What is the best lesson an NCO/Officer has ever taught you?

When reporters come around... shut up. All they're looking for is a story, they don't care if that story lands you in Leavenworth making big rocks into smaller rocks.

My uncle was in Nam 08/68-69. his company relieved another unit that for 3 days were trying to take a hill and were getting pushed back and taking an ass kicking. His Company commander said "Fuck this Im calling in an air strike" My uncle said "They blew the top off that son of a bitch hill". So I guess the lesson to take from that is to evaluate your options before you go charging in.

A cousin had married a career army NCO (SFC). When I met him after I graduated from Engineer OCS I asked him for advice. He gave me some thoughts but the one that really stuck with me was "Don't ask your men to do something that you would not do". I used this advice throughout my time in the military and it gave me instant credibility with my men.

On the O course at MCRD San Diego when a Lt. told me, "Have some confidence!"

Be where you are supposed to be at the proper time & in the proper uniform.

I had just failed land navigation at EIB testing. I had run into someone on the course who asked what points I had. He said he had some of the same and would check mine if I wanted. He said they were wrong and gave me the "right" ones. I trusted him over myself. I was wrong. I went back and my Section Leader said, "I don't care if you go back and fail again, we can fix that. But, if you go back and second guess yourself and fail because of that, don't come back to my platoon. I don't need leaders who don't believe in themselves.". Since then, whenever I feel doubt creeping in I still hear SSG Brinston's words. I dig down and keep going the way I think I should. It has rarely failed me. So for all the young troopers out there questioning yourselves, don't. Mistakes are fixable, but not believing in yourself is much tougher.

I was a SFC Team SGT in 2011 in Afghanistan. I had an idiot 1LT assigned to me. He left his weapon and Kit leaning against a wall during a District Center Shura. I tore him a new a******* while poking my finger in his chest and told him if he ever left his weapon in sector again I would beat the f*** out of him. He proceeded to tell me I could not talk to him like that because he was a lieutenant I told him to go f*** himself I've been in the Army almost as long as he had been alive. He bitched to the Battalion commander and the Battalion Commander told him to shut the f****** and listen to me. Luckily for everybody got sent home early because he had kidney stones and they would not allow him to return to Afghanistan. He was such an idiot.

While I was an NCO trying to go warrant, an old CW4 told me "No matter what you say or do, there are going to be people that just won't like you. There's nothing you can do about it. Accept it, and concentrate on the ones that do".

"You do an outstanding job, Corporal Kirkland. But if you ever want to be a Sergeant, start acting like a Sergeant; the stripes will catch up with you." ~ GySgt. Bennett

Best piece of advice I ever received. I still use that mindset today in the civilian business world and it has served me well.

When I attended FMF Corpsman Training at Camp Pendleton back in the 70’s, Senior Chief Star gave us this advice: “When the shooting starts, find the biggest tree, rock or Marine and stay behind it until it Stops. You don’t do anyone any good if you are dead.”