In this episode, we discuss:
*What Zach learned about company command from his time as a platoon commander
*What he learned about company command from his company commanders
*Zach’s thoughts on what makes the ideal company commander and why
*What makes the company commander from hell
*How Zach’s experiences as an instructor at The Basic School shaped his view of company command, his preparations for it, and execution of it
*What a U.S. Marine Corps weapons company is, how it differs from a rifle company, and the challenges and opportunities inherent to commanding one
*Zach’s philosophy of command (or intent) and how it’s worked out so far
*Zach’s Combat Concepts
*Outside of commanding the company in combat, the most important thing company commanders do or should do
*How well the Marine Corps prepared Zach for company command
*Zach’s thoughts on the Marine Corps having its own company commanders course
*What Zach learned about company command at the Maneuver Captains Career Course
*What excited Zach the most about being a company commander
*What concerned Zach the most about being a company commander
*What the relationship should be like between the weapons company commander and their operations chief and first sergeant
*The events surrounding Zach’s taking of command of his company
*What he’s learned from participating in several large-scale exercises with his company in 29 Palms
*Zach’s co-founding and publishing of the Connecting File
*The designs, plans, or programs that Zach has implemented in his company and how they’ve worked out so far
*Zach’s use of educational wargaming in his company
*How Zach tries to balance feeding the military bureaucracy with preparing his company for combat
*Some of the books Zach read while preparing for company command
*Zach’s tips for future company commanders
*The one thing Zach wish he'd known about his company before he took command
*How Zach’s company attempts to embody and execute the maneuver warfare philosophy in garrison
*Zach’s expectation for his
Company executive officer
Platoon commanders
Squad leaders
Team leaders
Junior Marines
Battalion commander
Executive officer
Operations officer
Fellow company commanders
Links
To sign up with the Connecting File, email Zach at cxfile0302@gmail.com.
Close Combat Marine (or Modern Tactics)
Marine Corps Doctrinal Publications
Steel my Soldiers’ Hearts