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The Corps Of Noncommissioned Officers

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The Corps of Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) has an essential and almost unique task of any profession. We must function as combat leaders, mentors to junior Soldiers, and subject matter experts in our particular field. This requires a constant participation in the daily activities of our unit and the Soldiers within it. Being combat leaders that are capable of leading Soldiers in a combat environment to achieve the wartime function. There are several factors which threaten the ability of the NCO Corps to continue this function. We must meet these challenges and be victorious no matter the difficulties we may face. Issues Affecting the Noncommissioned Officer Corps and the Way Forward Noncommissioned Officers are initially leaders to junior Enlisted Soldiers until promoted and then become supervisors of other NCO’s. A leader must have someone to lead and that someone must be receptive to their leadership. As the pipeline of new Soldiers continues to fill the ranks with new personnel to be led, there has been a drop in standards for what it takes to be a Soldier. Granted, over the past 14 years of war the Army has needed to drop certain standards to allow for the needed amount of Soldiers to fill the ranks. This cannot serve as an excuse for lowered performance and discipline once a Soldier has attained permanent party status. Physical fitness standards and tattoos are understandable but to release a new Soldier from Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual

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