Good evening everyone,
I was just wondering how much time I will have at NASS to use my phone, and if it would be allowed for me to bring my laptop computer. The reason why I’m asking this is that I have a position as the logistics OIC for a CAP encampment. This means I’m responsible for a team of 9 cadets, as well as making sure there is adequate food and supplies for both a cadre training weekend happening right after NASS and the encampment itself one week later. Although I will do everything I can to ensure that the majority of my work is completed beforehand, I am concerned that there will be changes in supply lists, head counts, transportation ect. while I am at NASS. Since the cadre training weekend starts literally the day that NASS ends, there will be no time after NASS to update my chain of command on those changes.
Thank you for reading this, and I appreciate any advice.
Delegate and graduate.
In a military officer’s career, there are times when you will not be available to handle your normal duties. Training others as back-up, developing a written, simplified plan of action and milestones (POAM), building a check list, getting as much done in advance as possible, briefing your CO/XO on your coverage plan - all good practice.
Developing your team members by assigning them a task and trusting them, while providing guidance in advance and coaching them to be accountable, is an officer skill.
I’ve used the Dropbox app on both iPhone and iPad to remotely manage projects while away from the workplace or team, with limited comm windows. You can leave checklists there, and others can update the document, and you check in when you can. I had a notes doc for each team member, so I could respond to updates or leave notes for them.
You’ll want to think about what you truly need to delegate because of access, what you might be able to manage remotely and then pass to others for follow-up, and what you can actually take care of while at NASS. Plan for everything to go off the rails, or being out of touch for big chunks of time, which can happen sometimes, especially with logistics.
Excellent that you are thinking about this now.
If you want a peek at what might await you as a staff officer at the Pentagon, many years into a career, let your eyes glaze over as you flip through this, a hq staff POAM guide:
http://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmo/Documents/3_POAM_User_Guide.pdf
More kindly, here is a simple action plan format:
https://www.smartsheet.com/develop-plan-action-free-templates
You can also download free Word templates from Microsoft; search “action plan.”
If you lean tech-savvy, test-drive Trello, a free collaborative app which syncs across all devices, handles shared documents, team calendars, photos, note-taking/edits by all participants on a doc, sends reminders, etc. I taught myself by doing the tutorials and watching YouTube demos. I used this to run the operational marketing schedule for a team scattered across 16 states, who all worked remotely, using iPad, iPhone and laptop. I have used it in my current job to coordinate a project across 14 offices, rather than wading through dozens of emails. It’s a way to work horizontally and concurrently, rather than strictly sequentially. (And I also blew the sox off corporate recruiters and hiring executives during a job transition last year when I demo’ed it during an interview. Sadly, I had encountered a few spots of ageism when interviewers assumed my number of decades correlated inversely with my tech skills. Trello was my secret weapon.)
You’ll feel more in control if you capture tasks/timelines/action officers in an organized fashion. You’ll also impress the heck out of people.
