In 1993, I joined the Army National Guard, as a Mechanic. Soon after enlistment, I realized Army life actually suited me; and, despite never having turned a wrench before, I turned out to be a pretty good mechanic. Through the years, I’ve worked hard in hopes that one day I would reach the top of the Army rank structure. Being promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class was a major accomplishment. As a senior non-commissioned officer, I felt I had arrived and was perfectly content on retiring at this rank. That is until recently, when I realized the possibility existed that I could become a First Sergeant, the highest ranked non-commissioned officer in the company.
Achieving the goal of becoming a First Sergeant will require a series of events to take place. In order to illustrate this case in a hypothetical syllogism it would be best to do so using a chain argument. On the pages that follow, I will attempt to present the reader with enough proof to enable them to conclude I will definitely be promoted to the rank of First Sergeant. In addition, I will reconstruct the full argum...
The United States Army has been a leader in military prowess on the world stage since its inception in 1775, and with such a record, it is reasonably assumed that there must be solid foundation within the organization working to maintain the high level of performance. The Noncommissioned Officer Corps is one institution within the Army that serves as a large portion of this foundation that makes it the fighting force that it has always been, and the noncommissioned officers have been an integral piece since the very inception of the Army. The Prussian General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, organizer of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps, encapsulated this idea when he coined the noncommissioned officer (NCO) as the backbone of the Army. (Arms, 1991) In an Army that is continuously adjusting to world around it while maintaining its status as the military leader to all other nations, the Noncommissioned Officer Corps has always provided the platform for continuity through a growing rank system based on its original core, an evolving training program to develop effective leaders, and a creed that moves us forward while remembering the rich history of the corps that came before us.
This paper will not bore with the definition of a profession. The United States Army is about more than words, it is about action. The action of over 238 years of tradition and service. The Army is a profession. A profession requires its members to adhere to prolonged training and learn specialized skills. A member of a profession must wholly commit himself and his skills to a calling which is entrusted by the public. A profession provides its members with intrinsic value which motivates beyond financial gain. The Army is a higher calling which demands all of these qualities and more.
Staff Sergeant (SSGT) Louis Moeller shaped me into the Recon Marine I wanted to be and the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) that I am now. By embodying the Recon Creed and always setting the example, he made me want to be an NCO that my troops would look up to and want to follow. Even when not in charge he was constantly the one peers and junior Marines alike, turned to for guidance and inspiration. To this day, I still find myself asking “What would Louis do?” when confronted with a leadership dilemma.
For years I have aspired to become a part of an elite organization such as the military, and more importantly, the United States Navy. Its reputation for instilling high moral character was encouragement for me to develop into a more mature, responsible, and independent young citizen. There are certain qualities that an officer must possess such as: honor, courage, commitment, and attention to duty, responsiveness to orders, cooperation, loyalty, leadership, integrity, and discipline. Throughout my high school career, I showcased these qualities while an active member of The American Legion of Ohio Buckeye Boy’s State, The National Honor Society, as a leader in the Ohio State Highway Patrol Junior Cadets, Clay and Waite High School Marching Band Alumni, Quiz Bowl, and Top Ten Scholars. I was actively involved in charitable activities such as Math and SOS tutoring, community volunteering, and the Indian 100 Leadership Team, (a volunteer organization on my high school campus). I have shown strength, perseverance and leadership in my participation in wrestling, cheerleading, and bodybui...
There are many things that have impacted my life in a positive way as a result of my military service. For starters, joining the Navy was huge. It got me organized and opened my eyes to an entirely new world, and not just the military service world. The variety of experiences that I’ve had in the service interacting with people from all over the world has helped me grow as a person. However, from the day I entered service, one item or one rank in the structure of the Navy struck me as critical to the operation of the Navy. That item or rank was the position of the Chief Petty Officer. As I entered service I quickly discovered that the Chief was the go to guy and the old saying “ask a chief” had a profound meaning. The Chief was a leader, mentor, and an expert in just about everything, all qualities that I lacked at the time. Then, twelve or so years later, the life changing event for me of being selected as a Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy came to fruition.
As a Non-commissioned Officer you can expect me to be a professional leader dedicated to taking care of soldiers, the mission, and the army way of life. You can expect me to use Army Regulations, Technical Manuals, and direct orders from my superiors as my guidance on what actions to take in each situation faced whether tactical or technical. I will not be afraid to make sound and timely decisions in the absence of my leadership’s orders. When left in charge I will take charge.
I have always wanted to be a soldier in the United States Army. I liked the idea of serving of my country. I started at a young age trying to help my community. I volunteered to help at soup kitchens, do yard work for elderly or disabled people, and I joined the Boy Scouts and later on became a Junior leader and an Eagle Scout. This desire of helping others led me to enlist in the P.A. ARNG in March 2015. I enlisted with the intent of becoming an officer. I originally planned on going to Valley Forge Military College. I later on received the full ECP scholarship. This decision had changed when I was in B.C.T. at Fort Jackson SC. I had met with a cadet who had just finished his 3rd year at West Point. He loved it and after talking with him
I want to be a JAG Officer because of the variety of work it provides. I have demonstrated interests in criminal law, international law, and national security law. My interest in criminal law started as a child in front of the television and I continued to engage this interest by studying criminal justice and honing my investigatory at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. My interests in international and national security law began in college where I studied and wrote about topics such as Just War Theory and terrorism and have continued in law school where I am the Director of Events for my institutions National Security Law Association. A career in the JAG Corps will allow me to pursue those interests while my ability
I have led, recognized and employed the strengths and talents of those Airmen entrusted to me. I have lead from the front only because I have earned the trust of those behind me. I believe in and embody our service's core values in my personal and professional lives. I am the 'Whole Airman' through excellent technical aptitudes, unrivaled commitment to duty and a genuine desire to improve our force. Time and time again, and without reservation, my family and I sacrificed our wants and time for the demands of my profession. My family and I fully understand what this transition entails and as an officer, I will be fully devoted to the duties and Airmen entrusted to me. As a prior-enlisted officer, I will empathize with my Airmen ensuring their contributions are recognized and further develop them in every facet that is our Air Force culture. Finally, as a commissioned Airman, I intend to serve long and decisively to honor those that have served before us, my family’s proud military heritage and my wife and daughter…who drive me to be successful and strive for every new
As a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, preparing myself and rising to the challenge of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club induction sets the right example for my fellow NCO’s, especially the junior NCO’s that look at me as a Leader they aspire to be. Whether it is the NCO’s at my current station or NCO’s from my past Leadership positions, I always endeavor to set a positive example for them to keep moving forward and progressing in their careers. If I remain stagnant, and set the example of mediocrity and established entitlement, they will look to my example and think they have arrive. I aspire to be a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club for my Soldiers and fellow NCO’s, past, present, and
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 written by SFC Earle Brigham and Jimmie Jakes Sr”). These words to the 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 an NCO’s school.
In the United States Army, there are two categories of rank structure, the enlisted corps and the commissioned corps. The enlisted corps within itself contains leaders, who are referred to as Noncommissioned Officers, or NCOs. These individuals, whose ranks range from Sergeant to Sergeant Major, are responsible for implementing the guidance and command policies provided by the Commissioned Officers and commanders in their units. NCOs are also responsible for the welfare and training of junior personnel. The US Army provides regulations and manuals with step-by-step guidance for the most trivial of tasks, but it fails to spell out specific and concrete information on how to be an NCO.
There are many roads in life that people travel down to get to where they are going, and it is impossible to know where you are headed until you find experiance in where you have been. I did not have the opportunity to grow up in a military family per se, but the discipline instilled in myself by both of my parents allowed me to strive for any goal I set out after. From a very young age, a higher education was something not only to be sought after, but an expectation.
Army life can be very challenging and a life changing experience. It was very challenging and life changing for me. I was raised by my Grandparents they did everything for me so this was a wakeup call for me on life. An independent person was not I, so I had problems with the changes about to come. Army life is constantly demanding and constantly changing without notice. Although the travel was exciting, army life for me was very challenging because I had to learn to adapt to a new system, to share my life with other soldiers, and to give up many of the comforts of home.
First, there is respect, just because you have the rank and status of an officer doesn’t mean those below you in your command are going to respect you. A lot of people are going into the army as officers thinking everyone owes them something and that they have to do what they say. All I can say to that is, you’re in for a rude awakening. As officers we should respect those below us and talk to them as a leader should not a boss especially our NCOS and PSG. I believe that they are the best asset a young officer has at his disposal due to their knowledge and