NCO Business

Sergeant Academy

Training Objective

• Task: Understand the roles and responsibilities of a NCO in the context of “NCO Business”

• Condition: Given a classroom block of instruction

• Standard: Demonstrate understanding by active participation in class

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NCO Business

• Secondclass cadets fill the sergeant ranks within the South Carolina Corps of Cadets

• As cadet NCOs you will be responsible for most of the functions associated with the day-to-day operation of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets

• According to the LDP, the outcome for the secondclass year is “lead”– As NCOs, you will be in positions to lead others

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The NCO Corps

• NCOs are called “the backbone of the Army”– What does that mean and how does it apply to the SCCC?

• Although NCOs and Officers work together to accomplish the mission, there is an efficient division of labor that designates certain responsibilities as “NCO business”– What responsibilities are traditionally considered “NCO

business”?

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“NCO Business”

• Taking care of subordinates• Individual and small team training (to include physical

training)• Maintenance and inspection of personnel and

equipment• Accountability• Planning and conducting day-to-day unit operations

within prescribed policies and directives• Advising the commander on awards and punishments

for enlisted soldiers

NCO Business and LDP

• The LDP stage of development for the secondclass year is “lead”

• In general terms, how do NCOs “lead”?

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“NCO Business” and “Lead”

• What specific ways does an NCO lead when he is “taking care of subordinates”?– Think in terms of their need for information, their health and

welfare, and their individual development needs.• What specific ways does an NCO lead when she is

conducting “individual and small team training”?– Think in terms of CTM and equipping subordinates for

success.• What specific ways does an NCO lead in the areas of

“maintenance and inspection of personnel and equipment”?– Think in terms of knowledge, preparedness, and standards.

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“NCO Business” and “Lead”

• What specific ways does an NCO lead while maintaining “accountability”?– Think in terms of “Big A” Accountability.

• What specific ways does an NCO lead while “conducting day-to-day unit operations within prescribed policies and directives”?– Think in terms of consistency, transparency, and fairness.

• What specific ways does an NCO lead when “advising the commander on awards and punishments”?– Think in terms of “PRIDE” as a guide to the consequences

step of CTM.

NCO “Support Channel”

• The NCO “Support Channel”:– Is the communication and supervision that begins

with the command sergeant major, extends through first sergeants and platoon sergeants, and ends with squad sergeants and squad corporals

– It parallels, supports, and reinforces the chain of command, but is subordinate to the chain of command

– Is used both to pass information and to execute the commander’s orders and get routine jobs done

Sergeants and the NCO Support Channel

• NCOs are dispersed throughout the company and are present at the company (first sergeant and staff NCOs), platoon (platoon sergeant), and squad (squad sergeant levels)

• How can NCOs use this omnipresence to:– help achieve standardization– share information and ideas– police each other– support each other– support the officer leadership– support the individual cadets

NCO Business at The Citadel• Much of what goes on here on a daily basis is “NCO Business”

– Physical training– Breakfast formation, accountability, personal inspection– Taking care of subordinates by making sure they get a satisfactory breakfast– MRI (enforcing standards and health and welfare)– Drill and ceremony– Lunch formation, accountability, personal inspection– Taking care of subordinates by making sure they get a satisfactory lunch– Disseminating information– On-the-spot corrections– Sergeant of the Guard– Enforcing good order and discipline during ESP– All-ins accountability– What else?

What Have You Seen?

• What is a positive anecdote of an NCO in action that you witnessed or heard about?

• What is a negative one?• What are some characteristics of NCOs you

admire?• Of those who you don’t want to imitate?

Next Session

• One routine responsibility of NCOs is individual and collective training, including physical training

• Next time you will report to Summerall Field for a train-the-trainer session on “how to conduct PT”