Use your NCOs

Have you met new NCOs? Most E-5s essentially auto promote and are basically E-4 with stripes. Most E-6’s now come from the Covid era where they missed out on key leadership development as junior Soldiers.

Its concerning. A lot of NCOs can’t be bothered or don’t know how to find basic army regulations/milpers, etc

Honestly I'm more irritated that many of these questions can be answered with a search of google or the subreddit.

Most NCOs now-a-days can't be bothered to even do their monthly counselings with their soldiers, let alone answer basic Army questions.

In the past, solving a problem involved a bit of "productive struggle." You had to dig through a physical FM, talk to a peer, or simply try something and fail until you figured it out.

We now have a "zero-latency" expectation. If the answer isn't available in three seconds, the modern brain registers it as a crisis.

Instead of sitting with a problem and analyzing it, Soldiers outsource the thinking to a search bar. This atrophies the exact critical thinking skills needed in a tactical environment where Google isn't an option.

The "Fear of Failure" vs. The "Fear of Being Seen Failing" There is a massive psychological difference between failing in front of a Sergeant and failing in front of a screen.

On Reddit, a Soldier can ask a "dumb" question without their NCO thinking they’re incompetent. They’d rather be roasted by 50 strangers than have their SL give them a "Look" for not knowing how to read a LES.

Modern culture prizes "doing it right the first time" so highly that the "attempt" phase is seen as a waste of time. Soldiers want the "cheat code" immediately so they don't look like they don't have their act together.

We’re ending up with Soldiers who are technically "informed" but practically "helpless." They know the what because they read it on a thread, but they don't know the why or the how because they never did the legwork.

Definitely a culture shift.

My NCO is a dumbass. I don’t think he could find his way out of a wet paper bag

In my specific case it’s because my NCO deployed to Afghanistan after OSUT so I should be able to figure out how to fill out an NCO support form or whatever it may be. (I just had my 5th NCOPD about NCEORs, I do not need help.)

Their NCOs don’t know either lol

Given the number of posts here that suggest less-than-supportive NCOs, I'm not surprised...

Because every time we go to them. "I don't know. Go ask this person, go ask that person, walks away without an answer, ignores you". I can go on.

My old NCO would shout at most lower E who dares to ask question. If he does answer it, he gonna mock the hell out of the lower E. He also went out of his way to offend and chew most lower E. He had favorite tho. If you’re not his favorite, he will fuck u up. Yea, talk to NCO but the NCO that likes you.

My first NCO literally did nothing to help me. I had to engage the entire company to get answers.

Most NCOs, especially brand new E5s are kinda slow these days TBF.

Haha did you see my comment on the COA thread? It’s literally a “hey sarant how do I submit xyz” who knows what else is going on their NCOs don’t know about.

Because tons of ncos are toxic af and/or dont have accurate answers so they come here ? Stop bitching just to bitch. Probably the same nco tellin his dudes “ did u try ti even figure it out before askin me for all the answers “

Like I told my joes - I get paid more than you do because I know more than you do and have different access to resources. I can’t help you address issues you’re having if you’re not being upfront and honest with me. Didn’t matter what the issue was, had one Joe who I got him and his wife into some army family counseling type event thing, had one soldier who we got her family access to mental health counseling, had another one who had some school issues that once I was aware I was able to get him in touch with someone I knew on that campus to square shit away.

Joes, use your NCOs as a resource! That’s the entire point

Most new ncos from what I hear don’t know the basic answers to the questions being asked. I got out in August and I have guys still texting me asking if X is true bc Sgt so and so said this, and for the most part, Sgt so and so is completely and utterly wrong

SGT to private asking a question- Assigns them to read "A Message to Garcia."

Ill keep it 100% outside of the training environment or deployment my Joe's are probably better off asking reddit. Im fucking useless when it comes to admin actions. Im old enough where we used to just go talk to s1 for those things. Since ipssa dropped im lost.

“Will I get smoked or counseled for x”

How the heck are we supposed to know? We are not your first line.

“I’m getting out in a few months will I have to go on rotation?”

How the heck are we supposed to know we are not your command team.

I think they are several reasons, including but not limited to: a general lack of problem solving skills, a lack of understanding, inept leadership, embarrassment, soliciting for different perspectives.

OP, to let you know, r/army does have a guideline that states if your post can be answered by Google, your NCO, or a five minute call with a recruiter please do so. And I personally do remove many for that. However, they tend to be very egregious.

We don’t always know why someone is posting, and it’s best to give them a benefit of the doubt. But trust me I get frustrated and disappointed a lot when I see posts where the OP could have solved it if they tried to problem solve instead of acting helpless.

Edit: Hell, I have more to say, even I one of the resident regulations nerds get it wrong from time to time. It’s good to get a second stab at it. As leaders we do not always have all of the answers. It’s sometimes good to get a second perspective.

As with most things it depends.

For the same reason they don't do a quick Google search. It is just easier to ask Reddit. LOL.