The Importance of the Role of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) Within the U.S. Army

The scope of this essay is to inform the audience on what defines the Foundations of Army Leadership and the importance they have on what it is to be a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in the United States Army. The foundation of Army leadership is the building blocks of what values we have today. Those building blocks include what we know today as the Army Values, attributes, skills and actions which comes from the phrase Be-Know-Do. In 1775, the Army adopted a set a values that derived from civil authority and military leaders through general principles of life. The NCOs are the back bone of the Army and are the stronghold that represents what Army leadership is. The Army has instilled in us on the very first day of Basic Training that the Army Values are one of the most important things we need to maintain. The foundations of Army leadership starts with the Army Values; Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage (LDRSHIP). The beginning of the leadership began on July 4th, 1776 when the United States adopted the Declaration of Independence. There is nothing more that says leadership than putting on the Army uniform every single day. As soldiers, more importantly NCOs we are all leaders regardless of rank, race, age, and gender. Competences, performing, and proficiency are three key things to Army leadership. Competences provide a clear and consistent way of conveying expectations for Army leaders.

Performing is by conducting missions or tasks that develop, sustain, and improving competencies. Proficiency is when soldiers take it upon themselves to educate themselves and gain experience in their respective competencies. NCOs have a lot of responsibility; to include the accomplishment of the mission and the welfare of their soldiers. The Army relies heavily on the NCOs expecting them to take on many roles. Those roles include being a mentor, teacher, and friend that give guidance, solutions and inspiration. NCOs are responsible for being the face of the Army by setting and maintaining the standards and discipline. The NCO is so important in the Army they need to be accountable of the soldiers at all times, be of strong character, and build cohesion within the organization. The NCOs are in charge of the junior enlisted, but they also help the officers that are above them. NCOs guide their Lieutenants to be better and more efficient leaders, especially the ones that just graduate Basic Officers Leaders Course (BOLC). NCOs really are the backbone of the Army and have a large impact on the way the Army operates.

The Army and the NCO have accomplished many things since the beginning of the rank structure. The Army has had great NCO leaders and bad NCO leaders that define what the true meaning of leadership is today. “Since 1775, the Noncommissioned Officer Corps has distinguished itself through leadership, professionalism, commitment, courage and dedication”. The Army has relied heavily on NCOs for good reasons, NCOs drive the Army and keep the Army rolling. Although, NCOs are not perfect and always have things to improve on. For example NCOs need to be better about being more personable and being more involved in getting to know their junior enlisted, such as their background. “NCOs need to spend more time with squad and platoon leaders, teaching them the importance of counseling and communicating with their Soldiers and less time on the Internet. (And communicating means more than just talking to them; it’s also listening to Soldiers concerns and doing something to solve their problems.) In other words, we need to train and mentor.”  It would beneficial for NCOs to learn personal things about their soldiers.  For example, their birthday, family size, married or children, hobbies, and culture. By NCOs doing this, it will show their soldiers that they care. When an NCO asks about those things, it increases morale and gains trust throughout the platoon, squad, and team. The Foundations of Army Leadership play a big role in the way NCOs lead. NCOs need to use the Foundations of Army Leadership to be Effective Leaders and build their own style of leadership by incorporating the Foundations of Army Leadership into their own foundations of leadership. NCOs drive the Army, they are mentors, trainers, leaders and friends. NCOS have the responsibility of training their soldiers and ensuring that they are proficient in their tasks. NCOs, generally E-5 Sergeants, are the leaders that are in charge of making the soldiers underneath them competent enough in their own task that they can fill the shoes of an absent leader. In the Army everybody is a leader, but it is the NCOs job that push soldiers and make them want to be future leaders. The NCOs are the back bone of the Army and are the stronghold that represents what Army leadership is.