Officer/NCO Animosity: Have you experienced it? How did you handle it?

I've been on both sides having had Navy chiefs that had my back and another that if he had a longer knife, would have pushed it further. I have had fantastic relationships with most of my chiefs. Much of my leadership style is due to their mentorship. I couldn't thank them enough when they left. When I started, I received advice from a retired CMC. He said, "Keep your mouth shut and be a sponge." I took his advice and it payed dividends. I learned so much more that I probably would have otherwise. I believe the one good thing the Navy does in the Surface Warfare Community is have Ensigns report with very limited knowledge. It forces you to rely on your chief and tech manuals.

I am amazed. Maybe surprised. I do not remember ever having any animosity towards officers. I had some challenges with a couple of INDIVIDUALS. This might be my experience only. I focused on the objectives and trusted those above to remedy the situation. Any officer above us is smart enough to know when the completion of a mission could be jeopardized.

In my short time on RP this topic seems to be a recurring one. I will add my 2 cents. First, I have been out 28 years (wow that sounds awful lol). Second, I did serve in the Coast Guard (let's keep snickering to a minimum lol).

Every time I read one of these NCO/Officer posts I kinda shake my head. I keep thinking times have changed, or the other branches are different, or I don't know what. We had much more of a team effort then I seem to be reading about in the other branches. But, I did not have this negative experience at all with officers. 99% of them were very good leaders, good examples and relied on their Petty Officers the way they should. Every new person to a unit or ship requires "training" to get up to speed. We did this as a group. I never felt like it was my job to train a new ensign. That is ridiculous. They don't do what I do. I really feel like there are a lot of enlisted on RP that have a bit of an inferiority complex. In fact, the only officer that I thought was pompous and lacking in integrity was prior service! I just always did my job and did it extremely well. I found just about every officer that I dealt with to be extremely appreciative of my work. Maybe it was because of working fixing electronics and it is hard to tell someone how to do it if you have no idea yourself.

However, I would attribute unfortunately, all of these negative stereotype to senior NCO's or in my case Petty Officers. I know that there are a lot more of us then officers on this site and this might receive a bit of backlash, but I have to be truthful about my experience. Again maybe the other branches are different, but my 6 year experience with out a doubt showed me that the higher enlisted rank you got the less you did! However, it didn't stop you from telling those below you what they should be doing even when you had no idea. It is one of the biggest reasons why I got out. I had outstanding reviews and praise from command, but I really didn't want to get to a point where I just sat on my butt and drank coffee in the Chief's mess all day. Plus I don't even drink coffee! lol

In conclusion (hopefully I don't have too many down votes yet!), every interaction I have had here on RP with an officer has also been professional and informative. I really can't say that about all the enlisted comments that I have read. So, before any of you think I am brown nosing or something to that effect, please read my third sentence, I have been out 28 years so I have no reason to do that. However, even if it is unpopular, I don't have a problem expressing my personal experiences. I hope that times haven't changed that much and hope that most of what I read is venting...and least I do for my son who is serving in the army now.

Good Afternoon
You and your Chain of Command must be a unified front to stop misinformation of junior officers. Lead by example and actions. It is easy to stereotype, but difficult to communicate clearly and concisely. Always lead from the high-ground.
SGM Cammuse(Ret)

I personally have seen and experienced some of this but my fellow NCOs did not help me. As an E5 in a top heavy Expeditionary Sustanment Command I gave PT which I am very serious about. Regularly I have CPTs, MAJs, and maybe 1 full bird every now and then, along with a handful of MSGs, SFCs, and a SGM, and a CW4. I was giving PRT and I was also promotable (even more reason to be on point), and I would have everyone yelling all types of things or talking and just acting unlike military soldiers. Everyone out ranked me so all I could do was push on. I had officer just quit and say this is stupid right in the middle of climbing drills. After promotion I stopped taking this crap and told everyone this is part of the Army and PRT is not going anywhere. If you want to leave I can't stop you but me as an NCO I will give you the best for the benefit of me and you. When high ranking officers participate in my PT sessions the motivate everyone else. This gives me a good mind about officers but when they upright and quit they undermine me and everyone I am trying to lead essentially leaving a path for quitters. I love to advise officers and help them and let them lead the way. This is the only quip pro quo allowed in the Army. When officers constantly stay around officers they forget the benefit of NCOs and the same the other way around. Sorry for the rambling.

I've seen the flipped where officers take NCOs and throw the under the bus. The officers I've seen do it all come from West Point. But all I can say for new officers is hold your NCOs ideas and advice close bc they been and seen shit and the experience will bring you along way

I believe that Officers should be respected as much as possible because that link with NCOs sends a strong message to younger enlisted types. Also our family goes back to the Civil War, WWII with higher ranking officers, Colonels, LTCs and Majors. I am sorry but having seizures and having difficulties typing.

I was an E-6 way back in the day before I got my commission. Maybe that’s why my PSG and me got along so well. He still mentored me as a 2LT PL but at the same time I never really expected him to do anything I hadn’t done myself while I was enlisted. I think my other SLs appreciated that I had been in their shoes as well having been a squad leader myself. There were jokes but it was all in good fun, and since I don’t have a thin skin, I would throw it right back and we’d both laugh. At the end of the day, I would die for my NCOs I had as a PL.

Sadly, I have and it wasn’t from the officers. Most officers respect and trust thier NCOs, until they get burned. When I left the NCO as a SFC and put on the gold bar (I hate the term butter bar) I reported to my unit as a new officer from BOLC. Within the first 90 days I was spoken down to and disrespected by NCOs. From SSG to MSG. All because it seemed to me that they wanted to “get it in on an Officer” while they could until I made CPT and they had to respect me. This really frustrated me, especially after having been a SNCO. I felt it my mission to mentor and educate these NCOs on the critical role of the officer and how they have an opportunity to set an expectation with these young officers that NCOs are vital members of the military profession. If all you do is haze and pick on the new LT, you are setting future NCOs up for failure. Because that LT will grow up to be a CPT, the Company Commander, then BN CO, then BN Commander and all they will remember is that NCOs treated them like crap and failed to be the professionals thier creed says they are. It’s up to young NCOs like you to remain the stewarts of the profession. Lastly, remember as an NCO you’re more of a coach than a mentor. A young officer needs another officer to mentor them. They need NCOs to teach them the profession, teach what it is thier Soldiers do, and support them as they develop and learn. Great post!

I have experienced the animosity towards NCO's before, I've had officers that were very doubting of any enlisted person's abilities they always had to place butter bars in charge of every aspect. The best way I've handled it is to show them what an NCO's role is in leading/training troops and demonstrate that you gained your position/rank by demonstrating expertise. Many fresh LT's (1st and 2nd) seem to not fully understand the role of the NCO, and the only ones they've seen had been drill sergeants (which may have left a bad taste in their mouth).
I have seen many NCO's with distaste towards officers, and it rubs off on their troops creating poor working environments. I try to educate all troops in my influence to work with the officers, not gripe about their orders/ideas or try to get around them.