Is today's Army an officer's Army?

I was not in the Army; however, I think the right word is influence. As a Marine for 21 years, I learned and followed the servant leadership model, up and down my chain of command. As a seasoned E-8, I always treated junior officers with the utmost respect. I looked at it as an opportunity to mentor, coach and inspire them so there was never a need for power. The respect was always there.

I feel this is true for all branches. I am a former Marine NCO as is my father. When he was in NCOs had the power to do whatever was necessary to get their jobs done. Now with all the movements going on and Mothers of America crying because their kids were "mistreated" in training the entire military has gone softer to appease them. Today's military is an officer's military. They are now the only ones with any power and they rarely use it as they should be able to because they're more politicians than service members now. Our military is on a downward spiral in my opinion.

We had a saying in the 80s and 90s, the Army ain't what it used to be and it never was. People have a tendency to marry the good and bury the bad. In other words, we try to get over the bad times and concentrate on the good times. This leads to a belief that things in the past were necessarily better than they are now because, unlike the past, we cannot ignore the things that presently confront us that we don't like. Chances are not a lot has changed.

I believe that NCO business is NCO business. As long as we do our job and lead from the front rather than taking a back seat Officers that work side by side with us allow us to do our job. The problem that I see is that some NCOs are willing to take a back seat and allow the Officers to do our job which is unacceptable.

I would suggest that all levels of "power" or better said, authority for decisions has been moved up a few notches. Though high level leadership wants us to take ownership and to make changes to better what and how we do things, the bureaucracy (congress and law) doesn't allow decisions at that leve so leaders take over lower levels of decisions and so on. We are a top heavy military that needs to be trimmed down to allow proper decisions to be made at the proper level, otherwise we are just making people into decision and idea pushers as opposed to quality decision makers.

After reading all these posts, the one thing that I see missing from this argument is the overall leadership from Senior NCOs down to junior NCOs. that fundamental issue is where we as NCOs are missing the mark. I can look back to my time as a Platoon Sergeant and remember the first time I walked into the COF and said to my NCOs. go get your counseling packets for review. they were incomplete and inaccurate, just one example. Young leaders are not getting the right amount of influence from what we are suppose to be to them, key word "mentors".

If we want to change how the senior leaders view NCOs it starts with us as leaders. some get it some don't, the ones that don't just need a little more attention and they to can grow and become great leaders in the Army. NCOs are leaders we lead from the front, lead by example and always maintain the standard. I challenge you, if you have a NCO that you believe is not up to the standard, then sit him down and counsel him, we own that as leaders and that is our charge, Officer or NCO.

I will tell you this SGT. If it weren't for my 56M on my UMT, I would probably fail at my mission. If it weren't for the many NCOs along the way, I would have never become a SOLDIER. If it weren't for my favorite CSM, I would not have seen firsthand that squared away NCOs are truly the Army's backbone. Long live the NCOs!

It has always been an Officer´s Army. Bottom line up front. NCOs you all have duties and responsibilities as NCOs. It is laid out in ARs and FMs. If you are doing what you are suppose to then there is no problem between you and your commanding Officer. Sometimes you will have Officers who are micro managers. It is your job NCOs to remind your Officer´s what their roles are from what your roles are. If you are doing your job you shouldn´t have a problem with your Officer. In serving 32 Years in the Infantry i had a problem with one Platoon Leader. He was quickly filtered out the Army. He helped himself out by being stupid and not listening to his NCOS or his Company Commander. When i became a 1SG i had no problems with my Commanders because i made sure my NCOs were taking care of business and my Commanders knew the deal. As a Operations SGM at Brigade level again no problems with my BDE S-3 except one and i had set him in the right direction. He is a General now. He listened after a few rough battles with me. Especially when i know i was right i always spoke my mind. My officers sometimes may have been pissed but they listened. The outcome was always good. Quite a few are general officers today. As a Bn CSM i worked only two Commanders and they both put out in their first meetings. When my CSM speaks you better listen and when he speaks i am speaking. As a BDE CSM i was fully supported by my Commander who is now a three star. No problems between us. When he put out his guidance i would enforce them. When somebody would decide not listen to what i said and it was brought to his attention he took care of them Officers mainly. But there was only a few cases. Finally on my way out i was a training center CSM. Both Commanders i had gave me 100% support and i gave them and my Soldiers 100% everyday i opened my eyes. I had no problem. NCOs who fail to do their jobs or speak up when needed will have problems and feel the way this question is asked. When you know you are 100% right speak up. No Officer will take action against you when you are right. Stand up for your Soldiers and yourself when need be. No one has to be a yes man. I pissed off a lot of officers in my time. Later on they learned that i was right. I was not perfect and may have made a few mistakes in my time. Most times i was spot on. The Army is getting better with NCO´s getting some of the things Officers has always gotten better, education and schooling. Assignments are getting alittle better also for senior NCO´s. It is improving. NCOs speak up and remember always be respectful and use Tact. It is what it is and what you make of it reference the subject here.

I heard that and it makes me feel like that some days now. I am currently deployed and in my company we have 4 junior enlisted and about 10 NCOs the rest is nothing but officers and our company has about 50 out here