devil39
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tomahawk6 said:There has been some discussion about adopting the UK/Canadian system where Major's command a company. This might work in a smaller army where you want to create job's for Major's. I think it creates a glut of Major's with limited opportunity to advance to LTC. Our most recent promotion list to Major selected an amazing 96% of eligible Captain's. But selection to LTC is even more competitive and until Iraq we utilize an up or out policy. Meaning if you are passed over twice you are out [under the rank of LTC]. If a LTC fail's to get promoted he/she can stay until manadatory retirement. I think Major's are future battalion commander's and need to be a Bn S-3 and a Bn XO not a company CO. Our junior leader's [Lt/Capt] have done an outstanding job in both Iraq and Afghanistan so our officer training must be effective.
Coy Comds as Majors is not about creating jobs for Majors, it is about trying to strike a balance between age and experience. I would suggest that our leaders at all levels are more experienced than their equivalent in the US Army... at the Bn level and below.
We work our ranks and employment in the Bn the other way around. Bn S-3 is the junior Major or a Senior Captain. Coy Comds are not out ranked by Bn S-3. This leads to a somewhat different dynamic, we don't hesitate to question the Bn S-3, for as a Coy Comd we have all done his job, or an equivalent job in the Capt pecking order S-1 (Adjt) or 2 IC Admin Coy (what ever you call the 2IC to the S4).
In our Army, future Bn Comds generally need to be a Bde G3 or equivalent high priced Major in an Area staff or on the Army staff. The top Majors job in a Bn is DCO (XO) followed by OC Admin (S-4), then Rifle Coys and Combat Support Coy. Ops O is generally the junior Major, at least in my Regiment.