What is the best lesson an NCO/Officer has ever taught you?

My section sergeant, who I hated and he hated me, at my first duty station (in Germany) always had me do things as difficult and inefficiently as possible. He intentionally made my job hard. I thought it was for his entertainment. When I later deployed to Afghanistan while part of another unit, the only way I could accomplish my missions was the way that S.O.B. made me do things. As it turned out, he made my job easy and made me look like a pro. I later heard a quote from Bruce Lee that put it all in perspective, that went something like this, "Wish not for an easy life, but pray for the strength to endure a hard one."

Lead by example and action. When I went through Basic, our initial CO was a young Lieutenant, who, when we were out on a run, would ride along in a Jeep, shouting comments to us. Morale was not high. About half way through, he was replaced by a Captain from the 1st Air Cav. The captain ran with us, and morale improved greatly.

A CW3 really hammered taking care of the family and putting if not equal then more work and effort into relationships at home then at doing your job. At the end of the day when the Army is done with you, shakes your hand, and thanks you for your service who will be there when you get home?

My CO taught us that no matter your MOS, your rank, or anything else, for everyone in the military, your primary function is WAR and that as unlikely as it may seem it would be our duty to stand between the American people (our, families, friends, neighbors, all US citizens) and the enemy.

I was in a detachment so our CO was a CW4

Don't tell me what you are going to do; do it, tell me what you did, and don't screw it up.

My first PLT SGT told me to always do the right thing no matter who is watching. I learned over the next 25 years that if you always do the right thing, you never have to look over your shoulder. Every situation has a different “right” thing. The best soldiers figure out what that thing is and make sure that’s what is done.
Of course the tough part of those four words is “always”!! It’s not realistic to thing we flawed humans can live up to that standard. Trying to and wanting to do the right thing usually works!!

The best advice I ever received was while sitting in my 3rd Squad Leader’s car. I was angry and disappointed with all of the messed up terrible leadership and bullshit I was experiencing in the Army. He told me “take out a notebook and write down everything you see wrong with the Army and everything you see right and after you get the rank to fix things be the difference.” I hope I’m still living up to that.

NCO’s took me aside, and reminded me that I was no longer one of “the boys”, that the Commission made a change... not that we were not still on the same team. That showed me their respect and that their advice or comments, from then on meant more to me. They made me and for that, I am humbled.

This is a difficult one to respond to; I've had so much great advice from both sides of the ranks but one in particular comes to mind. My DIVARTY Commander, COL Van Horn, pressured us as battery commanders to investigate every accident no mater how seemingly insignificant. I will not go in to the entire story but years later when I recommended this for an accident (outside of my chain of command) it was ignored. As a result a soldier died. Had the original incident been investigated the cause of the accident would have been discovered and repaired.

When reporters come around... shut up. All they're looking for is a story, they don't care if that story lands you in Leavenworth making big rocks into smaller rocks.