It is the non-commissioned officer to whom the soldier first turns when he needs information, advice or help. The squad leader, platoon sergeant and first sergeant create the leadership environment in which today`s army concepts thrive or degrade. The quality of the non-commissioned officer corps determines to a large extent the quality of the army. The advice we give is exactly that, whether the commander decides to follow him or not is his decision. Remember that you are the consultant and not the decision-maker. There may be other inputs, factors, and considerations involved that you are not aware of. Once a decision is made, it must be supported and implemented as if it were your own. The Sergeant then oversees organizational activities and takes corrective action to keep the organization within the limits of the Commander`s intentions or reports on situations that require the attention of the Officer`s management. You must love being a soldier; Love being with other soldiers; to lead, educate and care for soldiers and their families; be technically and tactically competent; be committed, motivated, physically fit, mentally alert and morally simple; believe in your comrades, your army and your nation; Strive to be all you can be. And if you are a leader, you want the same for those under your responsibility. One of the most important roles in which an MSC has the greatest influence is its role as advisor to the commander and its function within the command team. The relationship established between the CSM and the Commander, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff is inherent in the success of the organization. This relationship allows direct access to these leaders and provides the opportunity for an open and open discussion on all matters concerning the command.
In short, non-commissioned officers facilitate open and honest communication within the command, with the aim of ensuring that the command perfectly fulfills the commander`s vision and the accomplishment of the mission. Below are a number of roles and responsibilities that I believe remain consistent at all levels of NCO leadership, although the approaches taken by the leader may change at different levels. Among the four interconnected qualities that are crucial for a modern military – PULL – professionalism, unity, leadership, loyalty – the key quality is leadership. When you, as a leader, check something, the soldiers stay focused on it. Leaders must be everything they want their soldiers to be – soldiers learn to be good leaders from good leaders. We talk about leadership and say that to be a good leader, you have to be open, committed, courageous and competent. If you really care, you`ll do all these things. If you take care of our nation, if you take care of the military, if you take care of the soldiers and their families, you will make sure that you possess these qualities. The goal of leadership is to accomplish the mission – to get the job done. This challenge to get the job done is the same whether a soldier is a squad leader, a chief of staff or a company sergeant. This challenge also applies, whether the people who are led are active duty soldiers, army reservists, national guards, civilians or retirees. In a service where high technology and increasingly sophisticated new equipment are seen as the key to maintaining a modern fighting force, individual soldiers remain the most important asset to success on the battlefield – but they are still only as good as their leadership.
It is the leaders, from the corporal to the general, who are responsible for maintaining a climate of opportunity, growth and care that allows both cohesion and initiative to flourish. If you are technically and tactically savvy, adhere to the standards and guidelines of the military and lead by example, you will have no problem. If you don`t, you`ll have problems with your soldiers. You can`t fool them. You could never and never can. “Leadership by example” is much more than a cliché; It`s a way of life. We hold the future of the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps in our hands.
