February 2018 — The NCO Guide

Don’t be just a leader, be a transformational leader

February 26, 2018 Dan Elder

There are two basic kinds of leaders out there—the ones you want to do work for, and the ones you don’t. That may be overgeneralized, but most supervisory experiences fall into one of those two categories. Sometimes your first line, your direct supervisor or even your commander brings out the best in you and makes you want to generate the... Read More

What’s it like having an approved Defense Budget?

February 17, 2018February 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Finally! It looks like a coming boom for defense buyers and defense contractors, it looks like we have a defense budget approved. This month has brought both a solution to the long-lasting defense spending freeze with the Administration’s proposed budget for the 2019 fiscal year. Hearing all these headlines and news bites in passing can be confusing to know what’s... Read More

Becoming a more mindful leader

February 16, 2018February 16, 2018 Dan Elder

Mindful leadership—it’s a phrase that when first heard I wanted to pass off as some buzzword nonsense. But in more than a few mediums, I begin to see and hear people in different corners and perspectives chime in, as I learned more I began to realize that mindfulness is actually quite important when it comes to leadership. I ask myself, would... Read More

Inconsistency of writing non-commissioned officer versus noncommissioned officer

February 6, 2018February 6, 2018 Dan Elder

Non-Commissioned Officer vs. Noncommissioned Officer To hyphenate, or not to hyphenate—that is the question at hand today. So there it is, you’re a noncommissioned officer, and now you have to write out your new job title. How do you write it? Is it noncommissioned officer or non-commissioned officer? Some might argue that it simply depends on who you ask. Other,... Read More