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Leader
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A sergeant steps underneath an arch and crossed sabers signifying her step into the Noncommissioned Officers Corps at a ceremony held in the 1917 Club, Feb. 28. The NCO Corps has a storied history that dates back to the Revolutionary War. (Courtesy Photo)
NCOs join the Corps
Fort Jackson Public Affairs
There are three things that can help Soldiers become a good noncommissioned officer, said Dwight Blue, the 165th Infantry Brigade’s operations officer, Feb. 28.
Blue was the guest speaker during a noncommissioned officer induction ceremony hosted by the 165th.
The NCO Corps has a proud lineage in the Army, which dates back to the American Revolution where in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Baron von Steuben began drilling the fledgling Continental Army.
He instilled in the fresh NCO Corps a fighting spirit teaching them to understand tactical leadership so they could fill in for commissioned officers when necessary.
He said leaders must first be a servant leader, be transformational and create a good battle rhythm.
It pays to be humble and to take care of your troops, Blue told the Soldiers about to enter the NCO Corps.
“Soldiers don’t care how much you know; they care how much you care about them and their well-being and professional and professional development,” he said. He stressed that good leaders must be available and understand how each Soldier reacts to leadership.
Some need to be nurtured, he said.
Leaders must also be transformational; they need to be understanding and flexible.
Blue stressed it is imperative for leaders to prepare for “Generation Alpha,” those children born from 2010 to the present as they enter the fighting force.
“We can only understand and train them if we meet them where they are,” he said.
Consistent behavior for leaders is learned through muscle memory by creating and following a good battle rhythm.
“Great leaders get up early and plan,” Blue said. “They keep a pen and pad by their beds. They desire to be excellent, and they write their thoughts down …”
This helps build good strong habits and consistent behavior.
“Remember fireman fight fires and Soldiers fight wars,” Blue said. “Let’s be the best leaders and followers possible.”
Soldiers wore period uniforms to signify the historical importance of the noncommissioned officer as they lit candles.
One lit a gold candle representing the chevrons of the uniform; another a red candle signifying the blood shed by NCOs in combat; the third a white candle for purity; and finally, a blue candle for the future and loyalty to our country.
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