Posted on May 9, 2015
SGT Tele Communications Officer(Tco)
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I heard some comments about today's Army being an officer's Army - that NCOs don't have the power they used to have. How do you feel about this?
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Responses: 266
CPT Jose A “Tony” Fernandez
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Enlisted men and woman are the backbone of the ARMY. That will always be the case. I learned about leadership while I was an Enlisted Soldier. What an honor! For one cannot be a good leader unless you have been a good follower! It is not sustainable for a force where everyone is the chief. Some responsible body must be the follower whom will take tomorrow’s leadership roles.
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LTC Dan McDonald
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Sorry Col Williams. Got your name wrong
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LTC Dan McDonald
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Thank you Col Wilson. Well said. I served from 1973 to 2012. This so called issue has been around for as long as we have had an army. NCO.s make it all happen. Officers get relieved and ruin there career chances when it doesn't. Been on both sides of the issue. It really is a no brainer. Something for each generation to deal with and accept. Steel on Target
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Sgt Dale Briggs
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The military is run by its Sr NCOs, our LT could have played with a little spinner wheel all day and read comic books. Top ran the unit, and the Company Gunny ran the zoo, his word was law, screw up you went to Gunny not the LT. All our Sr NCOs were all Nam Combat Vets, the Officers not at all at least to the company level, above that I haven’t a clue. They were admin only for the most part, the functionality came from the enlisted ranks, we had E3 E4 Combat Vets, so they knew their shit.
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1SG James Kelly
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The NCO is the Army.
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MSG Sr. Budget Analyst
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Edited 6 y ago
Comments like that will come from Barack's lawyers, and empty barrels.
In today's era, it will come also from international agents with their own agenda and who are trying to stir up things up. I don't know what Army you're referring to and what you really mean by "power". The U.S. Army I enlisted back in 2001 was the same organized U.S. Army dated back 14 June 1775 with adaption to a new era. It is the same Army today. Nothing changed.
In other words, Enlisted Soldiers (NCOs) follow the Officers' orders. Enlisted (NCOs) never had a "power" per se to do anything else than follow lawful orders from an Officer. If you're referring to "NCO does whatever they want" as power; then, you're thinking of a "unorganized militia".
NCOs never had a "power" in term of acting in a particular way or influence, and so the Officers.
Since the beginning of time, Officers hold position of authority. They are responsible for tasks such as planning, developing, system to build and sustain combat readiness. That' is not power, but responsibilities (burden), and tasks. This is more likely another reason we have Army Regulation that sets responsibilities and policies; delegates authority and prescribe mandated procedures.
Senior Enlisted Leaders represent their officers, communicating the commander's intent and direction for the command to the enlisted workforce, while simultaneously representing the enlisted personnel's views and concerns to the commander.
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LTC Lee Bouchard
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I agree with everyone who has responded to this post. I will add CSM's do not command anything but are the second most powerful right arm to the commander. They have tremendous influence over the NCO corps within the unit.

Another thought. Non-Commissioned (Officer) is just that!
Comments any one?
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SPC(P) Brandon Jenkins
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Not sure any one soldier can answer that, because it's a very macro question. I would say that there are such things as officers' units, but the whole army? I don't know.
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1SG Michael Hargis
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Let’s be honest here. We all know that it’s the senior SPC that runs alllll the behind the scenes stuff. LOL
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CPT Robert Holden
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While officers will always have power. The NCOs will always be the backbone. None of us would be where we are without NCOs. Obviously I’m somewhat biased because I was an NCO before I went to OCS.
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