Leaders must apply six Cs for efficient department functioning, says Colonel Quintyne

Addressing the closing ceremony of the Junior Command Course, Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Colonel Alvin Quintyne told the 28 successful individuals to apply several facets in conducting their duties as Junior Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCOs).

 

“Command – assume and exercise effective command at all times. Control – exercise positive control of your troops at all times. You as the JNCO are in charge! Communication- keep clear lines of communication open to the men and women under your command and control. You must also establish and maintain that line of communication and up the chain of command as well. Consultation – consult with your superiors, your peers and subordinates. You as a JNCO will never know all the answers, just like I, the Chief of Staff will never know all the answers. Coordination – make sure that the left hand knows what the right hand is doing. And the final ‘C’ is cooperation which is critical to team work and mission accomplishment. The Force is a network of teams. Without cooperation, this network will collapse. Remember these six ‘Cs’ and apply them,” he said.

 

Making the feature address at the Paragon base on Friday morning, Quintyne reminded them that their professionalism should not be sacrificed on the altar of popularity and that their duties must be discharged without fear or favour.

 

“It does not matter what everyone else did or didn’t do, you will be held responsible for the decisions you make. Be willing to stand-alone for what you know to be right,” he insisted. (JMB)