What advice do you have for a new Sergeant?

2022-04-27T13:05:10-04:00

Good afternoon Rallypoint, I just got my promotion in February and while I've gone through all the classes and asked advice from my leadership I was wondering if you guys had any advice on how to be a good NCO. I know the basics like take care of your guys and make sure the punishment fits the crime etc. But is there anything else you guys can give me advice on?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2022 1:07 PM

2022-04-27T13:07:04-04:00

Also if any lower enlisted find this post what are some traits you like in NCOs you've had and what are traits you wish they had

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2022 1:12 PM

2022-04-27T13:12:22-04:00

Let me ask you this:

When you were coming up in the Junior ranks, what was it about your NCOs that you liked and disliked? What was it that your NCOs did that inspired you? What was they did that disheartened you?

In essence, be the Leader to them that you WANTED a Leader to be for you. Be friendly but not their friend.

Once you can master that, everything else will basically fall into place.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2022 1:32 PM

2022-04-27T13:32:34-04:00

MSG Private RallyPoint Member beat me to it. Be the NCO you wish you'd had. Taking care of your Soldiers may not always be easy and may not always be what they "think" they need at the time. There is no one way of dealing with Soldiers that magically works with all Soldiers. Be ready to learn how to lead, on the fly. Be the buffer between your Soldiers and the rest of the CoC. Know when it's time to talk "to" your Soldiers and when it's time to talk "with" your Soldiers. There is a difference. When you are talking "with" them, learn to listen and not just hear. There is a difference. Most of all, be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them. If you're defensive when you're confronted, you won't learn.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 27 at 2022 1:35 PM

2022-04-27T13:35:18-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member I am passing this down, when I made SGT/E-5 May 1, 1994. My SQD LDR said not to make the same mistake twice, then it becomes a habit. I have used this ever since. So keep in mind :" NO ONE IS MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN I, AS A NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER I AM A LEADER OF SOLDIERS".

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. SGT Private RallyPoint Member PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones Sgt Private RallyPoint Member 1SG Dan Capri CDR Andrew McMenamin, PhD SrA John Monette SFC Private RallyPoint Member GySgt Jack Wallace SPC Michael Terrell SMSgt Anil Heendeniya CPL Patrick Rasmussen

Response by SrA John Monette made Apr 27 at 2022 1:47 PM

2022-04-27T13:47:23-04:00

Remember, be friendly, not their friend. If you try to be their friend, they will try to take advantage of you. Treat everyone fairly and the same.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2022 2:09 PM

2022-04-27T14:09:33-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member - Seek to understand before you judge. As an NCO we are tasked with taking care of and training the teams that report to us; own that fully. Check on your guys often and be the leader you want leading you. Lead from the front and never stop learning!

I heard this the other day and it has stuck with me, and I plan to use this moving forward myself: Always be a student, when appropriate be the teacher, but never assume to be the expert.

Best of luck SGT!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 27 at 2022 2:31 PM

2022-04-27T14:31:36-04:00

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2022 3:46 PM

2022-04-27T15:46:57-04:00

Be a productive and selfless leader able to build upon your skills at every level but also retain the previous lessons you’ve learned.

Listen more and speak less to absorb the lessons on teamwork and leadership by watching.

Help others to get to your level and even surpass you. Likewise train with those people who are excelling so you can learn from them.

Don’t always try to take charge. This is the time to prove you are a good follower too. Troops don’t need 10 leaders. So when someone else is in charge be a good teammate and listen to their ideas and directions. If you constantly try to stop them to rewrite the plan and show how capable you are, they will never get to learn some valuable leadership lessons themselves.

Become an expert in your craft. Don’t blame other people or “the system” for your errors.

And lastly help your leaders.

Edit:
I forgot to mention

Learn to mentor. You will be in a position to mentor the “new guys.” This is your chance to build team cohesion more quickly and to take a load off your senior leader’s shoulders.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 27 at 2022 3:53 PM

2022-04-27T15:53:40-04:00

What is your MOS?

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Apr 27 at 2022 4:58 PM

2022-04-27T16:58:32-04:00

I came up from E2 to retirement as an O4 and one of the concerning trends I saw were NCOs taking the 'Backbone of the Army' way too far and not understanding we ALL have a role to play. When I was a JR officer I had a similar ego related to officers and my life got so much better as I learned the role of the NCO and officer in our Army. I learned what was their expertise and the NCOs that understand mine things work out so much better.

Response by GySgt Jack Wallace made Apr 27 at 2022 5:41 PM

2022-04-27T17:41:58-04:00

Do the mission and take care of your troops, always.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2022 10:38 PM

2022-04-27T22:38:09-04:00

https://youtu.be/C8VXigcacc0

How to be a better Army Leader; three tips.

In this video, I share my top three tips to be a better Army Leader. I will be sharing my experience and techniques with you, and only sharing the advice tha...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 27 at 2022 11:36 PM

2022-04-27T23:36:55-04:00

Always consider safety.

Response by SSgt Thomas Chamberlain made Apr 28 at 2022 7:48 PM

2022-04-28T19:48:30-04:00

Einstein is credited with saying "If I had an hour to solve a problem, I would spend the first 55 minutes defining it and the last 5 minutes solving it." Try to listen and learn as much as you can before you solve the problem. You will not only gain a deeper understanding and offer a better solution, you will also build rapport and gain the trust of your troops. Read as many books as you can. Some books will be good and some will be terrible, but you will learn from all of them just like you have learned from your own good and bad leaders. Good luck!

Response by CSM William Everroad made Apr 29 at 2022 10:06 AM

2022-04-29T10:06:40-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, I like MAJ Ken Landgren's list. I will add:

1. Read, re-read, and analyze the NCO creed. Take each phrase and find out what that means. Especially, "All Soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership".
2. Know the leadership requirements model. Understand where you fall short of "exceeds the standard" and work on it. Get on ACT and start an MSAF 360. Invite your Soldiers, colleagues, and leaders to participate. Re-assess it regularly.
3. You are the primary trainer of your assigned Soldiers in Skill Level 1 Soldier and MOS tasks. Don't let someone else train your Soldiers. If you aren't an SME in SL1, get there. If you are not a great trainer, get there. It takes practice. Your job is to make them SME's (proficient in their warrior tasks and drills).
4. Understand how those SL1 competencies nest inside of Key Collective Tasks (more for Squad Leader), but that understanding will help you choose what to conduct reinforcement or remedial training on during white space or NCO time.
5. Manage the time your Commander gives you. Your job is to train. Use the time you have efficiently and effectively. Take every opportunity to rehearse and improve yourself and your Soldiers.
6. Understand what "Soldier Care" means. It does not necessarily mean coddle your Soldiers. But you must know them to be able to take care of them. There is a difference between 15 minute smoke breaks every hour and training for 8 hours straight in 100 degree weather.
7. Talk to your Soldiers. Counsel them regularly on their performance and get good at creating plans of action for improvement. Guide them towards the next rank. Make Soldiers that are better than you. Talk to them about promotions, about retirement (BRS), about education, about what they want out of the military. Talk to them about H8 and other career broadening opportunities in ACT for the CMF.
8. Your Soldiers are going to do dumb stuff. Don't get mad at them. Correct the issue with a counseling, plan of action, and assessment. But never forget the Leader responsibilities. What are you going to do to help or ensure that the plan of action is successful and the behavior/issue is corrected?
9. Be honest with your Soldiers. If you don't know or are struggling, sometimes faking it makes it worse. (Live the Army Values)
10. True respect is earned. However, you are due certain customs and courtesies, just like all the leaders in the Army. Ensure you are enforcing that. Your Soldiers need to be the most disciplined in the command. Tell them why.
11. Get a mentor, preferably someone you look up to and has been there and done it, the right way. Meet with them, ask them questions. Don't be afraid to expand your professional network. Give them case studies and ask them how they handled it or prepared for it.
12. I notice you are in the NG. Call your Soldiers. Check up on them. Know where they work and what their family situation is. Know and understand the various Army programs designed for NG Soldiers and their limits. Build a tight knit team, so they come to you with questions and issues. If a problem comes up, you want them to call you before it becomes a surprise at BA. Invite them to PT with you. You don't have to be besties with them, but they need to know you are their Team Leader 24/7.

IMPORTANT: Get your initial counseling from your rater and Senior rater. Get a copy of their Support Forms for their evaluation. Know what they expect. Know what the Key Performance Indicators that the Commander is evaluating them on so you can work them too. Know what it takes for them to top block you and get there. Make them counsel you quarterly for your annual evaluation. If they won't do it, get the 1SG involved. You are entitled, by regulation, to understand where your performance is during the rating period, not just at the end of it.

Response by LTC Ray Buenteo made Apr 29 at 2022 11:44 AM

2022-04-29T11:44:24-04:00

Never hide a problem. Some problems are in fact bigger than the leader NCO or Officer. The buck does not stop with you so continue to use the CoC when necessary and learn from the experience . Even as a LTC I ran into issues that required me to reach up the chain for support but I still owned the issue as well as the final decision. Life would have been a lot less uncomfortable as a LT. had I learned this early.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 29 at 2022 11:10 PM

2022-04-29T23:10:52-04:00

I want to add some more. A leadership is often situational. You should be a parent, provide overhead cover to prevent failure. You can be a steppingstone for yours soldiers to grow professionally. You are a coach and and cheerleader. You are a teacher. Good luck.

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made May 6 at 2022 8:31 AM

2022-05-06T08:31:44-04:00

Be a good listener----Think before you say anything.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made May 6 at 2022 9:15 AM

2022-05-06T09:15:10-04:00

Start by reading the NCO Creed. Reflect and take note as you read. The point is to identify areas you are familiar with and not. From their seek a mentor, if you have not already. Discuss your day to day requirements and how you see the adjustment for you growing into a leader.

Continue to analyze, strategize and apply the components of the Creed. The Creed casts a broad net providing a great resource throughout you career.

Be deliberate in your decisions, be open to Soldier input and recognize their motivation and drive. Observe your peers and those above you to see what you can add to your leadership style as you develop.

Always, always place the Mission, Soldiers and their Families as you make decisions. Always be open to coaching them and to receive coaching. Be thick skinned as you will make mistakes, own them, learn from them.

Keep your Soldiers on the forefront of all that you do, they are the reason for your existence.