WHAT IS THE JOB OF AN NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER?
“Really, the role of an noncommissioned officer is to take care of soldiers, to train, to mentor. “He or she is the first-line leader of the junior soldier just coming into the Army. This is the person teaching another soldier how to be a professional and mature soldier. That goes from training how to be in combat to training them in life. “As an noncommissioned officer for a squad, they are in charge of five to seven soldiers; they are responsible for them being in the right place at the right time and in the right gear. They have to make sure that they eat, they have the right equipment, check their room, get the proper training and keep them out of trouble through counseling and telling them what to expect and what not to do. “It’s a constant daily, all-the-time, teaching and mentoring. We are here to guide the soldier in the right direction.” WHY IS HAVING A YEAR DEDICATED TO HONORING THE NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER IMPORTANT? “It’s important because it’s automatic for a noncommissione
