The Importance Of The Noncommissioned Officer

When people look at the U.S. Army, civilians often view soldiers as the same because they are usually unable to differentiate between ranks or positions of their authority. Nearly all people understand that there is a difference between a soldier and a leader, but they don’t know the Army has several types of leaders within its ranks and maintains an official chain of command. John C. Maxwell, a leadership expert, speaker, and author once said “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”. Throughout my career in the military, I quickly learned the Army has three official types of leaders within its ranks; however, all function differently in their roles, responsibilities, and authorities.
As soon as a soldier joins …show more content…
Since Noncommissioned Officers swear an oath of obedience to lawful orders of Commissioned Officers appointed above them. The Noncommissioned Officer is my favorite form of a leader because I fulfilled this leadership role during my military service; it was the most difficult yet rewarding role one could endure. Soldiers and leaders of all ranks consistently pursue Noncommissioned Officers due to their technical and tactical proficiencies; they are members of a time honored corps and often referred to as “The Backbone of the Army” (Army Noncommissioned Officer 20). As a Noncommissioned Officer, you leave a lasting impression on the soldiers and play an critical role in the development of soldiers. According to the U.S. Army doctrine, “Noncommissioned Officers are responsible for setting and maintaining high quality standards and discipline. They’re entrusted with the soldiers and held accountable for maintaining the proper care of those soldiers” (Army Leadership 25). Noncommissioned Officers are the leaders who have everyday interaction with soldiers through training, mentorship, and rapport building. The Noncommissioned Office consistently works diligently to foster a positive environment, boost morale, and build team cohesion amongst young soldiers in difficult and …show more content…
Warrant Officers are the technical experts within an occupational field who constitute less than three percent of the total Army strength. Warrant Officers have a higher degree of training and specialize in specific technical fields such as military intelligence, police, or aviation. Warrant Officers are a form of leader found in between a Noncommissioned Officer and Commissioned Officer. They fill various positions and roles at both company and higher levels (Army Leadership 24). Through my experience, I discovered that people become Warrant Officers when an enlisted service member, either find success as a Noncommissioned Officer or the individual has more potential to work alone in a particular field of study. This is the sole reason I did not like and would argue with Warrant Officers; the majority of them were narrow-minded people who are not capable of being a leader of soldiers or simply are not able to function as a part of the team. However, they chose a different route within the Army, therefore it’s mandatory to respect them just as another superior officer. Warrant Officers are responsible for training soldiers, organizing and advising on missions and advancement within their own careers. However, they often only focus on their own career and neglect their