Noncommissioned Officer Observation

As a future office in the United States Army, the importance of cohesion throughout the chain of command is critically necessary in order to achieve the mission at hand. As an officer, the relation I hold with my noncommissioned officer counterpart will influence the successfulness of our training and operations. First impressions are of the utmost importance, and that first counseling session will set the stage between myself and my platoon sergeant as our first potential formal sit-down. Understanding the importance of the relationship between a platoon leader and their platoon sergeant, I have reservations about my ability to conduct an effective counseling. Thankfully, the assistance of MSG Ibarra and SFC Kinard’s class allowed for …show more content…
One of my greatest concerns about counseling noncommissioned officers is not having experience doing so. Being confident during the counseling session is crucial when trying to build rapport with your soldiers. It can open up conversation, allowing both parties to establish a working relationship and build trust. I won’t be a subject matter expert on counseling to start, but going in with an understanding of what I do and do not know will aid in maintaining a level of transparency with my platoon. A valuable lesson LTC Kugel brought up during the class was going in, introducing myself, and being honest saying this is my first counseling and I’m pretty sure I have it down, but I would like for you to tell me what I’m doing right, and what I could do better. I will precede this with conducting a great deal of research about counseling in addition to asking my commanding officer any questions I may have about the individual or the counseling process. In doing so, I hope to clear up any uncertainties I may have before entering the counseling session. This lesson leads well into my last major takeaway from the counseling