Posted on Mar 8, 2015
Should there be an age requirement to become an NCO, or just base it off the maturity level and willingness to accept responsibility?
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Military Career
Military Career
Posted 10 y ago
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Sure. 18.
I picked up Cpl in June of 1996, just shy of my 20th birthday. By the time I had a year Time in Grade, I had A LOT of experience. I knew a Sgt who celebrated his promotion with a Coke in his hand instead of a beer. He was a damn fine Sgt.
Age is a requirement for entrance, but for anything else, it's an artificial barrier to entry. We have Time in Service and Time in Grade requirements to help ensure people are well equipped for the next level of responsibility. Add in the board processes, which is essentially a manual review of the service member and age becomes a non-factor.
But, let's take a look at this from another angle. Many of our Commissioned Officers (O1) will be 21 or 22, so why shouldn't a Non-com be able to be the same age or lower? We're able to vote, and own firearms at 18. We're legally allowed to consume alcohol at 21.
So what age would you suggest?
I picked up Cpl in June of 1996, just shy of my 20th birthday. By the time I had a year Time in Grade, I had A LOT of experience. I knew a Sgt who celebrated his promotion with a Coke in his hand instead of a beer. He was a damn fine Sgt.
Age is a requirement for entrance, but for anything else, it's an artificial barrier to entry. We have Time in Service and Time in Grade requirements to help ensure people are well equipped for the next level of responsibility. Add in the board processes, which is essentially a manual review of the service member and age becomes a non-factor.
But, let's take a look at this from another angle. Many of our Commissioned Officers (O1) will be 21 or 22, so why shouldn't a Non-com be able to be the same age or lower? We're able to vote, and own firearms at 18. We're legally allowed to consume alcohol at 21.
So what age would you suggest?
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SFC (Join to see) are you suggesting it for both your CPLs and SGTs or just E5+? Assuming someone enters at age 17 (which is possible with the way HS graduation works), and is promoted based on TIS/TIG, at what age would they "normally" pick up? Would this slow down overall promotions, causing a deficit in leadership at the E5 grade (which will ripple up)?
What would be the long term effects of this?
What would be the long term effects of this?
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SrA Matthew Knight
SFC (Join to see) In the Air Force I would say it's almost impossible to make an NCO rank before 21. I joined and went to basic when I was just about as young as you can be to join (Only a couple months after my 18th) and I don't put on E4 until August which is 2 months after my 21st. Of course, other branches consider E4 to be NCO but, and correct me if I'm wrong, usually E4s aren't given AS much responsibility as an E5 with the exception of the extremely rare E4 MTI/DI/DS.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
SrA Matthew Knight I left for boot camp 35 days after my 18th birthday, and was a contract E2. I pinned Cpl (E4) on, one month before my 20th birthday. It really depends on the service, since we all have different TIS/TIG requirements. Since there are contract E3 out there, pinning on E4 at or before the 2~ year mark can definitely happen. E5 is the tricky one however.
I was already an NCO for 3~ years when I pinned on E5. But, I had one guy who worked for me (Scout Sniper), who went from Pvt (E1) to Sgt while I was still a Cpl. He earned everyone of those stripes.
I was already an NCO for 3~ years when I pinned on E5. But, I had one guy who worked for me (Scout Sniper), who went from Pvt (E1) to Sgt while I was still a Cpl. He earned everyone of those stripes.
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Cpl Michael Strickler
SFC (Join to see), I am sure that in other service it may be different, but in God's military (haha) your COC has full control in who makes it and who doesn't. I was meritoriously promoted twice before reaching my duty station, i.e. E-3 within six months of my contract.
I remember while on my first deployment (maybe around a year and a half or so) my First Sergeant pulled me aside and told me that even though I had everything I needed to pick up NCO (cutting score, ability, etc,) he was not going to let it happen. He said that although I was a great Marine and he saw more on the horizon for me that I still lacked experience.
To me that should be the key factor in any branch/position. No one should be promoted due to time in grade, potential, age, anything without the experience to back it up.
I remember while on my first deployment (maybe around a year and a half or so) my First Sergeant pulled me aside and told me that even though I had everything I needed to pick up NCO (cutting score, ability, etc,) he was not going to let it happen. He said that although I was a great Marine and he saw more on the horizon for me that I still lacked experience.
To me that should be the key factor in any branch/position. No one should be promoted due to time in grade, potential, age, anything without the experience to back it up.
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SSG Jon Scheil, Score yourself for the best answer! Maturity level and the desire to seek and accept responsibility - that is all I ever required.
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SFC (Join to see)
Touche', CSM Charles Hayden. By the way, I am completely digging your profile picture. Very cool.
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Absolutely not. If someone is not mature enough, then he shouldn't be recommended to go tongue board, too easy. That's what his NCOs are there for. I have seen some absolutely outstanding leaders that were young. Anyone that has been in for more than a couple years has seen the same. Why put such an arbitrary requirement?
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