Professional Military Education
Initial Entry Training
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority of the NCO
References
U.S. Army FM 7-22.7 (TC 22-6)
The Army Noncommissioned
Officer Guide
Slide 2
Overview
• Assuming Leadership Position
• Duties, Responsibilities and Authority
• Inspections and Corrections
• NCO Relationships with
Commissioned and Warrant Officers
• Commissioned Officer
• Warrant Officer
• Noncommissioned Officer (NCO)
• NCO Support Channel & NCO Ranks
Slide 3
Assuming Leadership
Establishing Your Goals:
• Determine what unit expects of you
• Determine immediate leader and what
he/she expects of you
• Determine competence, strengths and
weaknesses of your soldiers
• Identify key people outside your unit
whose support you need
Slide 4
Assuming Leadership
Assuming a Leadership Position:
• What is the unit’s mission?
• How this fit with the mission of the
next higher organization?
• What are the standards?
• What resources are available to
accomplish the mission?
• What is the current state of morale?
• Who reports directly to you?
Slide 5
Assuming Leadership
Assuming a Leadership Position:
• What are strengths and weaknesses
of key subordinates and unit?
• Who are key people outside unit who
support mission accomplishment?
• What are their strengths and
weaknesses?
• When and what do you talk to your
soldiers about?
Slide 6
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
A duty is something you must do by
virtue of your position and is a legal or
moral obligation.
Slide 7
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
NCO Duties:
• Priority: take care of soldiers
• Corporals & sergeants: develop
concern for their soldiers’ well-being
• Leaders: understand soldiers well to
train them as individuals and teams
• Principle Duty: individual training
• Soldiers should believe the leader
implements the best possible solution
Slide 8
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
NCO Duties:
• Requires refusal to obey illegal orders
• Do what’s ethically & legally correct
• Sometimes means telling your
supervisor you think he/she is wrong
• First be sure that you understand
details and intent of the orders
• Seek clarification from the person
who gave the order
Slide 9
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
NCO Duties:
• Specified Duties
• Directed Duties
• Implied Duties
Slide 10
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Specified Duties:
• Related to jobs and positions.
• Field manuals, DSCA Playbook, MOS
job descriptions specify duties
• E.g.: AR 600-20 says that NCOs must
ensure that their soldiers get proper
individual training and maintain
personal appearance and cleanliness.
Slide 11
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Directed Duties:
• Not specified as part of a job position
or MOS or other directive
• Given orally or in writing by superior
• Includes being in charge of quarters
or serving as sergeant of the guard,
staff duty officer, company training
NCO and NBC NCO, where these
duties are not found in the MTO
Slide 12
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Implied Duties:
• Often support specified duties, but
may not be in MOS job position
• May not be written but implied in the
instructions
• Improve quality of job and keep the
unit functioning at an optimum level
• May depend on individual initiative
• E.g.: holding in-ranks inspections daily
to ensure your soldiers’ standards. Slide 13
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Responsibility is being accountable for
what you do or fail to do.
Slide 14
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Responsibility:
• Fulfill your own duties and ensure
your teams and units are successful
• Includes responsibility to execute duty
• Accountable for your personal
conduct and that of your soldiers.
• That responsibility cannot be
delegated
• Accountable for actions to fellow
soldiers, leaders, unit and the VDF
Slide 15
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Responsibility:
• Ensure soldiers understand their
responsibilities as members of the
team and as representative of VDF
• Provide guidance, resources,
assistance and supervision necessary
for soldiers to perform their duties
• Officers and NCOs work together to
advise, assist and learn from each
other
Slide 16
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Two Categories of Responsibilities:
• Command Responsibility
• Individual Responsibility
Slide 17
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Command Responsibility:
• Collective or organizational
accountability
• Includes how unit performs missions
• NCOs responsible to fulfill individual
duties, but also to ensure that team
and unit are successful
• Delegated responsibility depends on
mission, position you hold and your
willingness to accept responsibility
Slide 18
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Authority is defined as the right to direct
soldiers to do certain things.
Authority is the legitimate power of
leaders to direct soldiers or to take
action within the scope of their position.
Slide 19
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Authority:
• Begins with the Code of Virginia
• Governor is Commander in Chief
• Extends through the chain of
command, with assistance of the NCO
support channel
Slide 20
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Two Kinds of Authority:
• Command authority
• General Military Authority.
Slide 21
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Command Authority:
• Virtue of rank or assignment.
• Originates with the Governor
• Supplemented by law or regulation.
• Not limited to officers
• Inherent in your leadership position
• NCO command authority is inherent
with the job by virtue of position to
direct or control soldiers
Slide 22
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Command Authority:
• Includes authority to organize, direct
and control your assigned soldiers
• Includes authority to use assigned
equipment and resources
• Applies to soldiers and facilities in
your own unit
• E.g., squad leader does not have
authority over another platoon.
Slide 23
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
General Military Authority:
• Extended to all soldiers to take action
and act in the absence of a unit leader
or other designated authority.
• Originates in oaths of office, law, rank
structure, traditions and regulations
• Allows to take corrective actions in a
breach of good order or discipline
• Applies even if none of the soldiers
are in your unit
Slide 24
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
General Military Authority:
• Whether on duty or not, in uniform or
not, regardless of location.
• E.g., you are in civilian clothes and
see a soldier in uniform with his
headgear up and trousers unbloused
• Identify yourself and ensure the
soldier understands and makes the
necessary corrections.
Slide 25
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
General Military Authority:
• Both general military authority and the
duty to enforce standards in AR 670-1
• Authority is specified in AR 600-20 and
if you neglect your duty, you can be
held accountable.
• May ask for soldier’s name and unit
• May call soldier’s first sergeant
Slide 26
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Delegation of Authority:
• Officers delegate authority to NCOs in
the NCO Support Channel who, in turn,
may further delegate that authority
• Unless restricted by regulation, or
superior, leaders may delegate any or
all of their authority to subordinates
• Must be in leader’s scope of authority
• Leaders cannot delegate authority
they do not have
Slide 27
Duties, Responsibilities
and Authority
Authority:
• From chain of command and the NCO
support channel
• Orders and policies through chain of
command or NCO support channel
automatically provide the authority
necessary to get the job done.
• Critical to use mature, sound judgment
• Chain of command backs up the NCO
support channel
Slide 28
Inspections
•
Some soldiers, if allowed to, will
become careless in uniform and
equipment
•
They become accustomed to current
conditions and overlook minor
deficiencies
•
Superiors order inspections to
ensure that soldiers have required
equipment and clothing and that it is
serviceable
Slide 29
Inspections
•
Inspections serve a practical
purpose
•
Inspections are not harassment
•
Inspections correct small problems
before they become big problems.
•
Sharp appearance, efficient
performance and excellent
maintenance are important
considerations that affect you
directly
Slide 30
Inspections
Two categories of inspections for
individual soldiers and their equipment:
•
In-ranks: personnel and equipment in
a unit formation.
•
In-quarters (barracks): for personal
appearance, individual weapons,
field equipment, displays,
maintenance and sanitary
conditions.
Slide 31
Corrections
•
“On the spot” correction is most
effective administrative corrective
measures
•
Used for making the quickest and
often most effective corrections to
deficiencies in training or standards.
•
Either soldier does not know what
the standard is or does not care
Slide 32
Corrections
•
If soldier was aware of standard but
chose not to adhere to it, this may
indicate a larger problem
•
May need to follow up an on-the-spot
correction with a call to the soldier’s
first sergeant.
Slide 33
Corrections
•
Training, instruction, or correction
given to a soldier to correct
deficiencies must be directly related
to the deficiency.
•
Orient the corrective action to
improving the soldier’s performance
in their problem area.
•
You may take corrective measures
after normal duty hours
Slide 34
Corrections
•
Measures assume the nature of the
training or instruction, not
punishment
•
Corrective training should continue
only until the training deficiency is
overcome
•
Ensure that training and instruction
are not used in an oppressive manner
to evade the procedural safeguards
in imposing non-judicial punishment.
Slide 35
Corrections
•
Do not make notes in soldiers’
records of deficiencies satisfactorily
corrected by means of training and
instruction.
•
Praise soldiers’ good work by telling
them specific action or result
observed
•
Soldiers know when they’ve done
well but your acknowledgment of
their performance is a powerful
motivator.
Slide 36
Corrections
On-the Spot Correction Steps:
•
Correct the soldier.
•
Attack performance, never the
person.
•
Give one correction at a time.
•
Do not dump.
•
Don’t keep bringing it up — when the
correction is over, it is over.
Slide 37
NCO Relationships
An important part of your role as an
NCO is how you relate to commissioned
officers.
NCOs and officers must know the
similarities of their respective duties
and responsibilities.
Slide 38
NCO Relationships
Commissioned Officer:
• Commands, establishes policy, plans
and programs the work of VDF
• Concentrates on collective training
enabling unit to accomplish mission
• Involved with unit operations, training
and related activities
• Concentrates on unit effectiveness
and unit readiness
Slide 39
NCO Relationships
Commissioned Officer:
• Pays attention to standards of
performance, training and
professional development of officers
and NCOs
• Creates conditions – makes the time
and other resources available – so the
NCO can do the Job
• Supports the NCO
Slide 40
NCO Relationships
Warrant Officer:
• Provides advice, counsel and
solutions to support the command
• Executes policy and manages system
• Commands special-purpose units
• Manages equipment, support
activities and technical system.
• Supports the NCO.
Slide 41
NCO Relationships
Noncommissioned Officer (NCO):
• Conducts the business in established
orders, directives and policies
• Focuses on individual training to
accomplish the mission
• Leads soldiers and teams.
• Ensures teams, NCOs and soldiers
function as unit and is well trained,
motivated, ready and functioning
Slide 42
NCO Relationships
Noncommissioned Officer (NCO):
• Concentrates on standards of
performance, training and
professional development of NCOs
and enlisted soldiers.
• Follows orders of officers and NCOs
in the support channel
• Gets the job done
Slide 43
NCO Support Channel
• Subordinate to and supportive of the
chain of command
• Not an independent channel
• Ensure that the chain of command is
kept informed of actions implemented
through the NCO support channel
• Does not operate outside of command
policy and directives
Slide 44
NCO Support Channel
• Problems brought to attention of
chain of command and resolved
through a coordinated effort
• Operating in accordance with
established command policy and
directives
• Conflicts should be minimal and
easily resolved.
Slide 45
NCO Support Channel
• Problems brought to attention of
chain of command and resolved
through a coordinated effort
• Operating in accordance with
established command policy and
directives
• Parallels and reinforces the chain of
command
• Support commissioned and warrant
officers of their chain of command.
Slide 46
NCO Support Channel
• Used for executing the commander’s
orders and getting routine, but
important, jobs done
• Used to put into effect policies and
procedures and to enforce standards
of performance, training, appearance
and conduct
• Connection between the chain of
command and the NCO support
channel is the senior NCO.
Slide 47
NCO Support Channel
• Commanders issue orders through
chain of command, but senior NCOs
must know and understand the orders
to issue effective implementing
instructions through the NCO support
channel
• First sergeant and command
sergeants major are not part of the
formal chain of command, leaders
should consult them on individual
soldier matters
Slide 48
NCO Support Channel
Assists Chain of Command by:
• Transmitting, instilling and ensuring
the efficacy of the VDF ethic.
• Planning and conducting the day-today unit operations within prescribed
policies and directives
• Training enlisted soldiers in their
MOS as well as in the basic skills and
attributes of a soldier.
Slide 49
NCO Support Channel
Assists Chain of Command by:
• Supervising unit physical fitness
training
• Teaching soldiers the history of the
Army, to include military customs,
courtesies and traditions.
• Caring for individual soldiers and their
families both on and off duty.
Slide 50
NCO Support Channel
Assists Chain of Command by:
• Teaching unit mission and developing
individual training programs.
• Maintaining equipment of enlisted
soldiers and unit under their control.
• Administering and monitoring NCO
professional development program
and other unit training programs.
Slide 51
NCO Support Channel
Assists Chain of Command by:
• Achieving and maintaining VDF.
• Advising the commander on rewards
and punishment for enlisted soldiers.
Slide 52
NCO Ranks
Command Sergeant Major (CSM):
• Senior NCO of command at Regiment
or higher levels
• Carries out policies and standards on
performance, training, appearance
and conduct of enlisted personnel
• Gives advice to commander and staff
pertaining to enlisted personnel
Slide 53
NCO Ranks
Command Sergeant Major (CSM):
• HQ CSM directs the activities of that
NCO support channel
• Support channel functions orally
through CSMs or first sergeant’s call
• Normally not written instruction
• Training professional within unit,
overseeing and driving the entire
training program
Slide 54
NCO Ranks
Command Sergeant Major (CSM):
• Assists commander in determining
leader tasks and training for NCOs
• CSM and commander jointly develop
unit’s Mission Essential Task List
(METL) and individual training tasks
• CSMs use command information
channels to inform, express concerns
on enlisted issues and build esprit
Slide 55
NCO Ranks
Sergeant Major (SGM):
• Key enlisted member of the staff
elements at regiment and higher
• Experience and ability equal to that
of the unit command sergeant major
• Leadership influence is generally
limited to those directly under their
charge.
Slide 56
NCO Ranks
Sergeant Major (SGM):
• Subject matter technical expert
• Primary policy development advisor
• Analytical reviewer of regulatory
guidance
• Often fulfills duties of the command
sergeant major in his absence.
Slide 57
NCO Ranks
First Sergeant (1SG):
• Senior NCO in MRGs
• Enforce discipline, foster loyalty and
commitment in their soldiers
• Maintain duty rosters and made
morning reports to commanders
• Requires extraordinary leadership
and professional competence
Slide 58
Professional Military Education
Initial Entry Training
Questions?