What's the best way to prepare to be an NCO without having to shadow one?

It's perfectly acceptable to seek advice from personal outside your unit. Just keep in mind that there are several NCO's that find the last half of your post very disrespectful. Also if soldiers within your unit read this they will loose faith in the leadership appointed over them. This is an excellent website and valuable tool just remember to scan your sector before posting.

I'll say this, some of my greatest attributes as a leader I learned from my worst leaders. I remember taking mental notes saying "I won't do that to my Soldiers". You know, it's like living in the "one day when I'm in charge" moments. What you can do is never forget where you came from, because that's usually what happens. Soldiers get promoted and do the same sh** they hated to their Soldiers. So you can learn from the bad ones just as much from the great ones, learn what to do, and just as important, what not to do.