Staff Writer
Non-commissioned officers are the driving force behind the Army. They are the ones that carry out the orders given by commanders, direct and train troops, and usually have the most experience.
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| Master Sgt. John Torre assists a Cadet while overseeing the rappel tower. Photo by Michael Rivera |
2009 is the year of the NCO. The NCO is being celebrated for the “backbone” role they play in the Army.
“A general officer or a commander understands the value of a good non-commissioned officer corps, but the community may not know,” LTC Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Green said of why it’s important to recognize the NCO, although there isn’t an exact reason why this year was chosen.
An NCO, in the majority of cases, is an officer in the Army who took the route of entering through the rank of private and working their way up. As opposed to commissioned officers who usually attend college first and then commission, NCOs are generally career military who have deployed previously and held a multitude of jobs.
“Once upon a time, a non-commissioned officer was a leader who had all the abilities to lead, who was proficient, knew their job, but lacked a college education,” Green said. “That’s not the case now. The majority of non-commissioned officers are college graduates ... what really makes a person decide to be a non-commissioned officer, rather than becoming commissioned? It’s that pride and that honor.”
NCOs play the most important role in training new privates and Cadets. Commissioned officers are important in training because they command. But when it comes to correcting and training new Soldiers, the NCO interacts most with privates and Cadets.
Green said most who enlist in the Army will most likely remember a couple of people when they enter the Army.
“They are going to remember their drill sergeant and squad leader,” Green said. “That’s the person on a daily basis that trained and corrected them.”
As far as Leader’s Training Course is concerned, Green feels it’s important for Cadets to understand the role of the NCO.
“It’s the person that is going to train them and make them a great platoon leader, company commander or battalion commander,” Green said. “That’s why they need to know.”
He added that most new officers quickly understand the role of the NCO.
“That second lieutenant maybe has a year or less of time in service,” Green said. “That non-commissioned officer that works beside that second lieutenant probably has six years time in service.”
BOLC II NCOIC Sgt. 1st Class Zann Larson feels it’s key for Cadets and lieutenants at LTC to learn early to work with NCOs so they are prepared when they have to actually work with them.
“It’s key here. Not only here, but at LDAC too,” he said.
Maj. Mark Campbell, land navigation deputy chief, said it’s the NCOs that pull a lot of the grunt work for LTC.
“It’s not possible for us to do this mission without the support of NCOs,” he said. “The NCOs are the ones that actually train the Cadets.”