The NCO Creed.. what does it mean to you? How do you interpret it? Do you live by it as an NCO?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:31:17 -0400

I asked this of my Platoon and the answers have given me a better insight of each Soldier's mindset. Figured I would get some thoughts from the community.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Apr 3 at 2014 8:05 AM

LTC Jason Strickland — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:05:07 -0400

I always appreciated when my NCOs quoted some aspect of the NCO Creed to me in the context of a decision or position on something I said. It showed me they believed in it and abided by it.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jul 19 at 2015 4:20 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 16:20:28 -0400

Could you please let me know, SFC Jason Randolph, what the NCO Creed is? I am ashamed to say that I don't and didn't know it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2015 7:49 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2015 19:49:19 -0400

That is an awesome exercise to have with your soldiers. I was an NCO and didn't take the creed lightly. I still don't . My favorite line of it is where it states that all soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership and they will provide outstanding leadership.

I will ask an NCO at times if they think there were providing outstanding leadership in a situation were they were found lacking. Sometimes they will say they were. In that case I will do as you and ask them what that means to them. I am sure you found that it can some times wildly vary from soldier to soldier.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Oct 1 at 2015 10:25 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:25:57 -0400

What did your soldiers say?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2015 8:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 20:14:49 -0500

The NCO Creed is a living document to me not something that is only memorized. I live the NCO Creed because of the respinsibility that has been placed upon my shoulders to lead others. I try to be an example to lower enlisted soldier's because alot of NCO's these days live for the stripes and they don't show others what it means to lead by example. When I joined the Army back in 1985 the Army motto was "Be All You Can Be" I strived to be the best Soldier, leader, and friend. I got out of active duty in 1989 and joined the National Guard in 1993, then took another break from 1997 to 2009. I'm alot older and wiser so I have no problem treating Soldier's with dignity and respect and showing them what right looks like and when I fall short I use it as a teacheable moment to use my short comings to help other Soldier to see that we all make mistakes and how or what we do after we make the mistake will show other that they respect you or the think your full of yourself.