What Advice Would NCOs Like to Give to Unseasoned Officers?

This question originally came from Quora and, like others, I took it and ran with it a bit more than I could… and probably still missed some valid points. 

Oh, these topics really make me smile with all sorts of great answers from folks too numerous and well-spoken to list with any brevity.

Speaking from an aviation standpoint, I can offer my own perspectives and will break them down to both Warrant and Commissioned Officers with further points for Aviation Branch (AV) and Medical Service Corps (MSC) folks.

In general:

Fly the bird. Simple enough in theory, but more difficult in practice. To effectively “fly the bird,” one has to have the confidence in their own abilities, the situational awareness of their environment, and the desired end result. Getting “behind the bird” is a bad thing – you will know it, you will try to compensate, and you will exacerbate the problem to the point where the cycle will only end in flames, smallish pieces, and a vignette on what not to do. Not only that, those with experience will know the moment you are on the wrong side of the “curve of correctedness” and they will be watching to see how you are managing.

Learn to appreciate the leadership benefits of knowing good Scotch or whiskey. A lot of what I have previously said on the differences between a bad officer and a good officer applies, and one can tell a lot about someone in seeing how they handle their liquor as well as how they handle those who cannot handle their liquor. Note: I am not advocating the “glamorization” of alcohol. Like anything, it can be an effective tool in getting to know your peers and immediate subordinates… and when I say “tool,” I mean one that is only used for the fine work. You don’t use a jackhammer to work on the finishing touches for a sculpture made from imported marble, after all.

Ask for help. Pride and ego will always be a factor in mishaps – always has, always will be. Rather than have it etched in imported marble (with the aforementioned jackhammer), make it something that is a point of mentorship when you become a “seasoned” officer.

Trust your NCOs. If you can’t trust them, then their guys can’t and they need to be properly counseled and fired/relieved with the appropriate documentation, if need be and find someone who can be trusted to lead. That’s it, and yes – it is that simple.

Don’t fear checkrides or visits from “those guys from Ft. Rucker.” If you are messed up in your academic knowledge or skills, they are there to help and make you better. In fact, look forward to their visits to learn more about the people around you – who is doing things right (the folks not concerned), and the ones who aren’t (“Where’d who go??”) There is truth to the old saying “learn from the mistakes of others – you won’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”

Do NOT micromanage. Oh, you want to make sure that everyone is doing their jobs correctly? By all means… but be fully prepared to take on everyone‘s job when they back off as much as they safely can. It will happen, and it has happened. Just like there is often little time for silly games of measured uncooperation, there is little time for “leadership by excess.”

Warrant Officers:

You are a pilot. This doesn’t mean that you are Tom Frikin’ Cruise, because the vibe that is actually given is Nicholas Cage. You are not the greatest. Not yet, at least. Learn how to be an effective crewmember, a reliable asset to the Commander, and a sponge soaking up good information from your Instructor Pilots and Enlisted Standardization folks. If you have the best interests of the crew at heart and don’t try to kill them on a frequent basis, they will reciprocate accordingly.

Quit whining or trying to tell everyone how it was done in the Infantry/Artillery/civilian flight school/Quartermaster Corps. We don’t care – you are a pilot now. Pack too much stuff for the field, you’ll get made fun of as much as the ones who can fit everything they need for 30 days in the field in a cargo pocket. How Billy-Ray taught you on your Grand-pappy’s crop duster is not how Army aviation works, regardless of what your buddies at Bragg told you. Lastly, if you have no combat patch, then do not say something stupid along the lines of “all combat flights should just be IFR flights to avoid ground fire.” By the time you finished letting that lunacy come out of your mouth, every person who has “been there” and done that has killed you in their mind 23.5 times (the .5 is because we want you to suffer).

Don’t brag. You say the wrong thing to the wrong person, it will reflect poorly on you, the unit, and your branch. If you can imagine that crusty SSG with almost 4,000 hours rolling his eyes at what you are about to say, then keep your mouth shut – especially to civilians.

Commissioned Officers:

Aim high, but keep a low profile. Stay in the books, even though you have the recurring fantasy to be referred to as “General.” Ask questions, but make the effort to do your own research beforehand. You’ll get to that star only through determination, cooperation, and perspiration… if you have other paths, then you are probably in possession of a faulty sense of duty.

Don’t disparage Warrant Officers – especially the ones with more time in refuel than you do in ROTC. It won’t go well. Trust me. They are there to help you become a better officer – though it may seem like they are challenging your authority. Yes, they are going to get on your last nerve, but they are in the process of teaching you how to manage crises and inform grown-ass adults how to behave like adults.

Learn from your NCOs and peers. If they like you, they will set you on the right path and never let you fail. If they don’t… ha – consider another job or investment in “How Not to Suck at Life” classes.

AV:

Plan effectively and disseminate thoroughly. The Infantry/Artillery/Attack/Medevac guys really really need to know if there are changes to the landing zones, threats, and frequencies. Nothing is more disconcerting than the sound of crickets when the question comes up on short final if “so-and-so knows that this is right grid…” You will be given the unglamorous job of planning – revel in it… own it… and produce a product that will become the example and not the exception of “right.”

MSC:

You are, in fact, drifting. Listen to your crew – especially doing hoist reseats at 400’ in poor illumination. “Pilot-Induced Tourette’s” is a bad thing, and if you insist that you are maintaining a stable and stationary hover, your crewchief and medic are secretly plotting evil and non-traceable revenge. Listen to their voices – the tone and the content – and make the appropriate control inputs/attitude adjustments.

Teamwork. One of the best analogies I have ever heard about the role of Medevac is that they “are like the that mentally handicapped kid on a basketball team that can throw a mean 3-pointer – they aren’t involved in much of the game’s strategy, but when they are needed, they are needed.” You are part of something much bigger than yourself, and you need to realize it. People are depending on you to get them to the appropriate medical facility yesterday. For that to happen, teamwork is non-negotiable. Cooperate with the Assault guys, get to know the Attack folks, and most importantly, bring your A-game when it comes to forging a bond between the medics, crewchiefs, pilots, and operations folks that will become the stuff of legends, laughter over Scotch, and pride.

Fly safe.