The Corps of Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) has an essential and almost unique task of any profession. We must function as combat leaders, mentors to junior Soldiers, and subject matter experts in our particular field. This requires a constant participation in the daily activities of our unit and the Soldiers within it. Being combat leaders that are capable of leading Soldiers in a combat environment to achieve the wartime function. There are several factors which threaten the ability of the NCO Corps to continue this function. We must meet these challenges and be victorious no matter the difficulties we may face.
Issues Affecting the Noncommissioned Officer Corps and the Way Forward
Noncommissioned Officers are initially leaders to junior …show more content…
During my time there, I would have appreciated a break from my Drill Sergeants. I still made it through and graduated with the 11B Military Occupational Specialty. Upon reflection, it was not so difficult achieving the standards of the training and I am proud of my accomplishment. Soldiers of the modern era of Army service have a different experience. When we allow them to sidestep a standard during their Initial Entry Training, we push a problem to the right expecting another Soldier or NCO to correct the issue at a later time and place. The common comment in this situation is, “Wait until they get to their unit”, with the implication of rigid standards which usually are not encountered. This practice has to be stopped and absolute standards of conduct, performance and behavior befitting the US Army must be established and maintained. I imagine new Soldiers arriving to the unit in better physical condition, impeccable military bearing, and more professionalism than the NCOs above them. This will serve as a wakeup call and will have many lasting effects on the force. First line supervisors will see their subordinates outshining them and be reminded of what right looks like. This may continue even farther up the NCO Support Channel, instilling a virtually forgotten sense of pride in …show more content…
Often NCOs are simply not there to do what is needed and Soldiers must fend for themselves. I have seen a very self centered, solitary mentality from NCOs in recent years. We NCOs have a very social personality by nature but that sociability has been drawn back to almost clique parameters. One driver for this is the promotion system which requires us to earn points to be promoted through the ranks of Staff Sergeant. These points are not necessarily affected by leadership, mentoring Soldiers or even doing our specific jobs proficiently. I have witnessed individuals whose full time job seems to be earning promotion points whether it is doing correspondence courses during work, having a NCO who is a close friend grade their PT test, or pencil whipping a weapons qualification card, the focus is getting promotion points by any means possible. This type of asocial behavior is also observed by junior Soldiers, and in many instances, taken as acceptable. The norm has become an attitude of looking out for one’s own interests and accepted as the right thing to do. How can we argue with that premise? Soldiers see us getting promoted, moving up the ranks using this technique. I have spoken to several fellow NCOs who describe one reason to get promoted as placing more distance between themselves and Soldiers, because of the issues and needs. Second only to accomplishing our mission, Soldier care
Issues Affecting the Noncommissioned Officer Corps and the Way Forward
Noncommissioned Officers are initially leaders to junior …show more content…
During my time there, I would have appreciated a break from my Drill Sergeants. I still made it through and graduated with the 11B Military Occupational Specialty. Upon reflection, it was not so difficult achieving the standards of the training and I am proud of my accomplishment. Soldiers of the modern era of Army service have a different experience. When we allow them to sidestep a standard during their Initial Entry Training, we push a problem to the right expecting another Soldier or NCO to correct the issue at a later time and place. The common comment in this situation is, “Wait until they get to their unit”, with the implication of rigid standards which usually are not encountered. This practice has to be stopped and absolute standards of conduct, performance and behavior befitting the US Army must be established and maintained. I imagine new Soldiers arriving to the unit in better physical condition, impeccable military bearing, and more professionalism than the NCOs above them. This will serve as a wakeup call and will have many lasting effects on the force. First line supervisors will see their subordinates outshining them and be reminded of what right looks like. This may continue even farther up the NCO Support Channel, instilling a virtually forgotten sense of pride in …show more content…
Often NCOs are simply not there to do what is needed and Soldiers must fend for themselves. I have seen a very self centered, solitary mentality from NCOs in recent years. We NCOs have a very social personality by nature but that sociability has been drawn back to almost clique parameters. One driver for this is the promotion system which requires us to earn points to be promoted through the ranks of Staff Sergeant. These points are not necessarily affected by leadership, mentoring Soldiers or even doing our specific jobs proficiently. I have witnessed individuals whose full time job seems to be earning promotion points whether it is doing correspondence courses during work, having a NCO who is a close friend grade their PT test, or pencil whipping a weapons qualification card, the focus is getting promotion points by any means possible. This type of asocial behavior is also observed by junior Soldiers, and in many instances, taken as acceptable. The norm has become an attitude of looking out for one’s own interests and accepted as the right thing to do. How can we argue with that premise? Soldiers see us getting promoted, moving up the ranks using this technique. I have spoken to several fellow NCOs who describe one reason to get promoted as placing more distance between themselves and Soldiers, because of the issues and needs. Second only to accomplishing our mission, Soldier care