I am going to the board, for Sergeant (E-5), soon. I am wondering what makes a great NCO?

2020-08-12T16:12:23-04:00

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 12 at 2020 4:17 PM

2020-08-12T16:17:21-04:00

A great NCO listens to his people that he leads , also you make sure that any information that needs to be passed to is done, be truthful in your answers to the board, good luck brother.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2020 4:41 PM

2020-08-12T16:41:43-04:00

A great NCO inspires his troops to be the best they can be. Allows their talent to shine.

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Aug 12 at 2020 4:47 PM

2020-08-12T16:47:41-04:00

One thing I has always done is never ask my troops to do something I am not willing to do myself. When stuff needs to be accomplished I am right in their with them. Anyone can be a boss, but it takes real skills to be a leader. Always lead from the front, I strive to do my best at everything. It's not just one thing that makes a leader great, it is a whole conglomeration of skills, tricks and personality and knowledge.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2020 4:56 PM

2020-08-12T16:56:05-04:00

"His men under his supervision"
Respect comes with it too. You'll be a good sergeant SPC Paredes, you have already started, by asking and wanting to be a good sergeant.

By the way, I was with the 2nd 508th Inf A-Co in 1972 at Bragg.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2020 5:32 PM

2020-08-12T17:32:20-04:00

Respect your soldiers it seem small but it goes a long way. Even though you are their direct leadership remember you are there for them. Don't tell them to do something you wouldn't do. Lead by example, you can't expect behavior and mannerisms from them that you are not exhibiting. Also remember you're not perfect no one is, I've messed up a time or two, as long as you take accountability for your actions and learn from them.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Aug 12 at 2020 5:41 PM

2020-08-12T17:41:28-04:00

A great NCO gets a great deal of his/her motivation by coming up through the ranks and seeing what truly toxic and destructive leadership looks like up close and personal. They then look around at the Good/Great NCO's dealing with this 24 X 7 while taking care of their troops accomplishing the mission and shielding their troops from the majority of the shit show going on above. A great NCO lives their Stripes, a weak one wears their stripes like a costume and an toxic one used their stripes to abuse their troops. In the end all you can do is look around for great NCO's and take what works for them and make it yours with your special twist. You also look at the weak and toxic ones as examples of what not to do and know that anything they do is not the correct methodology and has very little to do with talking care of your troops, accomplishing the mission and mentoring the next batch of NCO's. The NCO Corp is like anything else it has both bad and good and we all try to limit the damage that the bad ones do and create better ones to replace us.

Response by SSG Benjamin C. made Aug 12 at 2020 8:19 PM

2020-08-12T20:19:16-04:00

For your MOS, I a big failure I’ve seen from NCO’s that caused them to be disliked by their Soldiers was expecting them to do everything because they are an “NCO” and should lead instead of doing the work. As a 92A, when it gets busy, be the one who’s working the hardest. Always show your Soldiers that not only are NCO’s not “above doing the hard work,” but that NCO’s do the hard work faster and better. Show your guys that hard work makes a great NCO as well as “leading from the front.”

Response by SGT Tim Tobin made Aug 12 at 2020 9:06 PM

2020-08-12T21:06:12-04:00

You aren’t their friends anymore! But you also have to be fair and treat everyone equally. The hardest part is enforcing the UCMJ when the offender is someone you hung with. Always be honest and always have high integrity

Response by CPL David Rice made Aug 12 at 2020 10:54 PM

2020-08-12T22:54:31-04:00

I would hope you know the answer by the time you reach E4. What are the traits of the good NCO you have come I. Contact with?Honestly empathy self reflection

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 1:19 AM

2020-08-13T01:19:27-04:00

Read TC 7-22.2. Read the charge of the NCO. Great NCOs set the right example, enforce standards, are great at training troops on MOS and warrior tasks and drills, they are willing to take on more responsibility.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 7:58 AM

2020-08-13T07:58:14-04:00

Dedication to your craft (MOS), be technically proficient. Learn and understand how to navigate the system so you can take care of your Soldiers. Master effective counseling, writing awards, planning effective training, advocating for your Soldiers to the NCO Support channel and Chain of Command. Being a new NCO (Sergeant/E-5) is still an apprenticeship. You’ll still be learning how to be an NCO. Putting on stripes doesn’t mean you’ve arrived and your done learning. Strive to master your profession and never stop trying to become a better NCO, Leader, and Soldier. ALWAYS set the right example. Show you Soldiers what right looks like by being the example. Good luck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 10:51 AM

2020-08-13T10:51:07-04:00

Learn the difference between "a Leader" and "Leadership". The former doesn't necessarily have the latter. But the former can certainly develop the latter.

Response by SGT Adam White made Aug 13 at 2020 12:51 PM

2020-08-13T12:51:29-04:00

Take care of your Soldiers in both the good and bad. Sometimes that means doing things they won't like, but more often than not they will appreciate you.
Pay attention to NCOs you respect and try to emulate their good qualities and avoid their bad.
Always be learning for both yourself and for skills to pass down. Never be afraid to admit to your Soldier you don't know something, but know where to find the answers and get them the info in a timely manner. Nobody knows it all. BSing will just make you look like a jackass.
Communicate information from above accurately and quickly.
Shield your Soldiers from as much BS as you can.
Finally, take care of your Soldiers (repetition for emphasis).

Response by 1SG Ernest Stull made Aug 13 at 2020 4:29 PM

2020-08-13T16:29:58-04:00

A good leader. If you have to ask then I would suggest you read all your leadership manual's and find the best NCO you know and ask him how he does it. Of course you must use the style of leadership that best fits you. Practice be know and do. Be the best you can be.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2020 8:24 PM

2020-08-13T20:24:43-04:00

Got to find that answer yourself there bud

Response by SSG Jason Weston made Aug 14 at 2020 12:57 PM

2020-08-14T12:57:53-04:00

learn from your mentor as much as you can figure out what type of NCO you want to be and do the research on how to become that leader. I recommend the book "The Servant" for learning ways to be a good leader.

Response by SGT Justin Anderson made Aug 14 at 2020 1:17 PM

2020-08-14T13:17:52-04:00

Know your men. Never ask your men to do something you yourself are not willing to do yourself. Be approachable to your men. Share all of your knowledge and anything you learn, pass it on. Listen to your men, it's a team effort despite your position or rank you do not have all the answers. When you don't know answer seek it out when you're able and then seek your men out and tell them what you learned. You will learn from your men just as much as they will learn from you. Never be afraid to ask questions. During a board I had to encrypt a radio and had forgotten from not using that radio for a period of time, I asked the CSM to show me because I had forgotten. He promoted me because I had stopped and asked in order to succeed where the previous 4 had fumbled through it and failed. When it comes to work, you work to. Work through the details, fill the sand bags, police call etc. You'll gain the respect and loyalty of your men and they would do damn near anything for you. You know what right and wrong is, you know what a bad NCO looks like, build off those in order to be better. You'll do fine.

Response by SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez made Aug 14 at 2020 4:42 PM

2020-08-14T16:42:55-04:00

SPC Paredes,
One thing that always stuck in my mind is not to ask your men to do something you haven't done yourself. They will respect you for that. I had a Soldier on my very last deployment after coming back from a mission..."damn SSG Hernandez, you did more in one single night than what SSG Nelson did in six months". The moral to the story is that Soldiers are always looking at you. Ensure you truly understand the 2nd paragraph of the NCO Creed which in my mind is the meat and potatoes of the whole Creed itself. Good luck!

Response by SGT Tim Tobin made Sep 27 at 2020 7:55 PM

2020-09-27T19:55:46-04:00

Be true to yourself and to your troops. Don’t compromise the rules. Be fair to all

Response by SGT Doug Blanchard made Sep 28 at 2020 6:08 PM

2020-09-28T18:08:47-04:00

A good NCO leads by example, he or she will not ask those under them to do things that they themselves will not do.