Quote Originally Posted by Shek View Post
I didn't find rating platoon leaders that difficult and it was amazing to see the separation that developed between them in terms of performance. The top and bottom ones clearly distinguished themselves, and it was clear who had the potential as they moved along.
Agreed. It wasn't too hard to do as a commander, and I suspect it's much easier now that blocking's eliminated. I had six lieutenants. They stratified themselves on their own, and only some senior rater interference (my battalion commander was enamored with one of my poorer performers) kept things from being as they should be. Only two remain in the Army now. I really think that retention starts at the lower echelons; if we put as much work into keeping our young officers as we did first-term enlistees, we'd be good to go.