Army Leadership - the Role of the Non-Commissioned Officer - Essay Example

These roles are to be performed by individual NCO corps as well as the NCO leaders. NCO vision The NCO vision requires that an NCO corps should be grounded in tradition, heritage and values that embody the perpetual learning of values and Warrior Ethos. In terms of roles, the vision requires that NCOs should be capable of training, leading and motivating soldiers. In terms of leadership, their chief role within the military organization is being a direct leader to the military officers. After the training of new recruits, NCOs are assigned to be the key direct leader and a trainer for crew, team and individual at the unit level (Chiefs of Staff, US Army, 1997).

According to Fitton (1990), the NCOs are required to lead by example. This means they are expected to understand and practice the ethical requirements of soldiers and perform their duties diligently so as to give a practical lead to the other soldiers. Their role modeling is important for the military personnel because they are the most visible leaders within the military organization. The NCOs are required to provide inspiration, motivation and purpose for the other military officers because soldiers look to their NCOs for inspiration, solutions and directions/guidance.

Due to their training, long-term service or experience in the military, an NCO officer should be capable of training other officers based on experience. They are supposed to help the soldiers to answer or overcome the challenges experienced in the contemporary operating environment by training them to prepare, cope and perform well no matter the prevailing situation. This means that they should be able to give high quality training to the soldiers. This training they give to the soldiers is also suppose to prepare them for their mission ahead and so they always stress on physical hardening and the basics of field craft.

They do this because the need for physically and mentally fit soldiers will not be reduced by the tools provided by technology (Bainbridge, 1976). The NCOs are senior to the soldiers they live, train and work with on daily basis and it is therefore their role to take care of the other soldiers. They are required to balance the mission for the military organization and the welfare of the soldiers. Each NCO should develop and demonstrate as a genuine concern about the well-being of the soldiers they are training or leading.

Taking care of the soldiers also entails preparing them adequately to face any challenge that lies ahead of them. In order to achieve this, the NCOs ensure that they give the soldiers enough physical training and military practice for example clearing terrorists from urban strongholds or caves, or carrying heavy loads (Bainbridge, 1976). According to FM 7-22.7 (2002), it is the responsibility of the NCOs to set, maintain and enforce high-quality standards and discipline within the military organization because they are the standard bearers.

They should ensure that all soldiers comply with the expected rules, discipline levels and military operation standard for example, military appearance. They are supposed to correct all military officers who do not wear their uniform properly while teaching them the right standards of military appearance. In connection to this, they are required to inspect for proper and serviceable equipment and clothing for their soldiers. The role to enforce military standard and discipline should be done