The Ethical Realization of a New Non-Commissioned Officer

October 30, 2014

I would like to start off with the disclaimer that my views and understandings of my position do not reflect that of military service as a whole, others of my rank, or differentiating soldier ability. This is merely my own view and experience as so far as it has come.

My standing morals and ethics have been moved about and altered due to the many hats I am to adorn almost daily. On my civilian side I know that safety is key and that during any tumultuous situation those without the wherewithal to sustain or protect themselves are to be sheltered. My basic soldier side says I am to be doing the sheltering, more so we all as soldiers have each other’s back for a common cause, even if the effort is only for one another. You cannot “embrace the suck”, to put it eloquently, alone.

Being an NCO and going to school to be an NCO has sort of shifted my grunt mentality. I most certainly did not lose the brotherhood sense of being a soldier, I only added onto it. Having freshly come out of WLC (Warrior Leadership Course) for the Army National Guard, I did not know what to expect. When I had been promoted this passed January to SGT (E-5) my excitement knew no limits. I had surpassed all the pleasant “Are you sure you want to do this?” or the “You would NEVER make it, I have no faith in you” or the ever so positive “You have made the worst decision of your life”. I had checked something off of my bucket list.

There is absolute truth in the idea that one has no fathomable thought what he is going to do in a situation until he gets there, for no plan ever goes off without at least one hitch. I, personally, can attest to the sentiment. What do I do when I know I may have to lead these soldiers 3-4 years younger than I in a possibly damning situation? Well, I mentally prepare myself of the ultimate worst and hope and pray to whomever that this absolute best comes out.

Now I may never find myself in this situation, to which some may say “Why worry?” Well, as a good soldier and an even better NCO, I have to accept that fact that I may well have someone’s blood on my hands, someone’s child is under my command. I have to accept that fact that this person may die.

This piece is not here to propagate pity or illicit anger. It is to show how having two moral imperatives can be a cavalcade of emotions and convolutions, especially when one may have to transgress one.

The morning after I was trusted with three individuals, revelations germinated. My first thought was “They did not teach us this in WLC.” Thinking back to all my hardening and jading training to maintain intestinal fortitude in the face of adversity, I did not know how to mentally attribute these individuals in my head right off the bat. I used to be a grunt, but now I am a leader. These individuals would have been my friends when I was their rank and now I have to suffice with possibly giving them an order that may harm them. They’ll make a 100% effort to completing that order as well.

I was beset with the realization that I may have their blood on my hands if the right events were set into motion. I have not been in the military more than a minute in terms of experience with soldiers under me. It’s a harsh reality in the long run, you just have to come up strong in the outcome.

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