What has been your most challenging NCO paygrade?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:52:50 -0500

And by challenging, I mean with anything. Fire away!!

Response by SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA made Feb 3 at 2015 3:54 PM

SGT Steven Eugene Kuhn MBA — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:54:07 -0500

SGT E5 was my only so it was the toughest, or the transition from SP4 to SGT in other words!

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Feb 3 at 2015 3:54 PM

SPC James Mcneil — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:54:26 -0500

I would have to say the newly pinned SGT.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 4:30 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 16:30:34 -0500

A newly pinned Active duty SGT/E5. Followed by over a year in the USAR Drill Sergeant program as an E5. FRUS-TRAT-ING!!!! However, full of life lessons I wouldn't give up for the world.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 4:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 16:57:45 -0500

If any of you served as a Corporal then I would have to say that is the hardest rank as you get treated as both an NCO and Lower Enlisted at the same time depending upon the situation.

Of course in the newer ARMY you really do not see the rank of Corporal too often SFC Private RallyPoint Member

I will agree with others in that the new E-5 "Buck Sergeant!" is the next in line for sure.

Although as you move up the chain eaxh has its own challenges. It just depends upon how much support you have.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 6:21 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:21:03 -0500

Honestly I think every NCO rank gets more and more challenging. With every rank responsibility increases so does the babysitting of soldiers. Then tack on extra duties counseling and NCOERS and slowly but surely the suck takes over your life. Don't forget about the constant "hey you"

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 3 at 2015 6:22 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:22:48 -0500

That was easy since I only held one NCO paygrade and that was E-5. Some of the challenges I faced was senior NCOs not backing me up when necessary.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 6:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:35:12 -0500

Definitely SGT/E-5, especially when you get promoted ahead if your oeers/friends and they become your subordinates, is really a challange.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Feb 3 at 2015 6:45 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:45:11 -0500

I gave my platoon sergeant (SFC) many gray hairs the first few months I was the platoon's new 2LT. Haha! :)

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 3 at 2015 6:56 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:56:26 -0500

On the Marine side I was an NCO at E4 (Cpl) and E5 (Sgt).

I was a Cpl in a Grunt BN, which actually made it a lot easier overall, just because I had so many more leaders around me. It was a Fleet unit, and the "types" of Marines makes it easier to lead.

I picked up Sgt 10 days after I transferred to my second duty station, which was Quantico.

Quantico is NOT a Fleet unit. One of the first things the leadership tells you, and reminds you is that "this is not the Fleet." A lot of the young Marines on the base had never been to the FMF (Fleet Marine Force). Quantico is a training base (Marine Corps University, the Basic School, OCS, EWS, CSC, etc). The average rank on base is actually Major.

So, things you take for granted, just aren't the same. There are a lot more calls for providing "gentle guidance" (as opposed to WTF! Marine). Additionally, when new leadership comes in, the requirement to let them know the environment so you don't have a SNCO having an anuerism on the office floor within the first couple weeks of arriving.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 8:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 20:42:21 -0500

My current. SFC. I have had some challenging assignments as a SFC. My current is AIT PLT SGT. Not sure how some of these Warriors made it past the recruiters and then past the Drill SGT's. Probably doesn't help but half my career has been SFC. Maybe this board starting on the 11th will change all that!

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Feb 4 at 2015 7:20 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 07:20:44 -0500

I had a fairly difficult time with SSgt/E5, the expectation of supervising subordinates and writing Enlisted Performance Reports in addition to a very large workload caused me much frustration. In time, I adjusted, but there were really some challenging moments in my juggling act.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 7:58 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 07:58:20 -0500

Being a first sergeant was by far the most challenging position I ever held. Sergeant was hard but when I was a sergeant as long as I could P.T. and ruthlessly enforce AR 670-1 my life was easy.

The level of responsibility being a 1SG is tremendous, I would say as much so if not more than being a CSM. It was also the most rewarding position I ever held.