NCOs, What Are Your Expectations For A Junior Officer?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:40:39 -0500

The third paragraph of the NCO creed begins, "Officer's of my unit will have the maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accompliush mine." Should the Officer's creed be resturctured to better deliniate the commitiment Officers have with thier Unit, NCOs, and Soldiers?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2014 9:40 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:40:14 -0500

CPT Private RallyPoint Member, I feel qualified to comment on this question, since I was an enlisted man (and an NCO for part of that time) for 8.5 years before going warrant. I expected my junior officers (platoon leader, executive officer, company commander) to take care of officer business and clear the way for NCOs to get things done and lead troops.

As to the creeds ... If the NCO creed makes special mention of officers, I think it would be appropriate for officers to recognize NCOs in their creed.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2014 9:45 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 21:45:34 -0500

"NCO's in my unit will have the maximum guidance needed to accomplish their tasks; I will refrain from micro-managing them"

I'm not sure if that is in their creed....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2014 10:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 22:09:42 -0500

And, CPT Private RallyPoint Member, the Officer's Creed doesn't suggest alienating yourself from you soldiers. Actually, it requires you, in part, to concern yourself with the well-being of your subordinates.
As an officer, trust your NCOs. In turn, an NCO should trust their superiors to make the best decisions for the welfare of the unit.
And, Sir, to be honest, many an officer straight out of ROTC has learned the hard way: enlisted folk can identify pompous jerks immediately. Good news moves through the ranks fast, as does bad.

Response by SGT Mark Sullivan made Dec 15 at 2014 9:50 AM

SGT Mark Sullivan — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:50:21 -0500

LT's job is to conduct his Officers business, and watch and learn from the NCO's around him. Soldiers, NCO's included, know when an officer is a Pompous Jerk, and they will set him/her up for failure. The worst officers I have ever experienced have been Ring Knockers.

Response by SGM Omer Dalton made Mar 4 at 2021 6:33 PM

SGM Omer Dalton — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 18:33:39 -0500

Simple respect each other’s position. As an NCO the platoon, team, or section success also represents my competence level and leaderships ability. So work as a team. Officers give orders and NCOs executes those orders down the line. Neither side should play king of the hill.