What to do if you have poor NCO leadership?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 05:03:35 -0500

When I was a new platoon leader, I was assigned a platoon sergeant who was coming from BN S3. This is a guard unit, and he was AGR. On a drill weekend, he usually didn't even report to our armory, just went to BN(40 min away). At home station, I only saw him a handful of times.

He provided absolutely no guidance to me, or leadership for the NCOs in the platoon. He simply filled a slot and didn't work at it. What could have been done to get him in-line? I counseled him, I talked to the commander, I eventually tried to fill both hats, but failed badly. I tried to put it on his NCOER, but since he was AGR, I wasn't my own PSG's rater.

Any advice?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 5:20 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 05:20:12 -0500

Find his rater. Tell him what he has not done or helped you out with. Someone there he answers to. Spade is a spade so I would let everyone know how he has left you out to dry. NCO's don't do that. Especially to their new LT's. Its not in our Creed. If you ever see him again ask him if he even knows our Creed!

Response by SFC Nikhil Kumra made Feb 4 at 2015 6:42 AM

SFC Nikhil Kumra — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 06:42:41 -0500

As a leader yourself sometimes it is your obligation to press upward as well as downward to correct what isn't right. Being the "squeaky wheel" until you get your way - especially when you know you're in the right. In the end, everybody benefits from this type of guy being gone.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 7:10 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 07:10:46 -0500

1. Your commander should have stepped up and supported you, ensuring he understood his duties as your PLT SGT and his responsibilities to your unit.

2. Talk to his rater and explain his presence is required at your unit (not BN). See you if can get the rater on board with his duties at your unit. Provide your counselings to his rater for his NCOER.

3. Place another NCO in his spot (MTOE or not), find a senior NCO that is available and ask him/her to step up and fill the PLT SGT role. Not only will you and the rest of the Soldiers in your platoon get the support and leadership you need, it will be a great leadership bullet on his/her NCOER.

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Feb 4 at 2015 7:19 AM

Sgt Jay Jones — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 07:19:17 -0500

1LT Jeff Bornes, I empathize with your situation. One of the most challenging things any leader can be saddled with is a poor partner. I'm talking about the partnership between an Officer and his counterpart NCO. This occurs at all levels of leadership. Fundamentally, YOU are responsible for your platoon. It doesn't matter that you have a poor Platoon Sergeant or not. You are expected to adapt, improvise and overcome. There are several ways you can accomplish this. You attempted to counsel the NCO with no success. There comes a time in a leader's career where you have to resort to giving orders. NCO YOU WILL DO THIS, YOU WILL BE PRESENT, etc, etc. I don't particularly like this approach, but it is an option. You talked to your commander. I hate to inform you of this, but your commander doesn't want to solve your problems. He/she has their own problems, plus they are evaluating you to see how you solve your own problems. A leader doesn't want subordinates bring them problems, just solutions and results. You also mentioned that you tried to fill both hats. This was probably the biggest mistake you made. Just as you mentioned you failed badly, sorry for that experience. Trying to put it on is NCOER, wasn't going to work because AGR are going to balk at RA rating one of their NCO's. I mention a lot of negative this thus far. In my opinion, you as a new leader needed help and guidance and received very little if any from the chain of command. Your best course of action in my opinion is to circumvent this poorly performing NCO. I am sure you had some NCO's in your platoon who could have stepped forward and given you good advice and direction and TRAINING. Depend on those who do not have the title. Titles are just that "Titles", find someone who will accomplish the mission. This is an opportunity for to develop an junior NCO as you yourself develop. Remember challenges are opportunities to show your mettle! Embrace this opportunities, be innovative and your chain of command will notice.

Response by LCDR Jamie Galus made Feb 4 at 2015 7:24 AM

LCDR Jamie Galus — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 07:24:54 -0500

SSG Private RallyPoint Member You need to have a candid conversation with your 1st Sgt and CSM and tell them that this guy isn't cutting it and needs to be replaced.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 7:35 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 07:35:10 -0500

That's a strange example as the AGR NCO is usually the readiness NCO and does the majority of the 1SGs job, at least from what I have seen on ACRC. You should of relieved that NCO after you counseled him a couple times. I know it is easier said than done especially in the NG but that's what should of happened.

As a platoon leader you actually work for the battalion commander because the battalion fights platoons. If your platoon isn't pulling their weight due to a poor platoon sergeant that is something the battalion commander and CSM need to know ASAP! It would take a squared away CSM about 1.5 seconds to get that SFC straight.

One of the most important things a young LT needs to understand is his/her power and authority. You are responsible for everything the platoon does and fails to do and if a crappy platoon sergeant is making the platoon fail, that NCO has to go.

Response by MAJ Monique Ruiz made Feb 4 at 2015 8:55 AM

MAJ Monique Ruiz — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 08:55:15 -0500

It was too early to respond. I was too honest. haha!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 2:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 14:00:17 -0500

I had a very capable e6 step in and he did quite well. The psg ended up admin d/c. Looking back i really should have pushed harder.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Dec 21 at 2015 8:39 PM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 20:39:06 -0500

This sounds like an issue that needs guidance. Approaching the BN SGM would be a prudent thing. S/he will take the information and guide said wayward soul back to reality.