Advice for junior NCO's?

2015-02-07T03:19:48-05:00

I'm curious to see the input the RP community can provide; lessons learned the hard way, tips, or those little gems that your mentors or seniors passed down to you throughout your career.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 3:30 AM

2015-02-07T03:30:42-05:00

You are definitely in a different style ARMY from what I came up through CPL Private RallyPoint Member

I have always believed in Leading from the front and never afraid to get down and dirty on the same tasking's as my Soldiers.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 3:34 AM

2015-02-07T03:34:50-05:00

Be you!

Identify your insecurities and check them. Pride is your biggest enemy. Keep a level head, act with you best judgment, and fight battles worth losing. Your soldiers will respect you more if you be honest with yourself. Red pen, blue pen. Integrate your lessons learned from previous leaders, but do not emulate fully. Your own style will develop. You can't rush perfection. Don't try. Be a master of your craft. Most importantly, realize that we are all different and respond differently. Know your soldiers and encourage them.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 17 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-02-17T11:18:27-05:00

You are on a path A to Z. Figure out what steps B, C, D etc are, and start going after them. If you need school X, or class Y, find out what the pre-requisites are and KNOCK THEM OUT. Don't wait. Get them done early.

Any course, or pre-req you have done before someone else that you are competing with, gives that many days advantage over them. If you want to go to Sgt's Course (or whatever they call it in the Army), and you have everything done and so does the guy standing next to you, but you have your stuff done... getting on that list a day earlier is just an advantage.

Don't wait until the last minute.

Don't ignore your paperwork. I can't stress this enough. I've seen many a person go before a promotion board scrambling to un-f#$%# their paperwork, even though they had everything done. But just because it's done, doesn't mean squat unless your paperwork reflects that it is correct and done.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 11:30 AM

2015-02-17T11:30:25-05:00

Improve yourself everyday. Personally and professionally.

Get yourself in college to get a worthwhile degree or at a minimum get yourself credentialed at the Army's COOL website: https://www.cool.army.mil/.

Get in the right track with your career with the Army's Career Tracker, and knock out those NCOES and SSDs.

Develop yourself personally by starting reading/listening a self help book. I currently am reading "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 11:31 AM

2015-02-17T11:31:24-05:00

Respect is commanded not demanded. Respect flows both ways, give it to get it

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 12:53 PM

2015-02-17T12:53:52-05:00

First of all, great question. The fact that you are looking to others for guidance, advice, and lessons learned speaks to your character and potential. Further, let me extend the same offer that many, no doubt, have here: do not hesitate to ask, anytime you need another perspective, or just a sounding board.

I am not big on acronyms, but this is one I actually like, and try to keep in the back of my mind as a leader: INSPIRE

I- Include everyone
N- Never walk past a problem
S- Speak positively
P- Pay attention
I- Inspect what you expect
R- Respect others
E- Empower your subordinates

Take that for what it is worth, and be the leader you would want to follow.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 1:21 PM

2015-02-17T13:21:54-05:00

Start and keep an 'I love me binder'. Keep all your awards (certificates & 638), NCOER's, 1059's, civilian transcripts, distance learning transcripts, enlistment/reenlistments, promotion orders, MOS awards, and 214's (if any). You may have most/all of this information in iPerm's, but having everything in one place at your fingertips to flip through will be a great benefit. IF these make it into your IPerm's, as your iPerm's fills up, finding things will take more time (they aren't always where they are supposed to be), and you don't always have a computer handy or internet, especially while on deployment. When you sit down with a 42A to update your ERB or your new FLL/NCOIC/OIC, it is gold. It is your one-stop shop for all of your critical/important information concerning your military career. I cannot tell you how many times this will come in handy and you will be thankful you did it.

If you don't want to keep originals in it, such as medal certificates, make a copy and keep in your binder.

When you go on deployment, make a photo copy of your binder and take the info with you on deployment in a file. DO NOT take your binder/originals. Again, there can/will be times you need some information that will be in your file.

Have all your subordinates start and maintain an 'I love me binder' also. This is something you can do to take care of your subordinates that will benefit them throughout their entire career.