How to work in a TOC: Charlie Sherpa's 26 rules of hard-won wisdom

During the summer, the Best Defense is in
re-runs. Here are some favorites that ran in late 2012 and in 2013. This item originally
ran on April 15, 2013.

For the genre of "hard-won but
sometimes humorous military wisdom," "Charlie Sherpa" mentioned these
in a comment on the lessons
of helicopter pilots, but they are too good not to run as a separate post.

1. Continually ask: "Who
else needs to know what I know?"

2. Continually ask: "Who
else knows what I need to know?"

3. Never speak with complete
authority regarding that which you lack direct knowledge, observation, and/or
suppressive fires.

4. Never pull rank over a radio
net.

5. Let the boss decide how he/she
wants to learn.

6. Let the boss decide how he/she wants to communicate.

7. "I am responsible for everything my commander's organization knows and
fails to know, learns and fails to learn."

8. Know when to wake up the Old Man. Also, know how to wake him up
without getting punched, shot, or fired.

9. The three most important things in the TOC are: Track the battle. Track the battle. Track the
battle.

10. Digital trumps analog, until you run out of batteries.

11. Always have ready at least two methods of communication to any point or
person on the map.

12. Rank has its privileges. It also has its limitations.

13. Let Joe surprise you.

14. Don't let Joe surprise you.

15. The first report is always wrong. Except when it isn't.

16. The problem is always at the distant end. Except when it isn't.

17. Exercise digital/tactical patience. Communications works at the speed of
light. People do not.

18. Your trigger finger is your safety. Keep it away from the CAPS LOCK, reply-all, and flash-override buttons.

19. The warfighter is your customer, and the customer is always right.

20. Bullets don't kill people. Logistics kills people.

21. Knowing how it works is more powerful than knowing how it's supposed to
work.

22. Cite sources on demand. State opinions when asked.

23. Work by, with, and through others. It's all about
empowerment.

24. Do not seek the spotlight, Ranger. Let the spotlight find you.
Then, make sure to share it with others.

25. Both the Bible and The Art of War make this point: It's never a
mistake to put oneself in someone else's boots.

26. Humor is a combat multiplier. Except when it isn't.