What are some things I can work on now to make me a better NCO when it happens?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 13:22:58 -0500

I am hoping to become and TL and move up to Sgt as soon as I can. I have been in the service to meet the TIS/TIG and I was a prior service active 19D in another life (16 yrs break in service). I saw a post earlier that said "be the NCO you want to have over you" and it was probaly one of the best lines I have read in a while. It got me thinking... what are some things I can work on now, to make me a better NCO when it happens.

Not looking for what to do to make it happen, but rather what to work on to make me a top NCO once it happens. I have faith that it will happen when my unit thinks I am ready.

I just want to be the guy that the lower enlisted can trust and learn from.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

**No Flags, no failures, no issues, all my training is up to date and SSD1 has been completed for some time now.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 5 at 2019 1:44 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 13:44:15 -0500

Ensure you lead by example. Score 300 on APFT if possible. Study for the asvab and raise your score if possible. Study all areas associated with your MOS making yourself an SME. Study othe MOS that are closely related and be able to draw the bridge between the two or three. Know the vehicles associated with you duties like the back of your hand. Look for a volunteer opportunity of something that is deer to you. Learn about the Army Family, Family Readiness and associates issues married or not. As an old Soldier might say, Be all you can be!!! Thank you for your service.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Feb 5 at 2019 1:48 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 13:48:56 -0500

Being an older guy will help you. I had a 17 year break in service. I came back as an E-4 and rose up the ranks fairly quickly.

Use your age and experience (whether civilian or military) to help you make decisions. Use what life has taught you to your advantage. Don’t be afraid to use your experience outside of the military to help mold you into being a leader.

Remember all the leaders you worked for in the past. Figure what you liked and disliked about them. Copy the traits of the ones you liked and remember the actions of those you disliked. What did they do that you hated? Don’t repeat those actions.

Just remember, it’s all about troops. If you take care of the troops, they will take care of you and the mission.

Good luck

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 2:06 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 14:06:28 -0500

Take care of your Soldiers, and they will take care of you.
If you don't do anything else well, do this.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Feb 5 at 2019 2:21 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 14:21:23 -0500

Read magazine articles or military books about non-commissioned officers. Along with mentors, observation and personal experience, writings about NCO role and responsibility could be a helpful supplement.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 2:34 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 14:34:22 -0500

Here is a start:
Be consistent in all things. Insist your Soldiers are consistent.
Be present; be prepared; conduct PCCs/PCIs early enough to fix what isn't right.
Train your Soldiers, and teach your Soldiers what it takes to advance and be successful.
Read and research regulations and policies, and when you give advice, ensure you provide your Soldiers the reference. Demand the same from them.
Be involved with your Soldiers. This doesn't mean you're hanging out drinking beer with them, but spend time to learn where they're from, what challenges they face, and what skills and knowledge they bring that aren't obvious.
Keep a current Leader Book; show your Soldiers how to develop one; and, insist subordinate NCOs do the same.
Counseling: Use it to develop, and complete follow up. Look for opportunities to document good events. For corrective training (which you supervise), document the standard, where the Soldier fell short, what the Soldier and you will do to correct it, and follow up as to whether it was completed successfully. Counsel on promotions BEFORE they are eligible--6 months, 3 months, and when eligible, and honestly state what your recommendation will be (you will track eligibility in your leader book)
Maintenance: check the equipment/vehicle for deficiencies listed; insist and use TMs; and get your hands dirty. Track it in your leader book.
Identify every support agency on the installation (AER, Red Cross, Education Center, etc.) and physically visit them and speak to the people who work there. Get the numbers and add them to your Leader Book.
APFT: Goal 300. Have your Soldiers set incremental goals, also.
Learn how to write awards and NCOERs. Get copies of approved awards, certificates of achievement, and NCOERs. Find opportunities to submit awards for your Soldiers.
Compete for NCOQ/Y and SAMC. Motivate and help your Soldiers do the same.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Feb 5 at 2019 3:37 PM

SGT Richard H. — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:37:26 -0500

Does the Army still teach/use the five C's? If not, they should.
Confidence, Competence, Courage, Candor, Commitment
That's a great platform to build from. Think about what each of those would mean to you in one of your leaders and how you would pass that on to subordinates.

Response by CSM Michael Chavaree made Feb 5 at 2019 3:54 PM

CSM Michael Chavaree — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:54:13 -0500

Be the best Combat Engineer you can be. Be a good person and help people out. Look after your folks and be a dependable person. Master the basics. The rest will come with time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 6:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 18:42:34 -0500

Understand Mission Command. Lead. You don't have to be the best, but you should be there with your troops. Learn how to effectively counsel.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 11:01 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 23:01:36 -0500

I would say complete Ranger and Sapper school. From there, your men will see that their leader did it, they can do it, as long as you motivate them as best as you can.

Lots of reading, I would read and listen to people who write about leadership, best person I have read about it John Maxwell. One thing I learn from him is I always as my guys what can I do for them before I end a conversation.

Also, compete for the Audie Murphy Board. This goes with knowing your Soldiers, since they ask questions in regards to your Soldiers.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 11:27 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 23:27:47 -0500

Never, ever forget where you came from.

Response by SPC Jerry Jones made Feb 6 at 2019 7:45 AM

SPC Jerry Jones — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 07:45:54 -0500

I would say to always listen to your troops, be firm with them and in all your decisions, and don't become their "best buddy" because they will take advantage of that in every situation. Make them admire and respect you....and by all means, don't be one of those NCO's that gets overweight, scams on every PT test, and can't even do PT. I had a good handful of Sergeants above me who were overweight and made every excuse to get out of PT, and all the lower ranks joked about them and never gave them respect. They were fat and lazy and never pulled their own weight. Pull your own weight and be a good example for your troops and make them want to be just like you when they reach that point in their enlistment. Lead by example and don't just use your rank to become lazy.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2019 1:11 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 13:11:53 -0500

In Naval terms - take care of the crew and they'll take care of the ship.

Response by 1SG Mike Turnipseed made Feb 6 at 2019 11:15 PM

1SG Mike Turnipseed — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 23:15:30 -0500

Listening is as important as talking, even more important as you become a Senior NCO.

Response by CSM Joseph Sweeney made Feb 7 at 2019 7:44 PM

CSM Joseph Sweeney — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 19:44:39 -0500

Know your job. Know your NCOs jobs. Read everything you can. Join your regimental affiliated organization. Join AUSA. Get your college done. Keep your personal life personal.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2019 4:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 16:39:51 -0500

Show them that you care. Out of a shop with 5 other NCOs all my joes come to me, they know im fair and considering twoards their needs. But they know if they mess up, I'm not the one they want to be on the mad side. Get to know your crew on a personal level. Know their interests, what motivates them, what made them join. Make sure when you talk to your crew about anything do the good,bad,good layout. 1 good folowed by the bad thing followed up by another good. Monthly performance counseling is a good tool, shows them what it is they need to work on and what they are doing well in. And most of all don't forget where you came from, you too were once a joe who didn't know everything. Teach, train, motovate, and inspire.

Response by MSG James Devereaux made Feb 12 at 2019 12:38 PM

MSG James Devereaux — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:38:52 -0500

Don’t require your men to do anything that you haven’t done or will be doing. For example, as a PSG in a rifle company, I was a young E6 among senior E7s. Our 1SG was pissed about nobody signing up for Audie Murphy Board. He said he required all of us platoon SGTs to give a name for each PLT. When he got to me I said “me, I guess I’m going”. I did not want to go, I was busy and being a PSG took all my time so I really Really didn’t want to, but I wasn’t going to throw one of my guys under the bus. I told myself that I’ll take all my real materials (PSG leader book, counseling packets, etc). I was going to read and study up some but wasn’t faking it. If my regular actions and methods weren’t good enough then I didn’t deserve to be a member of the prestigious club. Well, I smoked it and was inducted into the PACOM Audie Murphy Club in 1999. My platoon was impressed not with my induction but that I wasn’t sending them less I’d done it. My 1SG and CSM was very impressed but most importantly, my soldiers and squad leaders respected me. Hope that this story helps.

Response by CSM Davidandlori Nimmons made Apr 10 at 2019 10:04 PM

CSM Davidandlori Nimmons — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 22:04:11 -0400

This is not a question to answer. First there is Duty, Honor, Country. There is no book that one can study to make him/her a great NCO. You have to progress thru the leadership school, you have to take some of what you have learned from other NCO's as a. aquad leader you have a lot of responsibility to ensure those soldiers below you are taken care of. They must always come before you

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2019 9:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 21:44:11 -0400

Know practical, hands-on stuff. If your squad has a track, for instance, know about white-out on the bolts on the final drive (just as an example of the kinds of practical trivia you should know), and know how to tie a correct knot on a bangalore (correct number of knots and placement), and know how to create a good initiation-loop, how to tie a uli-knot, a scanlan-knot, so on and so forth - not just so that _you_ can do it, but so that you can show _others_how_to_do_it. Hard-skill, hands-on competency is your biggest value-add.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jul 11 at 2019 11:27 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:27:30 -0400

Troop leading procedures and personal integrity. Nothing more useless as an untrustworthy NCO.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 3 at 2019 5:09 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 17:09:51 -0400

You fight for the soldiers and love them. You get into the mud with them. Write down what you think good leaders do. You promote professional and personal growth. Try to have fun with them. I have told my E-5s to know their soldiers, train them, and take care of them since the E-5s are where the rubber meets the road. Don't forget time management. Give the soldiers ample time to prepare if you have that luxury.