Establish a Positive Command Climate

1. Establish a Positive Command Climate MQS II Training Support Package

2. Purpose Developed a plan which results in a majority of the soldiers in the unit stating that the overall command climate is positive.

3. References • FM 22-100 Army Leadership • DA PAM 600-69 Command Climate Survey Handbook • AR 600-20 Army Command Policy

4. Outline • Define command climate • Assess the command climate to determine the health of your unit • Apply the elements which contribute to a positive command climate • Develop a plan to establish or improve the command climate of a unit following the proper sequence of steps

5. State of Morale

6. Leadership Competencies • Communications • Supervision • Teaching & Counseling • Soldier Team Development • Technical & Tactical Proficiency • Decision Making • Planning • Use of Available Systems • Professional Ethics

7. Command Climate- - Definition - - A perception among the members of a unit about how they will be treated by their leaders and what professional opportunities they see within the unit.

8. Morale A moral or mental condition with respect to courage, discipline, and confidence.

9. Officer leadership Immediate leaders Promotion policy Quality of training Job satisfaction NCO leadership Leader accessibility Rewards & corrective actions Tools, equipment, & supplies Freedom from harrassment Military courtesy & discipline Climate Areas

10. Unit cohesiveness Social activities Food Morale Human relations Sports activities Freedom from substance abuse Soldiers’ attitude toward unit Reenlistment potential Commander’s use of the UCP Climate Areas (Cont.)

11. Positive Climate Indicators • Trust exists in the command • Teamwork, fair play, and information sharing • Open, candid communications • Soldier job satisfaction • Soldiers & families attend unit social/sports activities • Reenlistment rate are high

12. Establishing a Positive Command Climate • Determine the “health” of your unit • Identify climate areas you want to influence • Establish clear goals & objectives for each area • Execute plan; command climate is created from the TOP down

13. Actions You Can Take • Communicate a sense of vision or focus • Maintain battle focus in all training • Establish high, attainable, clearly understood standards • Encourage competition against standards rather than each other • Allow subordinates freedom to exercise initiative • Establish accountability at appropriate level

14. Actions to Take (Cont. 2) • Show confidence in subordinates • Encourage & reward prudent risk-taking • Achieve high performance through positive motivation and rewards • Underwrite honest mistakes • Share decision making with subordinates • Give clear missions with boundaries of autonomy

15. Actions to Take (Cont. 3) • Listen to subordinates and seek ideas • Demonstrate concern about the welfare of subordinates • Establish and model high ethical standards • PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

16. Summary • Command climate = perception by unit members • Assessment can be done by formal or informal means • Trust + teamwork + candid communications = positive command climate

17. Conclusion You, as the commander, are the key to a successful command climate

18. Questions?