The Vietnam-era Army’s ‘Shake n’ Bake’ school bumped basic trainees to NCOs
The war in Vietnam was fought very differently from World War II in many ways. The most troubling way for U.S. Army manpower was that it wasn’t being fought with…
This is the humbling history of the Marine Corps NCO blood stripe
The scarlet stripe worn down the exterior leg seams of trousers on the United States Marine Corps dress uniform carries with it a phenomenal story. This scarlet stripe is 5.1…
7 things NCOs have done but will never admit
We all secretly know that non-commissioned officers are the ones who really run the military and command the grunt work.
The military has its fair share of good NCOs and bad ones, but you don’t have to be a bad one to occasionally bend …
5 reasons why troops can’t stand ring-knocking lieutenants
There are four types of officers troops will encounter, each with a mindset that corresponds with how they became an officer.
First, you’ve got your mustangs, who were previously enlisted and jumped over to the officer side. Typically, troops…
This NCO was willing to die in Vietnam for his commanding officer
Ed Eaton came from a Marine Corps family but joined the National Guard in 1965 while he was still in high school. He chose the Army because he wanted to…
The basic civilian’s guide to NCOs vs Officers
Enlisted people always talk about their officers. Every officer is constantly scrutinized by their subordinates — from how they talk to how they present themselves to how well they lead. This is, generally, a good thing but, sometimes, it can go b…
Let them walk on the grass: The role of senior NCOs
At the qualification range, a group of Soldiers congregate during the lunch break. Unexpectedly, a Sergeant Major descends upon them In his growling voice he barks about their uniform deficiencies and how the range is not to standard. As quickly as …
Why this generation’s Lance Corporals are different
If noncommissioned officers are the backbone of the Marine Corps, then lance corporals are the muscles that keep it moving. As all enlisted Marines and warrant officers know — not to mention the Mustang officers who ascended the enlisted ranks bef…