Advice and helpful hints for a new NCO (E-5)?

<p>Welcome to the Corp.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Keep in mind that you cant lead from the front while standing in the back. First you need to make sure that as a leader you are constantly ready updates. Make sure you are always on top of things. A soldier wont respected or follow a leader that is not up to date on current regs. Second I cant stress this enough treat everybody the same don't play favorites to some. Last but defiantly not lest those friends you had as a SPC are now your soldiers not friends.&nbsp;</p>

As a SPC who has been working in a SGT position for the greater part of 18 months, the biggest thing I learned was to take care of your soldiers. &nbsp;You higher leadership might not like you for standing up, but it is what you are there for. &nbsp;You are the bastion that is to lead forward the next group of soldiers. &nbsp;Congratulations on your promotion and I hope you do great things with your soldiers.

SGT, it appears that you are getting a ton of valuable advice, and I would encourage you to evaluate it all while applying your on personal touch. Much of leadership is about how we approach the people we lead. With that said, I would offer that there a handful of character traits you must always demonstrate. First, your moral compass must always be firmly fixed and your behavior never in question. Next, you must be deeply self aware. Know who you are and how who you are impacts others. Third, you have to have great people skills. Know your people and always create an air of approachability tempered by professionalism. Fourth, your work ethic must be demonstrated daily. Leading means being in the thick of what's being done. And finally, know your MOS. If you don't know your job cold, it will cost you creditability points with your subordinates. You're going to be fine. You got this!!

<p>SGT Walker,</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>There is a great deal of great advice. You will face challenges that many people have never faced. As we return to the garrison world, the standards will change. You will be surprised on a daily basis by what standards are emphsized and what the commanders are looking for out of their NCOs. Soldiers will be promoted because their dress uniform looks better than the person standing next to them. Juniors will be counseled and not promoted because their hair is 1mm too long. The craziness will not go away, it will change.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Know your regulations, learn from your STPs and FMs, never take your knowledge for granted.... and when it comes right down to it.....</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"Don't train until you get it right, train until you can't get it wrong."</p><p>-I can't identify where I heard this, but it wasn't my invention.</p>

Sgt Walker,<div><br></div><div>The biggest thing that has helped me since sewing on last year is remembering what it was like when you were lower ranking and what you though your NCO's could do better. I personally had a more poor supervisors than good. So the things I thought they could do better or shouldn't have been doing as NCO's I do the opposite. Another thing that recently helped me was my current rater. He used to sit me down once a week or once every couple weeks until I was comfortable in my NCO responsibilities and have a constructive criticism meeting. He would start it out with how do you think you've done this week? ,What do you think you could've done better? It's always better to go in there answering most of the questions and doing critical thinking on the spot for the questions of what do you think you could've done better. Another thing is it helps you think with more of an NCO mentality. I also had a commander of mine suggest getting a book and on one side if it write down the good things you like about the junior leaders, your peers or even higher ups &nbsp;with their leadership style. On the other side flip it over and do the opposite, write the bad qualities that they have so you never do them.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Hope some of this helps.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>SSgt Hart&nbsp;</div>

First and foremost, develop your subordinates. Educate yourself, and BE the example. You may not always have the answer, but you must KNOW how/where to get it. Always Do the right thing. Learn how to relate all of the core values to everything, and relay that to those you lead. Provide positive feedback that fosters growth. Be able to distinguish between leadership and management, and know when to apply one or the other, or a mixture of both.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>John C. Maxwell has some great books, and of the most popular is "The 21 irrefutable laws of Leadership". D. Michael Abrashoff wrote "It's Your Ship", among others, but I recommend that one.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>All the other advice written before me is great. Congratulations on becoming an NCO!&nbsp;</div>

SGT Walker, that is an inspiring question -- thank you for asking it. &nbsp;My answer comes from a junior officer's perspective, as I was one the majority of my active time in. &nbsp;When I was a junior officer, I had incredible NCOs in my unit who, when the time came, were always there to help mentor me and help me develop -- provided that I was showing 110% motivation and a commitment to being the best officer that I could be. &nbsp;To be fair, my unit also had bad NCOs (and officers and junior enlisted, etc.) -- and we as officers were well aware of those NCOs who just hated officers no matter what, and carried a negative mental attitude into every situation. &nbsp;Please do not allow people like this to run off on you. &nbsp;Also, NCOs should not be a crutch for a young officer, so do not let an officer with low motivation or a poor work ethic leech off of your energy and strong work ethic. &nbsp;In my humble opinion, NCOs are the most critical ingredient in turning inexperienced yet motivated junior officers into outstanding company and field grade leaders. &nbsp;The best NCOs had my back because we respected one another immensely and they knew I had their back as well when they needed it. &nbsp;It all starts with mutual respect, which must be earned both ways.

First congrats and welcome to the corp.&nbsp;<div>I'll advice you to be confidence and secure around your Soldiers. They will feed from you. They will test you if they see you week. Also look for that high speed E5 or E6 and use them as mentor or as a resource incase that you need anything. Another thing that work for me is that I have a good relationship with my Soldiers but since day one, they know that is a line and once you cross it is a different game.</div>

1. Remember the Army Values and the NCO Creed.&nbsp;<div>2. Do what is right and do it the right way.&nbsp;</div><div>3. Remain tactically and technically proficient. You must be able to train your troops.</div><div>4. Communicate. Often.&nbsp;</div><div>5. Counsel. Soldiers need feedback both positive and negative.&nbsp;</div><div>6. Ask for advice/help before you get in a jam.</div><div>7. You are a Sergeant, not an E-5. "Sergeant" is your rank, E-5 is your pay grade. Never refer to another Soldier by his or her pay grade.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I could include more but there are some great comments in the other responses. Good Luck!</div>