Changes for NCOs: New writing test, leader course

I am glad to see it. If you can't write a counseling statement, sworn statement, award recommendation or NCOER, you have no business being a NCO in my humble opinion.

I have encountered too many NCO's, some senior, who wrote at a Junior High School level (some worse). How they made it that far for that long in the military I'll never understand. I question how some graduated High School.

There will be bitching and moaning - it's new and a change, and we know change cannot happen without the before mentioned bitching and moaning. The ones that bitch and moan the loudest will probably be the ones with the most to worry about.

I wish I could find the article, but it was back in 1999-2000 timeframe in the MC times. It was an OpEd piece talking about how Staff NCOs "couldn't write."

It caused a huge stink at the time. Mainly because "the truth hurts."

That isn't to say all SNCO's can't write, but there was a sizable portion who lacked the skills, especially during that time-frame.

The ability to Professionally Write is an essential skill for mid-level supervisors, however it is not a cross-specialty skill (at lower ranks).

It makes sense for PME to ensure that NCOs are skilled at it. It is an essential skill. But since some MOS already have extensive training in it, dedicating "course time" to it may be a waste of resources. The idea of testing out, is actually pretty innovative for the military.

I'm a fan of adding a writing component to the NCOES. Intro it in WLC, let it be more advanced in ALC, and let it culminate in SLC with an actual argumentative research paper.

I've seen some people I know go into the SGM Academy that haven't had any type of formal writing courses. They struggle until they can get the hang of it. By implementing a more collegiate style of paper writing not only will we enhance our force, but maybe, just maybe ACE will transfer some of it as Comp I and help guys and gals on the way to their degrees.