Platoon Sergeant Leadership Position

The Warrant Officer Program is also affords me a great opportunity to serve as a key member of the detachment leadership. I have served on teams both with and without warrant officers and recognize the importance of this role. The warrant officer is a key source of continuity for the detachment due to the longevity provided to them. This allows them to pass guidance on to new team leadership and minimize disruptions in training during leadership changes. This longevity and continuity is vital to the shaping of the team, developing the long term path, and ensuring mission

As a Non-Commissioned Officer or NCO in the United States Army National Guard I work with many teams from the lowest level of squad to company and battalion levels. As a Drill Sergeant I worked with a team or Drills to instruct and mold future soldiers. We where also expected to operate independently with very little supervision from upper leadership. We instructed on many different things such as basic Army tasks and skills. As a Soldier we are expected to be managers and take care of the soldiers under us, as a team leader in Afghanistan I took care of three Soldiers under me. I was part of a route Clearance Patrol or RCP team that went out early in the morning and cleared major roads of road bombs and other blockages. In the army working together as a team or individually was very important and lives depended on it.

those leadership traits we learned as NCO’s. I have seen, and heard, too many times about fellow 150A’s that take a very hands off approach to leadership when they go to the company level as platoon leaders. I feel this happens because those individuals now think they don’t have to work as hard anymore simply because they are now a warrant officer, when it is the exact opposite. As a warrant officer you are now looked upon as the subject matter expert not only by your Soldiers, but your NCO’s and commander. As an NCO Soldiers look to you as someone whom sets the example on what to do, this is exponentially truer as a warrant officer. Furthermore,

One of the biggest disadvantages I saw in becoming a Warrant Officer was missing the opportunity to become an Operations Sergeant. The Operations Sergeant is the person who is responsible for running the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFODA). The Operations

There are several benefits and challenges to having a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Corps in the Army. Some of the benefits being NCO Corps breaks up some of the responsibilities a commander has and disseminates them to trusted, and experienced individuals in a unit. Keeping good order and discipline, ensuring training is properly conducted, addressing soldier’s problems in an effective and timely manner is the core responsibilities of a NCO. NCOs are also responsible for establishing a line of communication from the top the chain of command, to the bottom, and enforcing the Army standards in accordance with Army Regulation.

Corporals, sergeants, and staff sergeants are normally squad, section and team leaders, and are critical links in the NCO support channel. These NCOs live and work with their Soldiers every day, and are responsible for their health, welfare, and safety. Squad, section and team leaders ensure their Soldiers meet standards in personal appearance, and teach them to maintain and account for their individual and unit equipment and property.

My role as a military officer will be to provide education, mentorship and ensure the well-being of my subordinates. There are expectations of each Soldier and in everything a Soldier does, especially those with leadership based grades and positions, like that of an Armed Forces officer. Soldiers are, and have potential to be, leaders at every level. Some Soldiers have more experience than others but, either way, can demonstrate that potential at any time in any environment. There is a certain perspective that comes with the roles of different levels of leadership and with the various ranks and organizational structure we utilize in the military, more specifically, the Army. The Army has a very centralized way of disseminating orders and

A Noncommissioned Officer's duties are numerous and must be taken seriously. An NCO's duty includes taking care of soldiers, which is your priority. Leaders must know and understand their soldiers well enough to train them as individuals and teams to operate proficiently. This will give them confidence in their ability to perform well under the difficult and demanding conditions of battle. Individual training is the principle duty and responsibility of NCOs. NCOs are responsible to fulfill not only their individual duties, but also to ensure their teams and units are successful. NCOs are accountable for your personal conduct and that of your soldiers. Noncommissioned officers have three types of duties: specified duties, directed duties

First Lieutenant Flores distinguished himself while assigned to the 2291st USAH Backfill Company through clear and sincere dedication to duty, exceptional critical thinking, and genuine desire to serve Soldiers in support of the organizational mission. Performing duties as the Third Platoon Leader, 1LT Flores expertly managed the welfare, training, and daily activities during Battle Training Assemblies (BTA) for nearly 30 Soldiers representing at least four different Military Occupational Specialties

During my time in Special Forces (SF) as a Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) I have had the opportunity to experience a wide variety of the SF core tasks. This has allowed me to see nearly the full spectrum of what we are not only capable of as individuals and as an Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) at the local level, but what we can affect at the strategic level as well. And while I will always credit my knowledge and experience that I have obtained to my time as an NCO, I have always felt the desire to move into higher levels of responsibility where I am not just the one advising commanders, but the one making decisions that directly impact our mission based on the inputs from my subject matter experts. I feel the best way to serve not only my personal desire to progress to higher levels of responsibility and authority but also the regiment is to become a Special Forces Warrant Officer. I have always had the

When I was a Staff Sergeant (SSG) stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Washington State, my first day I was greeted by a six foot four Chief Warrant Officer Two poised on his toes like a lion ready to pounce on his prey. Till that time my experience with warrant officers was with those who were pilots and who shied away from soldiers and training. I appreciated Chief Kim’s spirit and his character. I feel illuminated in his shadow by the Army attributes he displays. In turn my soldiers feel enlightened in my presence and seek my guidance.

I originally had a two year commit and then was recalled off Inactive Ready Reserve for Desert Storm after I had been out for a year. However, to this day that brief time continues to have an impact on who I am in many facets of my life. The resocialization was intense. The military is a coercive organization. What is acceptable in civilian life is not acceptable in military life. Most all deviant behavior is corrected with formal sanctions. Conforming is mandatory, expected and is the social norm. The leadership is style is almost always as of an authoritarian and instrumental leader and very rarely is an expressive leadership style shown. It is typically referred out to a chaplain or other outlet so as to keep the structure, discipline and separation of leader and subordinate clear and distinct. When one promotes within the military added responsibility and leadership is granted. For me the role of leader was new as previously I had learned through experience to conform to group norms to quickly fit in and rarely assumed a leadership role. However, in the military they want leaders. They promote from within and the roles are given in increments and added upon your successes. I quickly found I loved being in charge and could quickly and easily motivate people in a positive manner through setting examples and explaining the goals instead of just demanding. That experience showed me that I could combine being an instrumental leader in setting goals and an expressive leader in understanding the needs of individuals I have spent the time to come to know and connect with. Using that knowledge and information to inspire groups and individuals to meet goals and how those goals help advance the group and individual. Since leaving the military every job I have had has lead me into a management role even if I start at the bottom rung of the ladder I quickly become a leader. I believe most people naturally

The almost endless struggle of the NCO corps to find our place to define our roles continues even today. However, we have an extensive NCO Education System that is itself constantly improving to provide the most up to date and relevant training for our young leaders. As well as those who are far more experienced. An improved Brick and mortar NCO school system and the addition of DL training, along with active and ongoing in house NCODP, provide a vibrant and widely varied opportunity for development of enlisted leaders at all levels.

Your key challenge in a leadership position is taking care of the Soldiers entrusted to your care. Soldiers are our nation’s most important military asset. The Leader who sends the message that Soldiers don’t really matter will generally not be as successful in the long-run as the Leader who is genuinely serious about taking care of his/her Soldiers.

Non Commissioned officers are a vital part of the United States Army which is why they are often referred to as the “back bone of the Army”. Non Commissioned officers play several key roles in the army, everywhere from the lowest Sergeant or Corporal as a team leader to the First Sergeant working as advisory and counter part to a Captain in charge of a Company, to a Command Sergeant Major, responsible for anything fro a battalion to an entire post. Regardless of which position a non commissioned offer finds themselves in their responsibilities inherent to that role are of the utmost importance.