The role of the CSM/SGM cannot be ignored as part of the sustainment of operations being undertaken by the commander; thus, highlighting the need for having to evaluate these varied roles. I tend to believe that the CSM/SGM would be in a better position to assist the commander by establishing a front through which the commander’s influence is expanded significantly. Connelly (2013) indicates that the CSM/SGM has a crucial role aimed at extending command influence while ensuring that the commander is well-positioned to "see the organization." The commander must empower the CSM/SGM to help establish a clear front through which he/she can maximize the commands to assist in extending influence. However, the CSM/SGM is expected to maintain the commander's trust and confidence, which will serve as a critical determinant of whether indeed he/she can expand the influence of the commander.
The commander, who is viewed as the brigade planner, has a crucial role in collaborating with the soldiers in a bid to achieving mission objectives (Dubik & Hodne, 2013). It is from this perspective that the position of the CSM/SGM is quantified, as he/she is expected to serve as a conduit between the commander and the soldiers. The CSM/SGM is expected to help in ensuring that the strategic approaches that the commander may have put in place are well established by the soldiers in a bid to delivering on expected outcomes. Another critical role of the CSM/SGM, which helps the organization operates appropriately, is that he/she is expected to ask some of the hard questions and always be ready to make observations from a critical perspective on matters associated with warfighting functions.
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Wolfe, Gunther, Ejiogu, Daugherty, & Fallesen (2015) point out that although the CSM/SGM is not expected to be a technical expert on matters associated with warfighting functions, he/she is expected to be knowledgeable to the extent that would allow for asking of serious questions. The main expectation when asking such questions is that they will serve as a determinant of success, focusing on the mission objectives. In other words, the CSM/SGM helps in looking at all variables to determine the effectiveness of a given plan, as well as, deciding whether the battalion would be in a position to achieve this outcome. In my understanding, the CSM/SGM must be well aware of the military decision making the process, areas of friction, and decisions that remain relevant to the operations being undertaken. That would mean that the CSM/SGM would be in a better position through which to present his/her critical observations of the operational plans being adopted to ensure that they match the expected outcomes.
The CSM/SGM also has a crucial role in battlefield circulation, which will be achieved through mobility planning during combat training. Battlefield circulation refers to the process in which the CSM/SGM can move from one area to another with the aim being towards ensuring that the soldiers overcome challenges associated with human, procedural, and technical interoperability (Lodata, Hyland, Mulvaney, & Spain, 2015). When developing an operational plan, the expectation is that it must include an idea on how the CSM/SGM would be able to travel, as this would serve as a determinant of its overall success outcomes. The plan will help push the overall effectiveness of the soldiers as a way of ensuring that they not only focus on the operational plan but also seek to establish a clear front through which to achieve the expected mission objectives without any notable challenges or issues.
References
Connelly, T. D. (2013). Developing Strategic Leaders in the NCO and Warrant Officer Corps . Army War College Carlisle Barracks, PA.
Dubik, L. J. M., & Hodne, C. D. M. (2013). The Battalion Commander And Command Sergeant Major: The Most Important Senior Leaders in the Army. Army Magazine , 63 (2), 18-22.
Lodata, M., Hyland, J., Mulvaney, R., & Spain, R. (2015). Delivering Training Assessments in a Soldier-Centered Learning Environment: Year Two (No. TR-1353). ICF International Fairfax United States.
Wolfe, M. R., Gunther, K., Ejiogu, K. C., Daugherty, J., & Fallesen, J. J. (2015). Army developmental assessment center: a demonstration for the nominative command sergeant major position (no. 2015-01). Center for army leadership fort Leavenworth Ks fort Leavenworth United States.
