Working with NCO's

So, I had intended to update more frequently, but the internet in my room (and my room alone, of course) hasn't worked most of the week. I finally got it to correct itself today.

This week we had what the staff calls "Combined Operations". The 350 2nd Lt's in my class along with the 270 2nd Lt's in the class before us grouped up with Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO's) that were completing the Air Forces SNCO Academy. In general, SNCO's that attend this school are among the sharpest NCO's in the Air Force, along with a few cross-servise students and international students. We worked in flights of 14, with about 10 2ndLt's and 4 SNCO's to a flight. Thus far, this week has been the most beneficial experience ive had.

For anyone unfamiliar with Military organization or rank structure let me set the setting here... These SNCO's have been in the Air Force for roughly 20 years in most cases, and a few have sons or daughters not much younger than me. However, my rank and position as a Lt. and an officer dictates that I outrank every one of them. Despite this, it is common knowledge and advice that a 2nd Lt. needs to find an NCO or SNCO early on at their new base. That NCO will train them and guide them.

I worked with an Air Force Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) from the maintenance career field. An E-7 from the Air National Guard, two E-7's from the medical career field, one of which is a reservist. I also worked with an E-7 who worked in Combat Communications. Every E-7 in my group is expecting to become an E-8 within a year. One of them had 9 deployments, and all had at least a few deployments. We had discussions and lessons with them on: values, Enlisted Performance Reports (EPR's), EPR bullets, leadership and counseling, enlisted heritage, enforcing standards and general perspective exchange. They taught us how to write EPR's. They made us role play, Lt's acting as counselors/mentors and NCO's coming up with problems or issues we may have to counsel others on: pregnancy, rule infractions, rule infractions in a deployed environment, financial trouble, domestic abuse, sexual harassment/assault. Very valuable. We PT's with them and talked with them over lunch. It was very valuable.

In one of my previous posts I mentioned how the NCO's I had encountered were professionals and experts. That sense has only been extended. I don't have the experience to personally back up this quote that follows, but im quoting it directly from the mouth of a Lt. Colonel who spoke the other day: "I would put the U.S. Air Forces enlisted force up against the Officer Corps of almost any other nation's military".

Now, however, the real academics start. I have 120+ pages of reading this weekend for next weeks lessons, and I suppose I should get to that.