TAKING INITIATIVE TO BE A GREAT NCO!

by

Jim Butler

Okay, you’ve read Kautz and you know all the drill manuals and that may make you a good NCO. But, what does it take to be a GREAT NCO? Initiative, motivation and leadership will help you. Read these guidelines and I think you’re experience as an NCO will be more rewarding to you and more rewarding to your whole company or squad! They are written to the attention of the Sergeants, but corporals will also read what they are expected to know and do. Sergeants should utilize their 2^nd Sgt to delegate some or half of these duties listed below. But, the 1^st Sgt it ultimately responsible to the CO.

Key - CO: Company Officer, NCO: Non-Commissioned Officer, Sgt: Sergeant, Cpl: Corporal.

Rise: Know what time the CO wants the company up and when he wants his reports. Go over this with him the day before. All meetings with the CO should be held privately or with other NCOs only at your discretion. Use his time as your gauge on company duties. You need to be the first man up! I suggest getting up at Musicians Call (if one is blown).

Roll: Have all your men fall in (unless in the hospital) for roll call. You should try to have the men on-line by the last note of reveille. The men need to fall in with their coats (all buttons buttoned) and hats on and any other gear you order them to take. Have a corporal supply light if you need it. Be quick and take role. Have a total ready of present and of those that are not and why they are not for the CO. You and your corporals should request that they be quiet in the ranks. You should actually take roll three times a day: at Revielle, at Retreat and Tatoo. A bugler helps and so does knowing the basic calls.

Medical: Ask for any and record any medical conditions of the men (do this during first roll call or during check-in). Record what condition they have and any medications they take in your book. Watch out for the condition of your men (hydration, feet, hypothermia, sun stroke, poison ivy, insect bite, etc).

Counting Off: This is one of my pet peeves. It bugs me when the 1^st Sgt doesn’t take the initiative to have his company counted off and aligned BEFORE the CO has to ask you. Don’t let the men shout their number if the enemy is near (Outpost duty, battlefield, etc).

Paperwork: You will be asked by the CO to fill out certain forms. Please be sure you know at least the basics on how to fill it out. Ask your CO if you have any questions. Have reports turned in as the CO commands and on time. Also, it is critical that you carry a notebook and record the following in it:

- Full roster with Roll calls marked on it.

- Medical conditions and medications.

- Guard Mount men and shifts.

- Men with damaged or dirty muskets.

- Ammunitions stores.

- Details and cpls assigned list.

- Anything else pertinent to you.

Drill: As stated above, I am assuming you know the drill (whatever your unit uses). This should include Manual of Arms, School of the Soldier, School of the Company, skirmish drill and guidelines for Picket and Guards. You should also know your position and placements as well as your corporals. NO ECHOING COMMANDS! Give correction in low under tones to those in your stead. The 1^st Sgt should really conduct at least some of the drill instruction.

Inspections: Don’t make your CO have to make your company ready for inspection. This is a critical step in your role as an NCO. First know how to inspect a weapon. If you don’t, get some instruction now or from your CO prior to the event. Be sure not to yank the trigger to check a safety (half cock). This can break or damage the sear spring. Hang the rifle on your thumb. The safety should be able to support its own weight. You and your corporals should be sure no one is putting their finger on the trigger until the command ‘AIM’. Also, the men’s safeties should be on safety (half cock) at all times until the command ‘AIM’ or he is priming the weapon. You need to also check the men’s canteens for water, rounds, tins, and bayonet tips. Men with unclean or damaged rifles should be put on a report for the CO.

Corporals: Have your corporals duties set up as soon as possible. Spread the duties out over all the corporals. Assign each corporal a number and show him his position in your line. Remember that corporals watch over the details, but also help in equal share of the labors. Each corporal manages ¼ of the company (in a reenacting company, typically) and their assigned duties.

Duties: Here is a list of basic duties. Circumstances, location, setting can all influence other duties at your discretion. Duties should have the main goal of watching over the welfare of the men. The CO will likely tell you what duties he expects. Take initiative and don’t have the CO have to tell you again.

- Water detail: You should expect your corporals to have all the men’s canteens full at inspection. Also, they should inquiry with their men often as to their hydration status and the level of water they

have left in their canteens.

- Wood detail: You should expect the corporals of this detail to have gathered enough fire wood for the

Circumstance and size of the company (i.e. more wood if it is cold, etc). If it is very wet out, look for a fallen, pine tree and cut out a piece of its fat lighter from its center. This will aid in getting a fire started when it is damp out.

- Fire detail: You should expect your corporals of this duty to have built and started on fire for every 4-6 men. Less if in summer.

- Mess detail: Pick the great cooks for this detail. These men will perform preparation of the food and

cooking of the food (unless a commissary sgt is dedicated to the task). The mess detail should also

act as the ration detail as well. This means that they go to Ration Call and collect rations for their

entire company.

- Shelter detail: This should be the Cpls first duty when the company stops for camp if the weather is inclement. The corporals should be expected to find appropriate ground within their area and gather any materials to build a shelter large enough for their men. Have more corporals work on this

immediately if the weather is very bad.

- Sapper/Eng. Detail: If you are in trenches and they need to be improved for sleeping, warmth, etc, you should expect that your corporals will have improved them sufficiently with his detail. Your CO, you and the company should request that people bring digging tools if needed (set up prior to the event).

- Guard detail: Your battalion staff officers may ask you for a detail for guard mount. Please then

contact your CO immediately (unless he is not there). Comply with all battalion staff officers of your

battalion. (See ‘Guard Mount’ below). Guards do not take orders from officers at that are not part of

Guard Mount officers.

Dealing with your CO: Almost all dealings with your CO should be held privately. A good officer won’t ball you out in front of the men, but he could do it in private! You are the mother of the company and the CO needs to trust that you will do these things without being micromanaged. In many cases, the 1^st Sgt is the messmate of the CO and this works in campaign settings well. Also, you are the link from the enlisted men to the officers. If the CO must leave the companies vicinity, then you are in charge of the company and need to follow any special instructions left by the CO. The CO should never take part in the labor of a detail unless it is urgent he do so.

Guard Mount: If you are on Guard Mount or Outpost you will work a 6-hour shift on and 6 hours in reserve. You and the CO are to stay awake this entire 6 hour shift. You both work together and stay together unless the Sgt. Of the Guard is called to a post or the CO commands it. You watch out for each other’s welfare for this period and should report happenings from your posts as they come in from the corporal of the guard. Know how the guard is to be deployed and their posts. Keep written records of their positions and names and shifts (use a Guard Mount form if you can get one or make one).

You should expect your corporal of the guard to be sure his men know their passwords and special orders of their posts. You should expect they run and the report back on each call from a post. Please note them in your Guard Mount. If you have time, make a sketch of the terrain of the area and the enemies’ posts. Send this report to the Officer of the Guard. Make sure your posts are kept to no fires or very small fires per post.

Know the difference between a Police Guard and a Picket or Outpost Guard.

Weapon smith: You need to have a set of cleaning tools with you at all times. You should have the proper tools for Enfields and Springfields. Have a couple of nipple picks at the ready for a fouled rifle. You should assign a corporal to instruct and who need it is the art of musket cleaning if required.

In Battle: NCOs should not only know their place in line, but also know where everyone else in their stead should be as well! Watching out for safety infractions is your first priority. Watch your men’s footings during loading and firing. Give appropriate correction as needed in low tones. DO NOT ECHO COMMANDS! You all know this. Look out for any signs of dehydration or fatigue in your men. You should already have done the ‘Medical’ step above. Ask your CO who, if any, officers on staff are actually, medically trained (not just a reenactor). KNOW your units Safety Regulations and enforce them.

Skirmishing: You should make yourself the central guide for the line. The CO will be several paces behind the line or 80-120 paces behind the line if he has a bugler and he line of sight to most of his men. Thus, it helps to know the basic bugle calls. Please only correct when you need to and in the lowest tones possible. Your main goal is to keep alignment of the skirmish line and also keep men from rushing too far out of line to play ‘Cowboys and Indians’. Obviously, you need to know the drill basics of skirmishing as well.

Does this seem like a lot to do? Well, you’re right…it is! So, don’t let anyone tell you that the 1^st Sgt is not the Mother Hen of his company! Have fun and do your company proud as one of their NCOs.