In Need of Good Leaders

As our forefathers before us stated, ‘‘No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as “The Backbone of the Army (“The NCO Creed writing by SFC Earle Brigham and Jimmie Jakes Sr”). These words to Noncommissioned Officer should inspire us to the fullest with pride, honor, and integrity. The NCO creed should mean much more than just words whenever we attend a NCO’s school. For most of us this is what our creed has become because we learn to narrate or recite. The military from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard has an overabundance of NCOs who fall under their pay grade of E-5, E-6 and etc. Yet somehow there still not enough leaders. I believe that the largest problem afflicting the military today is our lack of competent leaders, ineffective leader development, and how we influence our subordinates under us who are becoming leaders.
The NCO Creed states, “I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as “The Backbone of the Army” (‘The NCO Creed’). That verse alone should be the most inspiring part that all Noncommissioned Officers should love to hear because it’s true in many aspects. The question to ask is, are we driving it in the right direction. There has never been a time in our history when Soldiers needed competent and strong leaders more than today. The social complications that our young Soldiers face are beyond what any generation before them has had to endure and learn and navigate. The military are looking for leaders who can be role models for these Soldiers. Anyone can tell a soldier what to do, but a good leader can show, direct and motiva...

... middle of paper ...

...it’s early formation on Monday morning or at a club nearing midnight. The responsibility of being a leader is a 24 hour, seven days a week job that we all should love to do. It must be taken seriously and achieved by only those who have earned the right to be called a Noncommissioned Officer.

Works Cited

ARMY LEADERSHIP, August 2012, Department of the Army, ADP 6-22
TERMS ANDMILITARY SYMBOL, September2013, Department of the Army, ADRP 1-02
SFC Earle B, and Jimmie J. 1973 THE NCO CREED, FM7-22.7
THE ARMY NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER GUIDE, December 2002, Department of the
Army, FM 7-22.7
WEAR AND APPEARANCE OF ARMY UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA, 11 May 2012, Department of the Army, AR 670-1
THE ARMY WEIGHT CONTROL PROGRAM AR, 28 June 2013, Department of the Army, AR
600-9
TRAINING UNITS AND DEVELOPING LEADERS, August 2012, Department of the Army,
ADP 7-0