Okay yesterday went well for the most part. After my husband I finished our counseling with the Chaplain we were running short on time to get him back to the training site. He and I both figured that driving right to the site would be a good idea. I being handicapped, no cell phone, and without a camera am of little threat to a training site.
We arrive and I secure permission to enter the premises. I did my part. The DRASH was being taught by civilians and one of the instructors gave me the permission. Not one NCO objected to my presence. Or so I thought.
Today my husband gets chewed out by one of the NCO's for having me there. He said I should have stayed out in the cold car and waited the 1.5 hours until the exercise had finished. Well okay why didn't this particular NCO tell me to my face yesterday to leave the training area? Better yet, why didn't he tell my spouse yesterday? I would have had no problem in driving over to the mini mall and doing some shopping or browsing until I knew they'd be done. I was already figuring on doing just that when I was allowed entry to the site.
Same NCO yesterday berated a male soldier for getting a cut and wanting to clean out the wound. He called him several names corresponding to female body parts. Is this what we are allowing in the military for NCO's? Sure let the guy get an infection and it will come back to an Article15 for not taking care of military equipment, namely himself. Yes they do give out Article 15s for getting a sunburn as you are damaging government property.
Yesterday I witnessed a different NCO not doing his job. I could plainly see, past the two female soldiers who weren't helping out with the set-up but just standing around talking, that there was a trip hazard. I told the two female enlisted soldiers about the trip hazard. They told the NCO, who had put the beam directly behind my husband's heels, to let my husband know about it. The NCO was told twice. He finally responded when my husband did trip a bit on it. Luckily the beam was moved and no one was hurt.
NCO are supposed to be professional, there is the NCO CREED, that they are supposed to follow. I wonder if most of them can remember the words to the NCO Creed.
"No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time honored corps, which is known as "The Backbone of the Army". I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety.
Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.
Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!"
Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my mind -- accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. I am aware of my role as a Noncommissioned Officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership. I know my soldiers and I will always place their needs above my own. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed. I will be fair and impartial when recommending both rewards and punishment.
Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their respect and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve; seniors, peers, and subordinates alike. I will exercise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Noncommissioned Officers, leaders!"
So there it is. From what I saw yesterday the NCO's weren't doing their job. I can only hope it was a bad day of training for them. I stayed out of their way. The instructors liked the questions I asked of them during their smoke breaks. Heck, they liked me enough that even today they were asking about me and if I was ever in the military myself. Not me, but I've been around enough military for the majority of my life to show the respect that is due to the soldiers. I'm curious so I ask questions. But I won't get in the way.
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