Do you think NCO leadership is the same as it was 10-15 years ago?

It is a lot harder to be a good leader these days. The touchy-feely, PC indoctrination has come to the Army. Starting in AIT, new Soldiers are handled with kid gloves, as they are told that if they get their feelings hurt, they can report their instructors and leaders to the Brigade Commander. While at ALC, one of my instructors said that the new Soldiers (IET) have ALL the power in AIT. We NCOs were told to leave the AIT kids alone, don't even make on the spot corrections unless they are making a spectacle of themselves, and even then be mindful of their feelings. With the deck stacked against us like that, instilling and maintaining discipline gets tougher and tougher.

So these kids have no discipline and a sense of entitlement when they get to their first units. Just this morning, I saw two young Soldiers fall out of a formation run, and their NCO told them to get back in formation. They stood around and did nothing. The NCO told them to start pushing. They stood around and did nothing. Finally, the NCO told them to get in the front leaning rest until the formation looped back around to collect them. Only one of the two did it. No discipline.

The only thing we can do is put it on paper (4856). But they know the system too. They know that as long as they don't do the same offense three times, they are good. After 30 days, you do the follow-up counseling and if they kept their noses clean with regard to THAT offense, they are good unless they do the same thing again later. They know all this. So counseling doesn't always work.

The "Old School" Senior NCOs tell you to crush them, but we can't do that anymore, as feelings get hurt and the next thing you know you are standing in front of your BN or BDE commander explaining why you hurt PVT Snuffy's delicate feelings. There is no more "crushing in place." At least not in any unit I have been in in the last 9+ years. The only people who talk tough are the ones who do not have to directly deal with undisciplined Soldiers.

These young NCOs need to be allowed to lead, and part of that is making mistakes. Checking rooms in the barracks before PT, leading PT, trusted with vehicle maintenance, etc. Too many leaders take the "my way or the highway" route which undermines initiative and creativity. I realized I didn't need a bunch of me(s) walking around and that the 90% solution was great. Soon I would ask about something only to be told it was already done. Leaders up the chain have to be able to underwrite their juniors mistakes. That being said don't confuse mistakes with conspiracies.

SFC (Join to see)
It's much harder now to effect the kind of change you could just 15 years ago. Leaders handcuffing NCOs, combined with the mindset of newer generations, has made it difficult to be the kind of leader so many want to be, based on their own military upbringings.

But as NCOs, we should spend less time lamenting over past times, and more time finding ways to adapt to these changes. That's the bottom line. If we don't adapt, we will fail. I think that you are absolutely correct when you say that our leadership skills need to be better.

Ok, from a 30 year veteran, 26 years in the 7th Special Forces Group (ABN). My opinion on this is absolutely NO!!! I still have very close ties with the SF community and airborne units. Recently a soldier explained to me his senior NCO leader is a transgender and he does not feel the individual has the mental capacity to resolve his issue.
My opinion on this: How can an individual that can not even decide WTF they are have the moral conviction to number 1: administer "Good Order and Discipline", number 2: provide sound advice on moral conduct befitting the armed services. This also applies to officers. Just this one soldiers problems are now going un-solved based on the immoral conduct of his immediate supervisor. Given the fact the US Military is founded on moral conduct established by American Christian Faith. It is our "moral compass" an inner voice telling us practicing homosexuality, transgender etc, in the ranks is NOT conducive to "Good Order and Discipline" the very fabric of our military hinges on DoD personnel respecting their senior leadership. This is more amplified in war time. The morale of our fighting force is already beginning to show cracks.
Joseph J. Callahan
CSM USA SF (ret)

No, Not even close. Then, all NCO's were treated with a little respect, even Corporals. Now, after 10 years of promoting anyone with a packet, Junior NCO's are treated as little more than Privates with a lot of time in. Hopefully, this will turn around in the near future. Of course, this is only an Army perspective.

No. We have to deal with a bunch of wimps now. Political correctness has ruined leadership.

Today's Militaries are incumbered by many stressors not even considered two decades ago. Social engineering has prompted new PC and political regulations never considered before and it has completely removed all signs of hard core leadership of strict chain of command leadership! With today's secular and mixed genders, one miss step and a once promising career could be ruined. It isn't a man's controlled with physical attributes that was the standards, but a mixture of men, women, gays, cultures, transvestism and personalities differences made possible by all this diverse fed instabilities. Back then, we were one, when you put on that uniform it didn't matter if you were rich, poor or from Oklahoma, you were in the military and no special recognition was given! You made the team or else with no quarters given! Leaders were competent and judged harshly by their peers and superiors. Today, you had better be careful how you render punishment or corrective actions. The days of foul language or aggressive leadership isn't in the books! No more for God and Country is carried so proudly as it once was!

I think the rapid promotions combined with the zero fail mentality and the stripping of NCO authority by the officers exerting direct control of things have eroded the quality of the NCO corps. I literally could take no action unless the officers gave me permission to do so. It was very frustrating. By the time I got out, I had pretty much given up. This was a major factor in my decision to ETS.

I am glad I served when I did. I think the folks today have a more difficult group to work with.

Biggest problem I encountered were those who joined the Air Force to avoid being drafted into the Army. Today you have to deal with those who think you owe them the world from day one.

Of course my time was even longer ago. Been 41 years since discharge from active duty.

Leadership courses have been on the decline for years. PLDC or WLC or whatever they call it now is a joke. PLDC was a great leadership course 10 years ago! I don't even agree with basic training anymore. They are just turning out piss poor privates!!