or “XO.” To perform this demanding role, many times it is experience alone that guides them, as currently there are no formalized training programs defining XO responsibilities.
During May 2015 drill weekend, members of the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, S.C. Army National Guard, held a first-of its kind training course to prepare young officers to perform as executive officers in their units. The two-day executive officer course was held in a classroom at the McCrady Training Center on Fort Jackson and was attended by over 25 commissioned officers, ranging in rank from second lieutenant to major. The intent was to streamline the responsibilities of an executive officer at company and battalion level. The course included presentations from subject matter experts in personnel, logistics, and administration.
“Commanders attend an intensive pre-command course to learn the roles and responsibilities of leading Soldiers,” said Maj. Michael Dovey, executive officer, 218th MEB. “Executive officers have traditionally had to rely on a good hand-off or by working with other XOs to learn how to handle the various responsibilities.”
The generic duty description for an executive officer is to serve as the second in command and coordinate actions for the commander. Many of the duties at the company and battalion level as an XO are to manage maintenance, personnel and the logistics programs of the unit.
During the course, the attendees, primarily from the 4-118th Combined Arms Battalion and 1-118th Infantry Battalion, 218th MEB, were briefed by a maintenance chief, movement control officer, a personnel officer, supply officer, as well as the other staff members in the S.C. Army National Guard.
According to Dovey, the initial comments about the XO course were extremely positive.
“We are really going to depend on after-action comments,” said Dovey. “Already we have other units who want the course materials we developed.”
Each participant received an 82-page booklet with more than 400 slides, and various handouts. Just a few of the topics covered included personnel manning documents, unit status reporting, submission of evaluations, managing a property book, conducting convoys, scheduling ranges, picking up ammunition, food service operations, requisition of supplies, processing awards, and sustaining maintenance programs.
Col. Jeffrey Jones, commander, 218th MEB, talked to the attendees about the important functions an XO performs keeping day to day operations running, but critical to sustaining readiness in the unit. Jones introduced Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston Jr., the adjutant general for South Carolina, who visited the training to ensure the officers understood the importance of being an executive officer. Livingston said he served as an XO on multiple occasions throughout his career and could relate to the challenges of being placed in a position that did not have formalized training.
“It is the XO who is the details person, the one who sets the battle rhythm for the unit,” said Livingston.“That is an important piece to look ahead to see what tasks need to be complete to accomplish the mission directed by the commander.”
Livingston congratulated Jones and his team for developing the executive officer course and added he would have greatly appreciated such a program when he was a young lieutenant.
“You get very few accolades as an XO,” said Livingston. “If you are the one working the longest hours and doing the most in the organization, then you’ll know you are doing it right.”
According to Dovey, the 218th MEB plans to host the executive officer course at least once a year on drill weekend, but will determine if additional classes would benefit the organization, as other units in the S.C. Army National Guard have expressed interest in the course.
“We are not aware of anyone else in the U.S. Army hosting formalized executive officer training,” said Dovey. “It was a long time in planning and putting together all of the materials, but we can tell it is going to be in demand from calls we are receiving.”
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.13.2015 09:18 |
| Story ID: | 163118 |
| Location: | EASTOVER, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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