Posted on Jul 4, 2014
A new NCO in a unit full of peers/Should a new NCO be PCS'd?
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I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had this problem, but I am looking for advice. I was just recently promoted to E-5, and it's been somewhat of a difficult transition. Everyone in my platoon, I've went through AIT with, and I'm pretty close friends with each of them. Now that I'm in a leadership position, it's been difficult to get anything accomplished. When work comes up and I go to delegate it to each person, they look at me as a joke, and want to spend more time joking and playing around, and don't really take me seriously. And from the newer guys, now when I tell them to get something done all I hear is, "you're power tripping" or the most recent, "I don't have to listen to you, you're not my NCO." What kind of advice can you all give me to help me fix this problem?
Also, which bring me up to the next part. When a soldier get PCS'd when they make NCO, or should they stay with their current unit. Why or why not?
Also, which bring me up to the next part. When a soldier get PCS'd when they make NCO, or should they stay with their current unit. Why or why not?
NCOs
Peers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 18
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Good question. Better question, do you think the Army should spend anywhere from $5-20,000 to move everyone because they have trouble asserting themselves as a leader?
This reminds me of a story my battalion CSM once told me. Back in the day, the day he was promoted to SGT, one of his buddy's said, "Hey, Condliffe". And he turned around and they joked for a few minutes. Then his PSG came over and dusted that brand new SGT off for a good hour. "You are their leader, not their friend. You can't have it both ways."
Stop being their friend, throat punch who you need to, break a few hearts, and most importantly - be the kind of leader you would respect, and you will earn their respect.
This reminds me of a story my battalion CSM once told me. Back in the day, the day he was promoted to SGT, one of his buddy's said, "Hey, Condliffe". And he turned around and they joked for a few minutes. Then his PSG came over and dusted that brand new SGT off for a good hour. "You are their leader, not their friend. You can't have it both ways."
Stop being their friend, throat punch who you need to, break a few hearts, and most importantly - be the kind of leader you would respect, and you will earn their respect.
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1SG David Reveal
I don't think a newly promoted NCO should PCS (cost would be too high), but they should be moved to a new unit if at all possible.
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SGT Raquel Zornes
Should be moved to a different platoon. Not PCS. You can most definitely request a new duty station and get a fresh start. Let's just look at the "friendship" for a moment. True battles would celebrate your promotion. True battles respect the rank and hope to gain it with you. True battles do not "buddy fuck" you into looking like a NCO with no control. They would be helping and not hurting your career. So in my opinion, you have no real friends right there. Give them hell and show them that you are the backbone of the Army. Don't take shit from no new soldiers. They want to talk shit. Make them push until you get tired. Separate yourself from the sheep.
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Welcome to the NCO Corps SGT Christopher Mackison . You are about to embark on one the more brutal times in your NCO career, one where you will endure what appear to be difficult challenges. It will hurt your "friends" feelings, but if they were truly your friends, they would be supportive of you and follow your orders. Understand and learn to use this phrase "It's not personal, it's professional" We are in a profession of arms and are required to follow the orders of those appointed above us. You are now appointed above your peers and they are duty-bound and honor-bound to follow your orders. Plant your feet and assert your authority, but don't be above reaching out to your senior NCOs for support. Try having a discussion "under the oak tree" of how your professional relationship has changed with these Soldiers. Speak to them "man-to-man" and if they still refuse to comply, the DA Form 4856 is the next weapon at your disposal. Enough of those will reduce a Soldier in pay grade for pattern of misconduct or administrative reduction. For some, that's the only way they learn.
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1SG (Join to see)
SFC Benavidez hit it on the nail. I went through the same transition and a heart to heart with the mature soldiers and friends
worked for me. Let them know how your responsibility change and that you need
their support to be an effective leader. The
soldiers that don't comply are not your
friends and you need to be firm with them, if you want them to respect your authority.
Lastly seek guidance from your squad
leader and platoon sergeant. You're not a
weak leader for seeking guidance and
mentorship.
worked for me. Let them know how your responsibility change and that you need
their support to be an effective leader. The
soldiers that don't comply are not your
friends and you need to be firm with them, if you want them to respect your authority.
Lastly seek guidance from your squad
leader and platoon sergeant. You're not a
weak leader for seeking guidance and
mentorship.
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Back in my day (Ha-Ha) in the 75th Ranger Regiment, the norm was to move them (the newly promoted Sergeant) to a different company, if they could not first move them to a different platoon within the company.
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