Why do NCOs not receive institutional knowledge on officer mentorship when we are expected to raise them as well?

2013-12-06T01:44:33-05:00

Response by LTC Joseph Gross made Dec 6 at 2013 8:41 AM

2013-12-06T08:41:19-05:00

That is an interesting question. My first thought was that while NCOs train and guide new officers they don't really mentor them. But that is not really true. I've been mentored by some fine NCOs. I guess it is simply a matter that good NCOs of the quality to be considered Mentors to junior officers don't need guidance or institutional knowledge. They have already learned what they need to know to be a good mentor without someone putting a fancy name on it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2014 12:05 AM

2014-01-02T00:05:27-05:00

1SG,

I understand what you are saying. Why is there no training in the NCOES schools that focus on the NCO/Officer relationship? Why is it not taught during NCOPD? The new NCO/PO guide written by the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chief of Staff does discuss it. An entire chapter! I was amazed. I asked the same question. I also agree with LTC Gross, "Mentorship" may not be the right word. Guidance and training are. Good NCOs take years of OJT experience and share it with their hong LTs so they can learn it quickly and continue to grow in their leadership and managerial roles without having to be an NCO for 10 years. NCOs have to teach young officers how the Army works, what junior enlisted Soldiers do, how the mission is accomplished on the ground. How officer decisions affect the men/women on the ground. But officership can't be taught by an NCO, that is something that has to be taught by Sr. Officers.

Bottom line: The better an NCO can communicate NCO roles and show officers how the mission is accomplished by the Soldiers, the better equipped the officer is to make decisions that will affect us all.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 2 at 2014 12:51 AM

2014-01-02T00:51:19-05:00

I often wondered the same thing 1SG. I always thought that there could have been a block of instruction placed into ANCOC, I mean SLC, or added into SSD4.

I enjoyed reading LTC Gross' response. I think that he hit the mark when he mentioned that good NCOs who are in a position to mentor are already considered mentors without any institutional knowledge. We have gathered a wealth of knowledge through years of training, experiences, deployments, garrison operations, etc. We know what right looks like and just like we train and mentor our NCOs and Soldiers on a daily basis, we do the same for our Officers. Whether it is something as simple as offering two or three COAs to a situation with cause and effect on each and allowing him/her to make the most informed decision, to discussing UCMJ, awards, policy letters, etc. While none of were ever formally instructed on "how to mentor your Officer" on these and other topics, I believe that we all are more than capable to offer advice and guidance based on years of experience.