What are your thoughts on NCO manning. Should the job go to the senior guy or the most qualified?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 08:43:20 -0500

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 8:50 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 08:50:36 -0500

I'd like to see the most qualified guy/gal do the job, especially in a deployed environment. Obvious benefit is that the job will get done better. Secondary benefit is that the senior person might get a wake-up call when he/she sees a junior being tapped to do the job.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 8:51 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 08:51:05 -0500

I have never understood why somebody would get a job because they have been around longer than a guy that would perform the job better. That is a disservice to the Soldier that would perform better and to the unit as a whole. A less qualified Soldier can potentially effect the mission readiness of the unit.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 1 at 2016 8:52 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 08:52:55 -0500

Senior man unless UNQUALIFIED. We have a Hierarchy system based on Seniority for a reason. If the Senior man is Unqualified that shows a larger problem which must be rectified.

That however doesn't mean you can't use "creative juggling" of personnel to match the best personnel to the best assignments.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 9:11 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:11:17 -0500

The problem with going with the "best guy" is that it is simply subjective. I have had subordinates that I thought were of great quality that my PSG thought were not and vice versa. Who we, as individuals, find to be the best guy is based on our own criteria and varies. It is also open to lots of complains of bias or "good ole boy system". If person a and person b are of the same rank for the "job" opening then it should go to the senior guy. If he can't do the job successfully then it will show quickly and he can be replaced. If he does a successful job then even better.

That said, if one person is clearly superior, then go with the better of the two and document why his seniority was jumped.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 9:14 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:14:11 -0500

Most Qualified!! We have problems right now with NCOs that have been in forever and can't accomplish today's missions because they have no clue on how to change and adapt to the ever changing environment, thus TOXIC Leaders!! It's always been simple if the NCO is not qualified to perform the duties needed, either we get them trained or prepare them to exit the force!! But, to many sensitive people and folks don't really want the truth, they want you to account for there feelings and their Stress..... So me, yes Qualified all day long!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 9:16 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:16:58 -0500

If you mean seniority within the same rank, then I say best qualified for the position. For example, battalion and brigade commands aren't given to those LTCs or COLs with the most senior date of rank compared to their peers. Many officers are fully qualified to do the job. But the Army selects the best qualified from a group of fully qualified. I would say the same would be true for NCOs, paricularly for positions like squad leader, platoon sgt, etc. Just because a more senior NCO will likely do a good job doesn't mean he should get the job over someone who will do a great job.

We owe it to our soldiers to ensure they have the best leaders available. If a young SFC has been kicking ass and a more senior one has been going through the motions, then give the platoon to the better performer. He'll do a better job, and is more likely to use that experience to become a first sergeant and CSM later, which also benefits the Army. We should reward excellence rather than perpetuate average. When it comes to selecting those who will lead our soldiers, "good enough" shouldn't be good enough.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Feb 1 at 2016 9:25 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:25:15 -0500

Provided that the senior person is qualified to perform the job, then it should go to that person; however if said individual is not capable or fails to perform satisfactorily then that person needs to go and be replaced by someone who can perform.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 9:37 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:37:10 -0500

In today's age it always goes to the senior guy however, rank should not matter. If a E5 does a better job then a E7 then they should have it
Early as I said the military is structured by rank and the jobs you get by tank both on the NCO side and Officer side
We all have had people that were appointed above us that should not be their or leading troops
Because you have rank your not entitiled

Response by SFC Richard Lee made Feb 1 at 2016 9:37 AM

SFC Richard Lee — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:37:37 -0500

The job should go to the most qualified. Because you're senior doesn't mean that you could do a better job than someone that's more qualified unless you have worked in that position before.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 9:42 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 09:42:47 -0500

Most qualified. Back in 02, I was a SSG and given the job as Platoon Sergeant over two E-7. The 1SG had zero confidence in the other bubbas and put me in charge within a few months of arriving to the unit.
Now we can do that with NCOs and such but I think things get a bit cloudier when dealing with officer management and senior positions.

Response by SFC David McMahon made Feb 1 at 2016 10:01 AM

SFC David McMahon — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:01:56 -0500

Always senior-no need to comment further

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 10:28 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 10:28:39 -0500

I feel that the most qualified person should get the job, but with a qualifier. I have heartburn with senior NCOs that want to hang around and collect a check and avoid the work that goes with being a Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, or CSM. It is one thing to be assigned to staff positions, it is something else entirely to try to hide there. By and large the most senior guy is the most qualified. If he/she isn't, they need to get out of the way.

Response by SPC Felicia Lindsey made Feb 1 at 2016 11:05 AM

SPC Felicia Lindsey — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 11:05:57 -0500

Most qualified! I was only in for 5 years but worked under quite a few senior NCOs who were not qualified and leaned on their lower enlisted. I got out as a SPC(P) and knew more than most of my NCOs....it isn't good on morale.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Feb 1 at 2016 11:27 AM

SSG Audwin Scott — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 11:27:57 -0500

I would say most qualified. The problem is will the senior be humble enough to allow the most qualified to take the job without argument or debate.

Response by SPC David S. made Feb 1 at 2016 12:20 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 12:20:12 -0500

If your life depended on a surgery - Who would you want the surgeon to be? - senior or most qualified.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Feb 1 at 2016 1:33 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 13:33:59 -0500

I think it should go to the senior soldier. Then if they can't perform, counsel and remove them. This is why incompetent folks drag on and suck up oxygen and slots that other more qualified soldiers could be in. It takes time and moral courage to do the derogatory counseling needed to document incompetency.

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Feb 1 at 2016 2:14 PM

SSgt Tim Ricci — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:14:42 -0500

IMHO, this could be a hit or miss situation. An example is a Senior Time in Grade NCO that may have done an MOS change. Should this person be in charge? Yes maybe, for admin purposes, but this NCO "Should" also latch on to a knowledgeable subordinate to learn their new job. It is hard for a Sergeant to come from a Combat Arms MOS to a Technical MOS with only school training as knowledge, but as an NCO may very well be a good leader.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 1 at 2016 3:04 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 15:04:27 -0500

The most qualified senior person.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 1 at 2016 4:35 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 16:35:16 -0500

Every NCO brings thing to the table, but the Senior NCO better bring leadership to the table.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 1 at 2016 6:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 18:39:21 -0500

Don't abuse the studs, make the duds pull their weight.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 7:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 19:56:06 -0500

It's all about talent management. The job should always go to the most qualified.

Unfortunately, this doesn't happen enough. The job goes to the most senior. The one who is close to retirement and just biding their time instead of the up and coming Soldier. People are too worried about hurting someone's feelings instead of putting the right person in the job.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2016 9:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 21:18:35 -0500

The most qualified every time without question We need the best in the right place not just they guy that has been there the longest.