Why Did you become a NCO?

After a four year active duty tour from which I ETSed as a SP5, I was looking to join the Army Reserves. I really didn’t want to drive from Norfolk Virginia to Fort Meade Maryland for drill weekend in my then MOS of 74D-G5.

So I had to find another career field closer to home. After spending weekends in a transportation unit at Fort Eustis, a military police detachment at Fort Monroe and a medical supply company in downtown Norfolk, I was still uncommitted.

The frustrated recruiter had one unit left on his list, a drill sergeant unit at Fort Story Virginia. He said the kicker was I would have to recertify as 11B to go to Drill Sergeant School.

After an interview with the company commander, I said sign me up. Was immediately appointed to Sergeant from SP5, went to a two week 11B certification course, had my MOS changed, attended drill sergeant school, and then spent 36 years in the Army Reserves.

Was a Drill Sergeant, Senior Drill Sergeant, Senior Field Leader, First Sergeant, and a CSM in drill sergeant units.

Was then appointed Commandant of an Army Reserve Drill Sergeant School, Professional Development Brigade CSM, deployed to Iraq to train the Iraqi Army, returned to become the Training Command Sergeant Major with all of the Army Reserves’ Drill Sergeants, finally ending my career as a Regional Support Command Sergeant Major.

Enjoyed it all and would do it again.
Think I made the right choice.

Turned down OCS 3 times. Saw early on, that NCO's do the actual training and close leading, while O's got stuck with projects, formal dinners and other nict picking things that kept them from the troops.

Well disclaimer, I am planning on going Warrant ha, however prior to that.. I knew i wanted to make the Army a career, even in bad units I loved the Army, so in order to stay in that obviously means you have to promote. Going "full" officer is not appealing to my in the slightest, and as a Warrant I want to go technical so need to hold squat for a bit. Thus joining the NCO corps. When first picking up SGT i didn't look at being an NCO as i do now. I was NCOIC at my last unit and loved helping, teaching, and mentoring Soldiers and seeing the good that can be had in being a great NCO.

I will definitely take my joy in teaching with me to being a Warrant to still teach and mentor Soldiers as the "SME".