Is it Time for an Operations MOS?

Working OPS is definitely a unique skillset that only fits with certain types of people. I have seen multiple NCOs that were excellent troop leaders who utterly failed when given an Operations assignment. Some can’t handle the thankless, relentless grind that comes with the job.

However, I had a CSM once tell me that a good OPS NCO can have far-reaching impact on a Soldier’s daily life. Receiving, analyzing, assigning, and distributing missions and tasks from the higher headquarters is an important job. A good Current Operations Sergeant serves as a check for equity and logic on behalf of the subordinate units. Future Operations Sergeants provide an equally important service by performing true most advance planning possible before it gets to the unit.

The “copy/paste” OPS NCO is the opposite, providing little value to the organization by “mailing it in” every day. In my experience, you get one or the other; there’s no in between.