What is the best advice you would give to an individual getting ready to be promoted to Sergeant?

Your in the Army you'll be fine lol, E-5

E-5 in the Navy is the first rank you really are looked at to be a leader but we also have opportunities at E-4 and below depending on the job field. A lot of this can apply to you in the Army as well. My advice to you is remember where you came from. When you have to give an order or lead your troops/team/etc. to get an evolution done, you were the one who had to do the crappy work once before. Never forget that.

For new people under your leadership, make a good first impression by making them feel comfortable and wanted but make sure they understand your expectations and goals clearly. No one likes working for a leader that doesn't give clear direction or expectations.

Do your best to take the dirty looks, snide comments and disrespect from others as best you can. I am a direct person so if I feel someone has wronged me, I approach them tactfully.

Figure out a system to manage your people, try different styles and see how it works out not just for you but them. Be intrusive in your leadership, you need to know your people but they need to respect you and understand you as well.

The best advice I ever received was everything in the military has a regulation and could be "black and white" but we as leaders should live in the "gray." What I mean by that is it is up to you to decide how the outcome of a situation will go. Sometimes you handle it at your level and other times it goes up the chain of command.