What would it take for the Army to let NCOs run the Army again?

The problem I see with is that NCO's want to run the Army and do the "cool guy" things but don't want to do the hard things that come with it. I see too much "cookie cutter" counseling's, NCO's not taking the time to help fix Soldiers issues. NCO's want to go back to smoking Soldiers and having GI parties but don't want to spend that extra time need for truly mentoring Soldiers. As I was coming up, my PSG and SQD LDRS were tough and demanding of me, but also took the time to help mentor me. If I was working on a night shift, they came in on their own time to check on me and make sure I was taken care of. It appears that the NCO Corps see the job as a 9-5. I would love to see the NCO Corps back taking care of Soldiers and leading those day to day operations but I feel we have a ways to go before that happens. I know this is pretty vague but to sum it up, we have to learn to take care of the little things before we can tackle those bigger responsibilities. My opinion and .50 cents won't buy you a Coke though. I do think this is definitely a conversation that NCO's need to have at their level.

SGT (Join to see) for NCOs to do what they keep saying "get back to the basics". Start mentoring junior Soldiers to be junior NCOs and junior NCOs to be senior NCOs, etc. It makes me sick that people get promoted without being mentored and shown the proper way. (NOTE: This happens on the officer side of the house too, but your question is about the NCO side.) A stronger more capable NCO that is confident will be given more responsibility if the officer themselves are too mentored and confident. So one word: mentorship.

SGT (Join to see) I must defer to you, and current SMs like 1SG Mike Case ... as I am 4 years removed...

But, from 1980 to 2013, I owe all of my success to NCOs... Too many to name... like Drill Sergeant Jefson and Thomas, K9 Instructor SFC Kirk, Section Leader SSG Head, PSG Young, many many PSGs ands SLs, and my battle buddies 1SG Ragsdale, CSMs Staton, Morris, Groninger, Barteau, and list goes on...

I always allowed NCOs to run the show, run the Army, so long as they were doing what was right and what we agreed to. When NCOs quoted "NCO business," I reminded them, as a Commander, it was all my business... But, I always steered clear, unless, they were not handling their business, which was rare. In 29 years of commissioned service, the latter was the exception. That said, I had a PSG relieved, a 1SG, and believe it or not a CSM too. But, those were outliers... in a field of countless unsung heroes... Despite the few knuckleheads, I never ever doubted our NCOs... NCOs and Soldiers our Army look good day in and day out.

In 1980 when I came on active duty, confidence on the Army and our NCO Corps was on the mend from a long hard war in Vietnam. By 1992, we had gone from the lowest points, to the highest...

If I was successful in this Army, it was because of NCOs.

If there is problem, today, then getting back to what AR 600-20 directs, is a good place to start. The basics always are good place to start.