Comments on: I’m a Noncommissioned Officer…

By: jj mollo

jj mollo — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:32:06 +0000

Most people have a tendency to think they could do a better job than their immediate superiors, but I get the feeling that you are tuned into something more carefully thought out than that. I can tell you that the problem you’re describing extends to the corporate world as well. As I see it, members of any hierarchy have much less good information than they imagine about those below them. It’s a systemic problem. I have seen a lot of good people who fly below the radar, never getting promoted because they spend more effort tending their jobs than they spend polishing their relationship with the boss. The bosses think they know who’s paying their dues, but they really only know who’s taking credit. There are exceptions, of course. Some managers are extremely astute in their personnel judgments. Those are the ones who do a little reality testing on a daily basis. If you notice that kind of behavior, you should encourage it. As an NCO you have a lot more influence on your superiors than you might imagine. And if you really think you have what it takes to be a good officer, you should go for it.

By: del

del — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:09:20 +0000

I was one of those “shake and bake” and was promoted to E-4 in 4 months after enlisting and E5 a year later. But I had good role models and mentors and that made the difference. I believe I was an outstanding NCO due to the example and leadership of those above me. I was luckey in that reguard. The 314th has that same kind of leadership at all levels.

By: David M

David M — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:10:48 +0000

The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 06/22/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

By: SGM Troy Falardeau

SGM Troy Falardeau — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:21:23 +0000

Bill, I agree with your assessment. The blog entries here also get me thinking. In fact, this one reminded me of my days at the Sergeants Major Academy. Each student there is required to join a small study group and then research and write a detailed assessment of a topic that requires attention. The paper is then sent to the Pentagon for review. Our group chose just this topic — Star MOSs, early promotions (earlier than ones that you and I probably witnessed in the “old” Army), and whether this was a good thing. As SGT Anderson states, some Soldiers may not be 100% ready for the task they are assigned, but we are a nation at war with shortages in key job skills.

So, does promoting a Soldier quickly solve that problem? Our study group came up with a definite “maybe”. We found the same objections during the Vietnam era to a problem dubbed “shake and bake” where Soldiers who scored well on entrance exams were diverted, given a few weeks extra training, and then given the rank of sergeant. Did that program work? One of the people who provided us background on that Vietnam-era program said it did. He said (using dark humor) the good ones, the ones who lived through the first 5-6 weeks on the ground in Vietnam, turned out to be good NCOs. IN fact, some went on to become command sergeants major in brigades, battalions, and divisions.

SGT Anderson’s question might never be answered completely, but I like the fact that she is willing to address it, and to realize in herself the restraint to jump at a chance that she feels she needs to prepare more to accept. Luckily, the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center is filled with many other Soldiers just like her.

Thanks for reading our blogs, and keep on asking those tough questions!

By: Bill Larsen

Bill Larsen — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:39:50 +0000

Thank you for such a well thought out exposition. I guess you will have to wait until you realize “hey, I could do a much better job and help my people better than that staff sergeant.”

Every blog I read here causes me about four, or more, hours of research because they raise all types of questions to me. In this case it was about the current Army promotion system. I didn’t know that a 46Q was a “Star MOS” (71Q when I served).

Keep up the good blogging. It keeps my mind active and exposes all that I do not know (not all… it is what you don’t know you don’t know that get you).