Do enlisted members and CO's get along?

Gsta95

Thats good that you think like that. There are gonna be senior NCOs like Sergeant First Class and Sergeants Major that will give you advice. It would be wise to listen to them. It's a mutual respect. The stereotype of a Second Lieutenant being incompetant isn't always correct. The kind of respect given in the military is a professional respect.

CeciliaM

Enlisted and Officers (to include COs) get along fine so long as mutual respect is given and each does his/her expected jobs.

Drama...is everywhere, and not just the Army. Gossip is everywhere, not just the Army. You can choose to stay away from it. Or not. I've done just fine avoiding the drama whenever possible. And get along with enlisted and other officers. The "problem" soldiers tend to love drama, think more about themselves then fellow soldiers, and can't take seem to take responsibility for their own shortcomings (are big blamers...it's everyone elses fault and not theirs).

travis m

Depends entirely on the parties involved. I'm enlisted, an NCO, and for as long as I've ever known, "us enlisted folks" get along great with officers who have a mutual respect for us. I've known my share of stuck up LT's who think they are God's gift to military knowledge.... and those are the guys who give the officer corp a bad rap.

There are also a good number of officers who have no problem asking an enlisted soldier a question when he doesn't know the answer to something. Nothing's worse than watching someone (whatever their paygrade) try to act like they know something critical, when it's painfully obvious they know nothing.

Nobody has all the answers to everything, and it's ok to ask someone for help. Plenty of times, the best subject matter expert on certain subjects would be a SPC or PFC! They may not know everything about the battlefield, but they call them "Specialists" for a reason. There is one thing about their job that they know better than anybody else...

Long story short.... If you show respect, you'll get it back.

Benji

I met many officers whom I liked and respected. I met a few that I neither liked nor respected, due to their infallible ignorance and an arrogance that precluded them from being able to learn from their senior NCOs.
But the important factor is respect, and it has to go both ways.
Drama? Heck, get even three people together, and two will be talking about the third. It's called...the human condition.

Kaz

As a leadership position, you must seclude yourself and try not to become friendly with the enlisted. You need to understand that you are an officer to lead these soldiers and not to become their best friends. It will be harder for you to bark orders to your friends when push comes to shove.

In the military there is a respect for rank and respect for a person. Your rank as an officer, will give you the respect as a 2nd Lt. but the respect for a person is not automatic. Lead your enlisted soldiers and do not treat them like objects. Respect them and they will respect you as well. Always lead by example and do not be afraid to tighten the ropes when necessary.

Jennifer S

Where do I even start? As on officer people will respect your rank b/c they have to. Now, do you want them to respect you as a person too? If so then you need to respect all enlisted and officer too. It goes both ways. You need to respect your NCO's b/c they have a lot of time and knowledge that you don't have yet. You gain it by having them train you. You learn from them and how they lead. They don't have to be the best leaders either. My best lesson have come from the absolute worst leaders you could ever imagine, I would tell myself when I get there I won't be like such and such. I haven't and now am AG1(AW/SW) E6 LPO with only 8 years in. I am eligible for E7 and also am waiting for the results of Limited Duty Officer package. I too plan on joining the officer ranks and have promised with everything that I have learned to take care of my guys is #1. They will take care of me if I do.

meowmonkeymeow

I don't believe you are in ROTC. And if you are then talk to your Cadre.

Mike

While the relationship may be more adversarial in the Army, in the AF I was good friends with one of my officers. I stood up in his wedding (after he was stationed somewhere else). His wedding was military formal, but I didn't wear my mess-dress uniform because of my enlisted status.

Mariner85

Travis, Specialist is a rank... it has nothing to do with specializing in anything. If that were the case, it'd be a rank and title a litttttttle higher than E-4.

Lovebrother

You sound ignorant of military customs and naive...There is a reason for separation between enlisted men and commissioned officers, and they CANNOT fraternize if thats what your asking..for a good reason..read Sun Szu's art of war. How can a buddy send you over the hill while he stays back at command...or is in line for a future command position. The proverbial hill still needs to be taken and a command structure must be protected...subordinates and "superiors" between the enlisted man and his command are NECESSARY for any successful military. Otherwise...lets just surrender and then we all be buds! Because thats what would happen...EVERY TIME ..says Sun Sztu

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