Posted on Nov 12, 2015
Superiors feel I am not a good NCO, looking for some guidance!
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I have been told recently by my 1 superior that I am not a good NCO. Because this superior is previously enlisted I knows this is based off of how this individual was and NCO in the past. I don't feel it's necessary to stay late everyday or move 1000 miles per hour every hour in order to get accomplish the mission. I do my job effectively but i believe because right now in my life I am not really enjoying my job it is seen that I don't have a passion for what I'm doing and I am just checking off the blocks. I am lookig for some guidance in this area. TIA
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EnlistedSupply Technician
EnlistedSupply Technician
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 14
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I am going to be critical here, but bear with me. You are counseled on a periodic basis, IAW your NCOER. You were provided an initial counseling that identified the expectations your Rater has of you. You are a soldier, 24/7. If the mission is not being accomplished within the 9-5 framework, you should expect to stay late. If you are accomplishing all missions, at least to standard, then you need to look and see if there is anything else that needs to be done. As an NCO, you need to do your job better than "effectively". PFCs and SPCs do their jobs effectively. If it appears that you are merely "checking the blocks", then you either need to have a frank discussion with your rater to determine the expectations of you or you need to step up your game.
It is not the Army's job to make sure you really enjoy your job. This is an all volunteer Army, you were not drafted or forced to enlist. If you are not enjoying your job, contact your Branch Assignment Manager and have them PCS you, if you are within your window to do so. If this is not an option, you may want to consider either finding the motivation to be the NCO that you are being paid to be, or you need to find a way to leave the military. The Army is not for everybody, that is why everybody doesn't do it! It may be that you have reached terminal velocity in your career and it is time to move on.
Essentially what I am saying here is that you need to do some personal introspection and determine the causes that have your Rater saying you are not a good NCO. The last thing I am going to say is this, if the format and grammatical structure of your question is indicative of your duty performance, you may need to seriously reevaluate your position and seek some personal and professional growth.
It is not the Army's job to make sure you really enjoy your job. This is an all volunteer Army, you were not drafted or forced to enlist. If you are not enjoying your job, contact your Branch Assignment Manager and have them PCS you, if you are within your window to do so. If this is not an option, you may want to consider either finding the motivation to be the NCO that you are being paid to be, or you need to find a way to leave the military. The Army is not for everybody, that is why everybody doesn't do it! It may be that you have reached terminal velocity in your career and it is time to move on.
Essentially what I am saying here is that you need to do some personal introspection and determine the causes that have your Rater saying you are not a good NCO. The last thing I am going to say is this, if the format and grammatical structure of your question is indicative of your duty performance, you may need to seriously reevaluate your position and seek some personal and professional growth.
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CW3 Eric W. S.
SSG (Join to see) - I noticed that you are in my old unit. I know your supervisors and fully understand the requirements you are expected to keep. You need to ensure you are being direct with them, you need to make sure you are communicating with the BDE PBO on a constant and continuous basis. The mission in the 24th is not so strenuous that you cannot exceed the standard with little effort.
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SSG (Join to see)
CW3 Eric W. S. - You are correct the standard is not difficult to exceed. The problem is when you have micro managers that don't give you the opportunity to get things done. But instead do it because they feel your taking too long to get it accomplished. Then get upset because they had to do it when you were currently working on it. I am the PBO NCO but I do not work with the BDE PBO. I pretty much work in the BN S4 because I was told the job here is more important than PBO. It is what it is. Drive on and do what needs to be done.
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This is why the military has written counseling sessions - or should. Your initial counseling should be from your supervisor to you explaining exactly what is expected - and it should be specific, not general statements. This is the document that will be used to justify whatever rating you get on your next NCOER. If it says you need to do "x,y,z," and you do "x,y,z," you should get a "Successful" block check. If you do MORE than "x,y,z" and can support that with numbers, examples, etc etc, then you should get a higher level of "successful" block check. Initial and monthly counselings aren't just for the Rater to tell you how you did and how to do better, but it's there to guide you and show you what is expected. It also provides YOU with the support to go higher if you receive a rating that isn't what you think it should be.
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SSG (Join to see)
The most I was told was I needed to be more people friendly. And I needed to be more aggressive. Both I am already but at work I calm it down because I'm the past it was seen as disrespect. So now I talk when needed, I do my job effectively, and I insure soldiers along with the mission are taken care of.
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MAJ Bryan Zeski
When you find yourself in a position where you and your rater may not agree on your performance, words (ie "I was told") are going to mean much less than what is on paper. The next step is to take what you know you are supposed to do and find a way to express it in a written form and in a way that can be measured. Looking at what you've said so far:
1. Be more people friendly - sounds a little like customer service so look to fill in the blanks how you'd want to see it written in a review, "Assisted x (amount) of customers to complete x (amount) of actions with no loss."
2. Be more aggressive - exceed the standards, "Increased the output of the section by 15% over last quarter through innovative time-saving methods."
3. Take care of Soldiers - "Mentored x amount of Soldiers in her section to complete x amount of college credit hours. Assisted x amount of Soldiers in going to the promotion board and becoming promotable on their first attempt. Guided x amount of Soldiers to win the Soldier of the Month Board."
4. Complete the mission - "Completed repair on 105 widgets over a three day period ensuring zero down time in critical mission systems."
Obviously, you have to find the blanks that fit your job, but you get the idea. Find a way to quantify what you do, establish what the "standard" is, establish what exceeding that standard is, and keep all evidence of the great things you did. When it comes time for an NCOER, if you can pull out all the evidence that shows how awesome you are and you have the numbers to back it up in black and white, you can ensure that your review will be something you earned - not something arbitrarily given.
1. Be more people friendly - sounds a little like customer service so look to fill in the blanks how you'd want to see it written in a review, "Assisted x (amount) of customers to complete x (amount) of actions with no loss."
2. Be more aggressive - exceed the standards, "Increased the output of the section by 15% over last quarter through innovative time-saving methods."
3. Take care of Soldiers - "Mentored x amount of Soldiers in her section to complete x amount of college credit hours. Assisted x amount of Soldiers in going to the promotion board and becoming promotable on their first attempt. Guided x amount of Soldiers to win the Soldier of the Month Board."
4. Complete the mission - "Completed repair on 105 widgets over a three day period ensuring zero down time in critical mission systems."
Obviously, you have to find the blanks that fit your job, but you get the idea. Find a way to quantify what you do, establish what the "standard" is, establish what exceeding that standard is, and keep all evidence of the great things you did. When it comes time for an NCOER, if you can pull out all the evidence that shows how awesome you are and you have the numbers to back it up in black and white, you can ensure that your review will be something you earned - not something arbitrarily given.
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You said you were told by a superior that you were not a good NCO. How were you told? Did you receive a counseling statement? Was this done during a quarterly counseling?
If this is really bothering you, and you want to get better, go have a sit down with your 1SG and/or CSM to explain that you are not being counseled. You really need to show them you want to get better. That being said, you need to be able to except some hard truths at the same time.
I know your CSM quite well I believe. He is a great NCO and I think he would be able to handle this quite quickly.
If this is really bothering you, and you want to get better, go have a sit down with your 1SG and/or CSM to explain that you are not being counseled. You really need to show them you want to get better. That being said, you need to be able to except some hard truths at the same time.
I know your CSM quite well I believe. He is a great NCO and I think he would be able to handle this quite quickly.
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SSG (Join to see)
It was not told in a counseling. It was word of mouth. More like a verbal counseling. And yes I want to get better I have no problem with being able to accept some hard truths. I will speak with my NCOIC today. Because I have been told nothing by them only the OIC.
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