Great NCOs and their influence on Soldiers, have any also influenced your life?

SPC Chris Early — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 09:11:51 -0400

I grew up not knowing my farther until i was in my late 20's, so i found farther figures threw many like Bruce lee and a few NCO's. Mainly SSG Britten who was my first NCO when i was in Korea. He taught me everything i needed to know about my job, and he also took me under his wing. He was a great friend and an excellent soldier, even though we lost contact i will never forget him and all he taught me in life. I just wandering have anyone ekse ever had an NCO that influened them not only in the service but also in life, and to say i thank him SSG Morfin and SFC marshall for being a true symbol of what it means to be an NCO.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2015 10:44 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 10:44:46 -0400

I have a similar background as you, SPC, but I still don't know my father beyond the name on my birth certificate. I also didn't have an NCO step up like yours did, and I am happy someone did for you.

My Father-in-law put a lot of work into shaping the man I am now. He was an NCO in the Vietnam era, but had been out of the service long before I met the man. Perhaps that's what motivated him to help me out quite a bit.

Since I didn't get what you did, I've stepped to the plate for several soldiers during my career. Someone has to, and again, I'm happy someone did for you. Do SSG Britton a favor and find him, and thank him for what he did for you. It'll close the loop for both of you, and perhaps motivate him to do it again for another guy.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 4 at 2015 10:51 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 10:51:20 -0400

I see them as the apex of leadership, facilitating the growth pesonally and professionally, impacting someone for a lifetime. I can't thank the NCOs enough for taking care of soldiers and me lol

Response by SFC Patrick R. Weston, MPH made Jul 5 at 2015 4:48 PM

SFC Patrick R. Weston, MPH — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 16:48:59 -0400

I would say most Soldiers have, I certainly do. And I make it a point to pay that kindness and direction they provided me forward to the Soldiers I work for and with to this day.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 5 at 2015 8:13 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 20:13:58 -0400

My Tank Gods were E-7s who taught the soldiers and me.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2018 11:38 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 11:38:29 -0400

A good leader can make a great difference in your career and life. I had a similar NCO who grabbed my by the collar as a young Soldier and put me on the path to success. I call or email him about once a year just to tell him thank you. I did'nt like him at the time, but looking back he was doing exactly what he was supposed to do.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2019 2:13 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 02:13:03 -0400

In 21 years of National Guard, Active Army, and The United States Marine Corps. I learned from a multitude of good and bad NCO's and Officers. During that time, as I was growing up(sic) in the Services, I would watch these individuals and learn what makes them tic. I had one person who had around 18 yrs in the Army and the majority of it stationed at Ft Benning, GA at the Airborne School as a Black Hat. He was transferred to HI to the unit I was assigned to and was made our PLT SGT as an E-6. At that time we were still doing the SQT-Testing for our MOS's. The SMA at the time had put out a memo stating that any one who didn't pass their SQT's would not be promoted, PERIOD. He was promoted to E-7 a few months after failing the SQT for E-6 level. The rank and file soldier's seen this as a failure of the Senior Leadership to keep their word.
Another NCO that really made an impact on the lower enlisted, was a Marine Corps DI I had going through Boot Camp. He was a SSG and a Junior DI, yes he was a stickler for doing what you were told, when you were told, but he also took the time to explain why he was doing this or that. Example, he had a habit of walking thru the Squad Bay and collecting Unsecured combination locks from foot lockers with no one around. He would lock them all together and strip the name tapes off the Lock in question. He would call the Platoon together and ask them to go back to their footlockers and bring back two locks. One for the Foot Locker itself and one for the Rifle in the Rifle Rack. Those that had two locks were sent back to continue with what they were doing before interrupted. The Ones with only one lock were told to BEGIN. This is the Marines version of being smoked, Front, Back, Go's, Mountain Climbers, Jumping Jacks. He would call each Recruit up to play his version of Combination Lock Roulette. They would grab a hold of one lock and try their combination in the lock, if their numbers worked they were sent back to work. If not they were sent to the back of the line until everybody else had their turn, then they would get another try. They would continue until all the locks were gone. He said that this is to teach a Marine to make sure everything is secure before leaving their immediate area every time. He made a lasting impression on me forever.
What I did was take what each and every NCO, whether it was good or bad, did in leading me and everyone around me and incorporate it into what decisions and actions that I did when I became an NCO myself. I can only hope that I made a positive impact on the young minds of the new troops coming into the Military before I retired.