Commentary Archives — The NCO Guide

SOLDIER by Colonel Dandridge M. Malone

November 11, 2021November 10, 2021 TBS Web Design

Reprinted from The Trailwatcher, a compendium of the thoughts and writings of Col. Mike Malone, a timeless piece on what Soldiering is. —— SOLDIER by COL Dandridge M. Malone A guy pinned me right to the wall the other day. I was giving a talk to some basic and advance course officers out at Fort Ben. I’d just finished raising... Read More

116-year Army Streamer Error Continues

February 16, 2019February 19, 2019 Dan Elder

Streamer Spelling Error I only gained a deeper understanding of the United States Army major battles and the campaign streamers that they represent when I had the privilege to edit and update the book U.S. Army Campaign Streamers: Colors of Courage Since 1775. As a Senior Fellow for the non-profit Association of the United States Army and volunteering to serve... Read More

Neighborhood Watch in Baghdad

October 8, 2018October 4, 2018 Brett Waterhouse

Leader Lessons On 7 April 2003, I was the Platoon Sergeant of a tank platoon that had just fought its way into the heart of downtown Baghdad, Iraq, as part of what was called the second “Thunder Run.” At this point in my life, I was a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) who viewed the thought of talking to the citizens... Read More

Do We Really Need a Parade?

March 10, 2018 Dan Elder

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump announced he would like to see a large military parade, similar to one he watched in France on Bastille Day. It’s something he’d previously expressed his desire for, but in January, he directed his top generals to organize the grand event he’s been imagining. While his exact motivations are unclear, other than he likes... 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

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

Increased pay is vital to recruiting and troop retention

January 15, 2018January 16, 2018 Dan Elder

Increased pay is vital to recruiting and troop retention Employee retention is hard for any company. When even Forbes 500 companies spend time brainstorming ways to keep their best and brightest, it’s no surprise that the military could stand to do the same sort of soul-searching. Retaining military service members has its own brand of unique challenges, but, when... Read More

Does Holiday Exodus impact soldier training?

January 8, 2018 Dan Elder

Does Holiday Exodus impact soldier training? Another year has come and gone, sending us all back to schools, jobs, and obligations we’ve put off to be with family—or maybe binge watch our favorite TV show. Do you remember what you were doing that final day in the office of 2017? I know I don’t—except for maybe willing the time to... Read More

Episode #18, Caring Leaders

December 24, 2016March 10, 2018 Dan Elder

In this month’s podcast, we highlight that Army finally beats Navy and a new Secretary of Army is proposed. The podcast topic this month is about caring leadership and we offer tips to consider to ensure that your actions match your statements. I talk about 5 considerations Army noncommissioned officer should consider when it comes to building enriched relationships with subordinate,... Read More

Lessons of von Steuben – Thoughts from the Past

November 27, 2016January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Thoughts from the Past We all have seen images of downtrodden soldiers at Washington’s encampment in 1778 at Valley Forge…soldiers who were underclothed and resorted to rags wrapped around their feet because there were not enough shoes to go around. By all accounts, the Army was downhearted and disorganized, and Washington was in need of an effective fighting force. Enter... Read More

Spinning Flags at Change of Command

September 27, 2016January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

There are some ceremonies like the company change of command and the change of responsibility that have some key elements that are not clearly defined, so finding “a standard” is sometimes impossible. In many cases with large formations, it is usually the senior mission command HQs that creates a local policy when it comes to the gray areas surrounding ceremonies but... Read More

US Army Highly Qualified Enlisted Expert

March 24, 2016January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Why not maximize Noncommissioned Officer talent post-military service? Challenge Today’s Army does not have ready access to a select group of highly qualified former enlisted leaders who possess the intellectual capacity, wisdom, and expertise to assist the Force in short-term, and often complicated projects. In cultivating Soldiers for Life surely talent management does not end at retirement? The type of expertise often... Read More

Epi. #14, Getting Back to Basics

November 7, 2015January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Back to Basics In this episode CSM (Ret.) Dan Elder discusses getting back to the basics and attempts to identify a few foundational techniques company grade noncommissioned officers should master. Key to a professional leader’s style are in being grounded in the way that they operate, those basic behaviors that set them apart from others. The way we perform is usually influenced by... Read More

Neck Medal Bling

October 26, 2015January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Last week I had the chance to attend the premier professional development forum for soldiers, the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army. Full disclosure here, it is no secret that I am AUSA Senior Fellow and long-time supporter so let me just get in a plug. I believe regardless your profession that you should align with... Read More

Enlisted Promotions woes, 2001

September 24, 2015January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

The only lesson of history is that men never learn anything from history. -George Hegel. This is a reprint of my Winter 2000-2001 article on the state of affairs concerning proposed changes to the semi-centralized promotion system, and some historically significant data points that reinforced assertions. It also highlights how we got to where we were (at the time). Though it... Read More

The Officer/Noncommissioned Officer Relationship

March 31, 2015January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

This is an excerpt from a paper published by the US Army Sergeants Major Academy as a research submission by CSM Terwan Crawley, the senior enlisted advisor of the 589th BSB, Fort Hood, TX. This article was in response to a course requirement and this excerpt is reprinted by permission of the author. The disparity between officers and noncommissioned officers (NCO) in the... Read More

NCO Lessons in Leadership from Abu Ghraib

May 31, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

This is an excerpt from a paper published in the MPRA magazine by CSM (Ret.) Jeffrey Butler, the former senior enlisted advisor of the 16th Military Police Brigade. This article was in response to a course requirement where Butler was asked about his most challenging team assignment, the answers are timeless lessons in noncommissioned officer leadership. This excerpt is reprinted by permission of the... Read More

Robbed Legacy of Army NCOs

March 19, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

The Robbed Legacy of Army NCOs Sergeant Audie Murphy was exemplary, but it was Lieutenant Audie Murphy who earned the love of a nation…and the Medal of Honor. So why then is he so revered by the noncommissioned officer corps? Similarly, we created an elite subset of NCOs after a nonperson known collectively as Sergeant Morales, as if we could... Read More

NCO Creed SNAFU

March 11, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Creed SNAFU As one of the co-authors of the History of the NCO Creed, I occasionally get pinged about the inexplicable recent transposition of the words tactical and technical in various writings of the Creed, so I thought I would try to clear the air for those who still may be confused. The NCO Creed was not a standardized Creed... Read More

We Already had an Army Logo

February 10, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Army Logo Already Existed The United States Army Institute of Heraldry is probably pretty pissed right now. Created in 1919 to approve and coordinate the coats of arms and insignia of U.S. Army organizations, for almost 100 years they have been the standards bearer for heraldic and other military symbols for not only the US Army, but other elements of the federal... Read More