Field Service Support Group Structure

From 2003 to 2004, I was assigned to the Third Marines Field Service Support Group (3d FSSG) Medical Battalion in Okinawa, Japan as the company commander for the Headquarter and Support (H&S) Company. Medical battalions are staffed by Navy medical personnel, which support Marines in war zones. The H&S company structure included a company commander, executive officer, division officers and enlisted staff. A lot of people are not familiar with the military terms so I like to use the analogy that a company commander (military officer) is comparable to the Chief Executive Officer of the organization, the executive officer (military officer) is comparable to Chief Operating Officer; the division officers (senior enlisted members) are comparable to department heads, and junior enlisted are the staff. The company commander is responsible for the training, discipline, safety and welfare of 201 Marine and Navy senior and junior enlisted members, mostly ranging between 18 and 22 years old.
The Battalion Commander presented the company with a team award signed by the general, who would give each enlisted members five extra points on their advancement examination; but the best reward I received was a picture signed by each member of my company with a note from each one telling me about the impact I made on their lives. In return, at my going away party instead of allowing them to buy me dinner, I prepared a southern style home-cooked meal for everyone. Like all military officers, I was trained and groomed to be a leader from the time I raised my right hand and took the oath of office. The most important contribution to my success was the emphasis I placed on putting junior member’s needs before mine. I have a code that I live by and it has been very effective as a leader, “Take care of your people, and they will take care of