#1--Ryan Ayer

In this episode, we discuss: *Ryan’s experience with company commanders up to this point in his career *The factors that distinguished the good from the great company commanders in Ryan’s battalion *What Ryan learned about company command while serving as a rifle platoon commander, combined anti-armor platoon commander, battalion assistant operations officer. and battalion operations officer *The qualities of the company commander from hell *How Ryan’s experience as an instructor at The Basic School, to include his time as the head of the Instructor Education Program, shaped his view of company command and his preparations for it *Ryan’s philosophy of command *Why a company commander should have a trusted advisor *The role of humility and vulnerability in developing honesty and candor *Abolishing a zero-mentality in your organization *The designs, plans, or programs that Ryan hopes to implement in his company *What excites Ryan the most about being a company commander *What concerns him the most about being a company commander *The relationship Ryan intends to create with his company first sergeant *How well Ryan thinks the Marine Corps has prepared him for company command *What Ryan is doing to prepare for company command *Ryan’s thoughts on the idea of a Marine Corps company commanders course *The 2nd Marine Division’s Division Leaders Assessment Program *The one thing Ryan would like to know about his company before he assumes command *Ryan’s expectation for his Company executive officer Platoon commanders Squad leaders Team leaders Junior Marines Battalion commander Executive officer Operations officer Fellow company commanders