MSL 402, Mission Command and the Company Grade Officer
Course Syllabus
21 Jan 2015
Instructor
CPT Darryl T. Washington
TAMUCT Founder’s Hall, Rm. 412, MW 0900-1040, Fri 0730-1020
Office Phone: 254-519-5703
Email: cptwashington@tamuct.edu
darryl.t.washington2.mil@mail.mil
Course Description
MSL 402 Mission Command and the Company Grade Officer explore the dynamics of
leading in the complex situations during Unified Land Operations I, II, and III. Examine
the Art of Command and how to properly communicate with your NCOs and Soldiers
during Taking Charge 1, 2 and 3, and Developing Others (counseling). During Cultural
Awareness and Cultural Property Protection (CPP), you will discuss numerous
situations on how ethical decisions impact personnel and the unit mission. Through the
understanding of your roles and responsibilities, you will learn about Comprehensive
Soldier Fitness (CSF), Being Ready and Resilient (R2C), and Individual and Family
Readiness. These subjects can assist you in preparing your Soldiers and their Families
to reduce and manage stress during times of uncertainty. The course places significant
emphasis on preparing you for BOLC B and your first unit of assignment. It uses case
studies and scenarios to prepare you to face the complex ethical demands of serving as
a commissioned officer in the United States Army. This semester, you will:
 Identify the leaders roles and responsibilities for enforcing Army policies and
programs
 Explore the dynamics of building a team prepared to handle any future
operational environment and win
 Examine the importance of understanding culture and how it can affect your unit
and mission
 Develop both oral and written communication skills by conducting a battle
analysis and decision briefs
Course Design
This course was designed to be student-centric with the onus of learning on the student,
but facilitated by the instructor. Army Officers are expected to be life-long learners who
take responsibility and personal initiative for their learning. You must properly conduct
your pre-class assignments in order to come to class with a foundation of knowledge on
the subject taught by your instructor. Doing so will allow your instructor to spend the
majority of the class time on specific areas that are least understood from the pre-class
assignment rather than your instructor re-teaching the subject from scratch. Your
instructor has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share in the classroom—do
your homework so your instructor can spend more time sharing his personal knowledge
and experiences with your class. Class is conducted in an interactive manner with
Page 1 of 5
MSL 402, Mission Command and the Company Grade Officer
Course Syllabus
21 Jan 2015
ample opportunities for small group discussions and practical exercises. Everyone will
be responsible for contributing to the success of the learning experience.
Six Army Learning Areas
 The Army Profession
 Professional Competence
 Adaptability
 Teamwork
 Life Long Learning
 Comprehensive Fitness
NOTE: The six Army Learning Areas are replacing the five Leadership Tracks. As
course documents are updated and revised, the five Leadership Tracks will change to
the six Army Learning Areas.
The Advance Course is designed to enhance student interest in ROTC, the Army, and
the six Army Learning Areas/MSL IV Outcomes while producing a junior officer who:
The Army Profession
-
Synthesizes all aspects of Army Values and Warrior Ethos required to succeed
as an Army Officer.
Professional Competence
-
Demonstrates the ability to plan, prepare, execute, and assess platoon-level
training strategies including individual and collective tasks to enable mission
accomplishment.
Adaptability
-
Recognizes and analyzes ambiguous situations and develops solutions to
tactical, ethical, and leadership problems.
-
Demonstrates ability to apply agile and adaptive decisions in a complex and
ambiguous environment.
Teamwork
-
Demonstrates the ability to build and sustain multi-functional teams in a complex,
uncertain environment and able to accomplish the mission within the
commander’s intent.
-
Assesses the impacts of cultural differences on military operations and
anticipates the consequences.
-
Analyzes and synthesizes the communication process to effectively
communicate as a leader.
Life Long Learning
Page 2 of 5
MSL 402, Mission Command and the Company Grade Officer
Course Syllabus
-
21 Jan 2015
Applies the principles of lifelong learning and continued education ensuring
personal, professional, and organizational improvement.
Comprehensive Fitness
-
Demonstrate leader responsibilities in the Comprehensive Soldier and Family
Fitness program to reduce and manage stress (spiritual, psychological,
physical).
MSL 402 Course Requirements
Reading
NOTE: Student Selected books and articles as determined by professor
Selected readings available online at:
1. http://apd.army.mil
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Army Doctrine Publications (ADP)
Army Doctrine Reference Publications (ADRP)
Field Manuals (FM)
Leader Guide (LG)
Army Regulations (AR)
Training Circulars (TC)
Other Resources
2. https://rotc.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
o Cadet eBook
o Leadership Development Program Handbook
Class Participation
You are expected to participate actively in learning through critical reflection, inquiry,
dialogue, and group interactions. This includes participating in class discussion, sharing
personal perspectives and experiences related to principles discussed in class or
reading, working with fellow students to engage in class exercises, and leading lab
exercises.
APFT
As a future officer, you are expected to set the example for physical fitness according to
Army regulations. You will be required to take a record APFT at the end of the spring
semester. Your APFT score will make up 10% of your final grade. You may also opt to
take a diagnostic APFT at the beginning of the spring semester. If you decide to take
the diagnostic APFT at the beginning of the semester, the higher of the two APFTs will
be used for 10% of your final grade.
Page 3 of 5
MSL 402, Mission Command and the Company Grade Officer
Course Syllabus
21 Jan 2015
Staff Ride Prep
1. During this semester, you will plan and execute a Staff Ride. Each of you will be
assigned roles for during planning and execution. Performance in these roles will
account for 20% of your final grade..
.
Term Project
1. Write a term paper, ten pages or more, (typed and double-spaced) where you
compare and contrast the organizational leadership between two or more clubs, sport
teams, organizations or extracurricular activity you actively participated throughout the
semester, of which one must be your Cadet or Cadre ROTC Battalion.
Evaluation and Grading
Class Participation
10%
Reading Assignments
10%
Staff Ride Prep
20%
Term Paper
20%
APFT
10%
Midterm
15%
Final Exam
15%
The following grading scale will be used based on 100 points possible.
90-100
A
80-89
B
70-79
C
Every attempt will be made to offer adequate written assessments in explaining
evaluations. All late papers and assignments will receive a 10% reduction in
grade.
Uniforms and Appearance
MS IV Cadets will wear ASUs to Monday classes and ACUs to all other classes and
labs. There will be additional requirements for uniforms and mandatory equipment. This
information will be disseminated via the Cadet Chain of Command.
Page 4 of 5
MSL 402, Mission Command and the Company Grade Officer
Course Syllabus
21 Jan 2015
Collaboration
You are encouraged to work together with your fellow MSL IV Cadets and seek
guidance and help from your instructor and other ROTC cadre.
Special Needs
The American with Disabilities Act of 1990 requires universities to provide a reasonable
accommodation to any individual who advises us of a disability. If you have a limitation
that requires an accommodation or an academic adjustment, please arrange a meeting
with me at your earliest convenience.
Office Hours and Appointments
Office Hours are:
I, along with the rest of the cadre, am available to Cadets anytime. However, my set office hours
are M-F, 0900-1700. As we are a military organization, please utilize your Cadet Chain of
Command when scheduling to meet with me for routine matters. My door is always open for
emergencies or instances where you feel consultation with the Cadet CofC is inappropriate.
Page 5 of 5