What is an NCO-Leadership lessons

NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS - Excerpt from Army Leadership

NCOs conduct the daily operations of the Army. The NCO corps has adopted a vision that defines
their role within the Army organization.

The Army relies on NCOs who are capable of executing complex tactical operations, making intentdriven
decisions, and who can operate in joint, interagency, and multinational scenarios. They must take
the information provided by their leaders and pass it on to their subordinates. Soldiers look to their NCOs
for solutions, guidance, and inspiration. Soldiers can relate to NCOs since NCOs are promoted from the
junior enlisted ranks. They expect them to be the buffer, filtering information from the commissioned
officers and providing them with the day-to-day guidance to get the job done. To answer the challenges of
the contemporary operating environment, NCOs must train their Soldiers to cope, prepare, and perform no
matter what the situation. In short, the Army NCO of today is a warrior-leader of strong character,
comfortable in every role outlined in the NCO Corps’ vision.

NCO leaders are responsible for setting and maintaining high-quality standards and discipline. They
are the standard-bearers. Throughout history, flags have served as rallying points for Soldiers, and because
of their symbolic importance, NCOs are entrusted with maintaining them. In a similar sense, NCOs are also
accountable for caring for Soldiers and setting the example for them.

NCOs live and work every day with Soldiers. The first people that new recruits encounter when
joining the Army are NCOs. NCOs process Soldiers for enlistment, teach basic Soldier skills, and
demonstrate how to respect superior officers. Even after transition from civilian to Soldier is complete, the
NCO is the key direct leader and trainer for individual, team, and crew skills at the unit level.

While preparing Soldiers for the mission ahead, the NCO trainer always stresses the basics of
fieldcraft and physical hardening. He knows that the tools provided by technology will not reduce the need
for mentally and physically fit Soldiers. Soldiers will continue to carry heavy loads, convoy for hours or
days, and clear terrorists from caves and urban strongholds. With sleep often neglected in fast-paced
operations, tactical success and failure is a direct correlation to the Soldiers’ level of physical fitness.
Taking care of Soldiers means making sure they are prepared for whatever challenge lies ahead.

NCOs have other roles as trainers, mentors, communicators, and advisors. When junior officers first
serve in the Army, their NCO helps to train and mold them. When lieutenants make mistakes, seasoned
NCOs can step in and guide the young officers back on track. Doing so ensures mission accomplishment
and Soldier safety while forming professional and personal bonds with the officers based on mutual trust
and common goals. “Watching each other’s back” is a fundamental step in team building and cohesion.

For battalion commanders, the command sergeant major is an important source of knowledge and
discipline for all enlisted matters within the battalion. At the highest level, the Sergeant Major of the Army
is the Army Chief of Staff’s personal advisor, recommending policy to support Soldiers and constantly
meeting with and checking Soldiers throughout the Army.