Leads platoon?

[Swanee]

My SPC (as well as our Co CO) has been really pushing we air contracts to be something called a leads platoon commander when we get into A-Pool. The thing is, they really haven't told us much about it and I can't seem to find any info on it anywhere. I guess my google-fu is weak. Can anyone shed some light on what it is/what it entails?

 

[usmarinemike]

LEAD, not leads. It' and acronym, but I don't remember what. A few Lt's who are waiting to class up take a platoon of privates and PFCs who are also waiting to class up and teach them basic stuff. There's a curriculum and a FEX. There are also NCOs involved. It allows officers to be exposed to junior enlisted as much as the other way around. For the most part, Marines in neither group have been exposed to the other.

I have a lot of friends who have done it, and everybody was happy with it. The knowledge is all very basic (compared to what you learned in TBS). Your life has meaning, and you still get plenty of the day to yourself the great majority of the time.

 

[BACONATOR]

Please GOOOOD, do NOT become one of those salty Lts who ends up being class leader and divides the class up into "fire teams" and makes us act like we are in OCS again. Cut the shit out. TBS is NOT Marine Aviation. When you get to Primary, you'll realize the Marine Aviators are a FAR cry from some of the Capts you saw at TBS.

 

[Kodiak]

I don't know much about it, but you might as well wait until you get down here to get your information about it. You'll probably have to do all of your required check-in crap first before you can get started with leads.

 

[usmarinemike]

Please GOOOOD, do NOT become one of those salty Lts who ends up being class leader and divides the class up into "fire teams" and makes us act like we are in OCS again. Cut the shit out. TBS is NOT Marine Aviation. When you get to Primary, you'll realize the Marine Aviators are a FAR cry from some of the Capts you saw at TBS.

WTF, man. This has nothing to do with any of that.

 

[mmx1]

Leadership, Education, and Development. As of a year ago, the curriculum was, PT them in the morning, run them through 4 MCI's over 4 weeks - Spelling, Math for Marines, Financial Management, and Terrorism Awareness, followed by tactics in the afternoon culminating in a FEX.

You're not so much a platoon commander as an instructor; it's more like being an SPC than, say, AMS-1/2 platoon commander, which entailed mostly paperwork. Good times, good way to make the most out of your stash time. Definitely the most fulfilling stash job down there.

 

[MIDNJAC]

WTF, man. This has nothing to do with any of that.

Don't mind Otto....TBS was a really tough time for him

 

[usmc_stud]

if you're not able to commit to leading a platoon while you're in the pool (due to time constraints, or whatever) you can also just teach one of the MCI classes to the Marines. I taught a couple classes and joined the Marines for MCMAP in the afternoons. I would recommend it, but don't worry about it until you check in with the MOC in P-cola.

 

[teabag53]

Please GOOOOD, do NOT become one of those salty Lts who ends up being class leader and divides the class up into "fire teams" and makes us act like we are in OCS again. Cut the shit out. TBS is NOT Marine Aviation. When you get to Primary, you'll realize the Marine Aviators are a FAR cry from some of the Capts you saw at TBS.

Spent a lot of time at TBS and around Marine squadrons, huh? Having done TBS, Marine squadrons, and now a Navy squadron I think I qualify to tell you that you don't know jack OR shit about Marine aviation or TBS.

Whew! That said, you're right about the homos that try the fire team shit...but I've seen Navy guys do equally dicked up stuff. Remember, douches are douches independent of what uniform they wear.

 

[BACONATOR]

Spent a lot of time at TBS and around Marine squadrons, huh? Having done TBS, Marine squadrons, and now a Navy squadron I think I qualify to tell you that you don't know jack OR shit about Marine aviation or TBS.

Whew! That said, you're right about the homos that try the fire team shit...but I've seen Navy guys do equally dicked up stuff. Remember, douches are douches independent of what uniform they wear.

Not at all, but unless I misunderstood a Marine A-pooler to be talking about exercising leadership at API, my point stands.

I saw more than one Class at API fall victim to "fire-teams" and other equally nonsensical things. It's gay. Cut that shit out.

If I assumed wrong about the OP's intentions, pay no mind to my posts as most intelligent people do.

 

[MIDNJAC]

I saw more than one Class at API fall victim to "fire-teams" and other equally nonsensical things. It's gay. Cut that shit out.

Can't say I ever saw that, but that is incredibly gay (even for A-pool/API)

 

[pourts]

Not at all, but unless I misunderstood a Marine A-pooler to be talking about exercising leadership at API, my point stands.

I saw more than one Class at API fall victim to "fire-teams" and other equally nonsensical things. It's gay. Cut that shit out.

If I assumed wrong about the OP's intentions, pay no mind to my posts as most intelligent people do.

I'll be sure and file that away with your strong thoughts regarding sock color.

 

[BACONATOR]

I'll be sure and file that away with your strong thoughts regarding sock color.

Thank you. I appreciate that.

 

[Flash]

Leadership, Education, and Development.......Spelling, Math for Marines.....followed by tactics in the afternoon culminating in a FEX.

Sounds like a North Korean elementary school curriculum, except for the Marine part.

 

[Birdog8585]

I was a L.E.A.D. Lt. and I HIGHLY recommend it.

After Boot and MCT, Marines distribute to their respective MOS schools across TECOM; almost all of the aviation MOS's training begins at NASP (maintenance, aircrew, ATC, GSE, CFR, etc). While waiting to 'class up' - just like us - they wait. But their waiting is not like our waiting (ask someone about barracks support for what I mean). So, you and about 6-8 other Lt's will act as "Educators/Mentors" to these young enlisted Marines waiting to class up.

As touched on above, the program is about 3 weeks and contains about 50 Privates and PFCs. In those three weeks they will PT (some will have the opportunity to earn their grey belt), be taught 4 MCIs, and what ever hip-pocket/leadership/open-discussion you deem appropriate. When I was there, we did culminate the end of each class with a mini 'FEX' to impart some of our CRF combat action knowledge.

Bottom line - keeps you in shape, away from the MOC, and is very rewarding.