What AR 600-20 Means to Me
Captain John R. Plumstead, Commander, Appleton, Wis., Company
Army Regulation 600-20, Army Command Policy, provides the policies and responsibilities of command at all Army levels. These policies and responsibilities include well-being, discipline and conduct, equal opportunity, prevention of sexual harassment, and sexual assault prevention and response.
Throughout my time as a cadet, lieutenant, and as a young captain at the Career Course, I was taught about leadership and found that often “command” and “leadership” were used interchangeably.
Since taking command, I have learned that while the two are closely related, there are differences. Leadership is about influencing a group of people to accomplish a common goal, while command is a formal authority granted by the Army.
While the entire regulation is important, Chapter 3 on Army Well-Being has helped me better understand how to take care of my Soldiers and their families. I have incorporated the well-being strategic goals into my command philosophy. My first sergeant and I encourage our Soldiers to indentify how the Army can help them achieve personal enrichment, and then we work to set the conditions to help them achieve that enrichment.
I believe classes about AR 600-20 should be taught at the Career Course. When I was there, it was recommended that we become familiar with the regulation, but we never spent any class time discussing the material. If time was dedicated to learning, discussing, and testing AR 600-20 during the common core portion of every branch’s Captains Career Course, the Army’s company-grade officers would be better prepared for the authorities and responsibilities of command.
Every Soldier is a leader, but few Soldiers achieve the privilege of command. As a commander, I am responsible for exercising command in accordance with Army Regulation 600-20, Army Command Policy.
Captain John R. Plumstead, Commander, Appleton, Wis., Company
Army Regulation 600-20, Army Command Policy, provides the policies and responsibilities of command at all Army levels. These policies and responsibilities include well-being, discipline and conduct, equal opportunity, prevention of sexual harassment, and sexual assault prevention and response.
Throughout my time as a cadet, lieutenant, and as a young captain at the Career Course, I was taught about leadership and found that often “command” and “leadership” were used interchangeably.
Since taking command, I have learned that while the two are closely related, there are differences. Leadership is about influencing a group of people to accomplish a common goal, while command is a formal authority granted by the Army.
While the entire regulation is important, Chapter 3 on Army Well-Being has helped me better understand how to take care of my Soldiers and their families. I have incorporated the well-being strategic goals into my command philosophy. My first sergeant and I encourage our Soldiers to indentify how the Army can help them achieve personal enrichment, and then we work to set the conditions to help them achieve that enrichment.
I believe classes about AR 600-20 should be taught at the Career Course. When I was there, it was recommended that we become familiar with the regulation, but we never spent any class time discussing the material. If time was dedicated to learning, discussing, and testing AR 600-20 during the common core portion of every branch’s Captains Career Course, the Army’s company-grade officers would be better prepared for the authorities and responsibilities of command.
Every Soldier is a leader, but few Soldiers achieve the privilege of command. As a commander, I am responsible for exercising command in accordance with Army Regulation 600-20, Army Command Policy.