A Letter to My Younger Self: Lessons I Learned the Hard Way as an NCO

Dec 1, 2025

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Communication, Legacy and Impact, Personal and Professional Growth, Tactical and Operational Expertise

Morale Isn’t Happiness: How NCOs Build Purpose When Times Are Tough

Subtitle: Keeping your team mission-ready even when things aren’t perfect There is a myth surrounding morale. A growing number of leaders believe that morale means happiness—that everyone on the team is smiling and joking. Let me be clear: morale doesn’t mean happiness; it is about the enthusiasm to take on… Listen ⇢
What Leaders Owe Their Teams

Leading a team is one of the most challenging roles someone can take on. Every team relies on certain things from their leadership. Let’s explore six things all leaders owe their teams. 1. Clarity: Your People Deserve to Know the Standard As the leader of a team, you must know… Listen ⇢
How to Enforce Standards When No One Else Seems To

Subtitle: Leading with Consistency in an Inconsistent Culture Many young NCOs feel stuck when senior leaders ignore or selectively enforce standards. Nothing tests your patience like being the only NCO willing to uphold the standards. When you feel alone, it seems like you’re risking respect, relationships, and your sanity. You… Listen ⇢
What to Do When Your Supervisor Won’t Lead

Nothing is more frustrating than when the team’s de facto leader does not lead. Being a junior NCO on a team is challenging when the appointed leader is disengaged, inconsistent, or toxic, and the team still needs guidance. Often, junior NCOs feel trapped by this leadership gap. Teams led by… Listen ⇢
How to Lead Your Friends Without Becoming the Bad Guy

The most challenging part of becoming an NCO is leading people who used to be your equals. Just yesterday, you were friends; today, you are an NCO. This is the awkward zone in which all new NCOs find themselves. Moving from junior enlisted to non-commissioned officer is the most challenging… Listen ⇢
The NCO Creed: Living Out Its Principles Every Day

The NCO Creed defines the essential role of non-commissioned officers in the military, emphasizing leadership, responsibility, and cultural standards. NCOs shape their teams’ behavior through their own actions and decisions, inheriting a legacy of discipline and excellence. They are crucial for mission success and must constantly embody and uphold these… Listen ⇢
Recommended Reading List for NCOs

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support. Leaders are readers. To become a better version of yourself, you must learn from experience. It’s foolish to think personal experience alone is… Listen ⇢
Warrior Ethos in Action: The NCO’s Leadership in Unit Culture

The non-commissioned officer (NCO) plays a pivotal role in the military hierarchy, acting as the backbone of armed forces worldwide. Integral to this role is the responsibility of instilling and nurturing the warrior ethos—a set of core values that drive the very essence of a warrior. This ethos encapsulates the… Listen ⇢
The Price of Complacency: Lessons from History on War Readiness

Military history provides clear examples that wars often occur unexpectedly. Surprise attacks such as Pearl Harbor, the North Korean invasion of South Korea, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the September 11 terror attacks, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine serve as sobering reminders for military leaders of the importance of readiness. One… Listen ⇢