Is today's Army an officer's Army?

I have always relied on NCOs to lead the way. Yes, you officers have the command and control but never forget the experience of NCOs and what they bring to the table. A General can't lead without troops.

I think a few disgruntled folks have too much time on there hands.

Wasn't that guy in the picture tossed for sexual abuse?

Walt

I do not think the statement or question is understood. The rate of senior officers getting relieved for conduct is a sure sign that something is wrong in the officer core. SGT Colon, explain your comment.

This varies by unit and the overall leadership and environment. Good officers utilize the NCO Corps as they should. They are the backbone of the Army and mission cannot be accomplished without them. I have seen great leaders and poor leaders on both sides of the coin but leading in today's Army IMO has been getting more challenging with everything you must be concerned about. The days of NCO's and Officers giving a good butt chewing or smoke session is all but gone, which I think is detrimental and has led to a more entitled-feeling Army on both sides. Two things good leaders should always keep in mind is that you can delegate Authority but never responsibility, and if you are explaining, you're losing.

I think that the first mistake you are making is talking about this as power. There is a relationship between officers and NCO's that is clearly defined. With out going into regs this is my view on it. First you must understand that as Commissioned officers, officers have a legal responsibility for their equipment and soldiers. So at the end of the day everything leads back to that officer. At a command level you develop into a command team, this is where the commander and the Senior NCO develop a relationship and discus how the unit is going to operate, it is through this relationship that CSM, 1SG and PSG derive their authority to act on behalf of the commander. In my command team I take care of the soldiers, this includes everything (training, moral, discipline..... On and on). The bottom line it is my responsibility with in all Army regulations to ensure that all soldier's with in the command I work for are prepared to conduct the mission when the commander is ready to lead the mission. So if you as an NCO feel like you don't have "Power" then you need to start developing a better and stronger relationship with the officer(s) that you work with and for.

If this is true, we are in real trouble.

I must agree for the most part with 1LT Rosa on this one. Everyone makes a valid point though. We must remember that we signed and took an oath that we would support and defend the constitution and obey the order of the potus and officers appointed over us. Guys. Look. I feel your pain. We have had those new LTs that just want to micro manage everything. We have to remember though. It is our job as a noncommissioned officer to take care of our soldiers and our officers. We must keep in mind that we make things happen. It is our influence that breeds the next generation of soldier. Don't ever forget that. When we are given the orders we execute them and ensure they are done properly which means that your officer trusts you as a leader to do the right thing. We all have power. General military authority is just an example. Cohesive power is another. Read AR600-20 if you want to know more. The army is built this way for a reason because at the end of the day if something fails it falls on the officer. Don't get me wrong. I believe we should just be given our task list and we execute how we see fit since we are the ones who know our soldiers better than anyone else but that's not always the case. When it's all said and done we work together. They support our decisions and we support theirs. That's how this thing has stayed together for 240+ years men. No matter the issues at the end of the day we are still the most lethal killing machine on the lamer that is a force not to be tampered with. And still the champions of two world wars. Enough said.

In my experience, it has become an Officer's Army because NCOs either don't know what their job is, or they just refuse to do it, then they get upset when I show them up. If they do their job a problem would not exist.

Since the onset of OFI I it has been the NCO that has kept this ship afloat. Think about it who went into a combat zone unprepared for combat whether it was equipment or strategy and who were the ones that didn't prepare us adequately enough. Despite that it was the NCO that improvised and made it happened taking responsibility acting as plt sgts and leader. I find hard to believe anyone would underestimate the power of the NCO. The only problem we have had is that our civilian leadership allowed us to build a force in which anyone could surve, just to get more boots on the ground. So today the Army?TRADOC has created doctrine about you with out giving you credit.

Soldier 2020 is the U.S. Army's effort to capitalize on the last 13 years of combat lessons and advancements in the Army Profession. This effort will better match today's Soldiers - both men and women - with the demands of specific military occupational specialties. There writing about you understand the true power that you yield as an NCO.