Sergeant Major of the Army

would be late for work and why. He was understanding and said “alright just get here as quick as possible.” Staff Sergeant Marioangel Alvarado was not pleased because I didn’t call him and informed him and he didn’t like my reason for calling CPT Jerad M. Linder and now I have to write this paper on what a chain of command is and what our chain of command is from me to our Sergeant Major here at Fort Polk and why we use it. What exactly is a chain of command? Well according to…

life and as an Army leader, is your thinking. The ability to think on a larger scale and understand the why is one of the most difficult things for individuals to understand, but yet one of the simplest things to do, when it is done correctly. It often takes a deep breath and some situational awareness to make the process work. A critical thinker aspires to become one that thinks open-mindedly and communicates effectively with others in figuring out complex problems. As an Army leader, we are…

Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jonathan W. Miller has made significant contributions to the Military Police Corps Regiment and the United States Army throughout his 11 year career. His dedication and drive for mission accomplishment deserves special recognition for his service. SFC Miller has defined himself as the epitome of a professional, competent and knowledgeable NCO. His unwavering commitment and dedication to Soldiers, highlights the unquestionable character of this young noncommissioned…

What is a Sergeant and what is a Staff Sergeant? These two are both Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) a leader of Soldiers. They are both responsible for accomplishing the mission and the welfare of their Soldiers. They are competent and proficient in everything they do, technically and tactically. They must be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment. But of all the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) rank, the sergeant has the greatest impact on the lower ranking soldiers.…

subject to military personnel that are getting looked at for the next level. In the Army we use Non-Commissioned Officer Evaluation Report (NCOER) this is how NCO’s get rated. The issue with the promotion boards is that the people that are on the board do not know you. They do not know if you are good worker or if just are lazy. There is not one set standard that they judge you by. For example there are five Sergeant Majors on the board each one will be looking for their one specific thing. One…

There is a huge problem facing junior enlisted Soldiers today. Leadership styles of today’s Army are immensely different of those my squad leaders and team leaders employed when I joined. For most of my career, I have been in a small flight company with nine enlisted Soldiers per platoon. The operational tempo was fierce which resulted in long days and plenty of missions that took us away from our families for weeks to months at a time. At times, members of the unit frustrated from work load and…

have two choices: Army or College? For many the Army was the only option, for various reasons. Whether escaping a bad situation, didn’t perform well in school, or following in a family member’s footsteps, the Army was a way out, and was often overlooked as being a profession. Most will say in order to have a career/profession you have to attend college, get multiple degrees, and after spending half your life in school, now you can begin your chosen profession. College or the Army or two roads…

command lessons in the Sergeant Major Course (SMC), I can understand and visualize how is crucial these aspects when I have to work with subordinates, superiors, and make decisions. Thus, I believe that these topics are in relation with what I could learn during the mission…

My goal as a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and leader in the United States Army has always been to lead by example. My goal in doing this is to help my soldiers be the best that they can be in order to create a strong and ready force. In order to grow and become more knowledgeable in my position as a leader, I often reflect on my choices, decisions, and the actions of my soldiers. Although I have had many memorable experiences in my military career, the one that makes me the proudest is when I…

has served in the Armed Forces for over 28 years on Active Duty for the US Air Force, the US Army and the Active Guard Reserve (AGR). He became an AGR Instructor for the Kansas Army National Guard (KSARNG) in 2002 at the Regional Training Site - Maintenance (RTS-M) in Salina, Kansas. Since 2002, he served in key leadership roles like Chief Instructor, Operations NCOIC, Deputy Commadant and First Sergeant. 1SG Duerr always put mission first while serving at the RTS-M and the HQ, 235th Regiment.…