America's Best Leaders: U.S. Junior Officers, Military

Reader Comments
Back to article

Junior officers are indeed important to the continued effectiveness and efficiency in the military today. What is missing is how these junior officers are trained and how they are able to achieve much more than their formalized training would bring. This job falls to the senior enlisted,non-commissioned officers. The Sergeants and Chief Petty Officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard are the backbone of the military. Their selection process is at least as rigorous as that for commissioned officers, in some cases more so. And the leadership comes from experience and passion for their chose profession.
Dr. Bruce Gillies
Retired Master Chief Petty Officer

B. Gillies of CA 4:46PM November 10, 2011

Many great comments regarding the caliber of men and women in our Armed Services. These are the new breed of warriors/leaders developed in the fires of war and diplomacy. As a recently retired Master Chief, I can tell you the quality of our men and women in service are beyond even what can be imagined. Highly professional and have the very best training in the world not only in the Art of War but in the advanced technology to support their units.
Contrary to the old saying "a born leader", true leadership are skills learned, put into practice and honed over years of real time experience. The skills can effectively be taught but knowing when and how to use the best tools takes critical thinking skills the individual has to develop through observation and deliberate attention to even the must mundane and tiny detail.
These men and women are simply the very best of the best. They are not "boys and girls" as so many in our media and inside the Beltway love to refer to them. These are MEN and WOMEN, grown adults. Do not use their chronological age fool you into thinking they are anything less than adults. Their sacrifices and willingness to do this job is really what keeps the wolves from our doorsteps, not the bunch of spoiled children currently running our Government. While we sleep in our beds, they are on patrol, on watch, flying a mission or pulling duty most in this country do not appreciate or even understand, to our shame. As someone once said, "America isn't at War, our military is at War. America is at the Mall."
My hat is off to our brave Men and Women around the globe, doing what so many are unwilling and incapable of doing. I salute you and am honored to call you my Brothers in Arms.

Doug of FL 1:52PM April 24, 2009

As a Korean-era Marine vet, I'm glad to see the quality and character of these "junior" leaders is undiminished. My proudest day in the Corps was when I was promoted to Sergeant (E5); I wasn't sure I was worthy, but my immediate superiors did, which was tremendous boost to my self-image. The lessons I learned in all my rankings prepared me for success in civilian life. I might also comment that it may be the one upside of our Iraqi/Afghan involvement is the crucible it puts young Americans through today, good to know are rising to the occasion in every significant way. Viva the US military services!

Jack of IA 1:53PM April 01, 2009

Hopefully some of these young officers will go into politics at some point and bring this commitment to personal integrity and national service to the area of policy making.
It may well be America's greatest hope for a bright future.
Regardless, we owe them our thanks for their service and their commitment

Jack Telias of CA 7:40AM March 22, 2009

i dont know this guy but he sounds like a good man. Like you said he will excell in anythign he does i think that may be true.
thank you for all that youve done for this contry and i oww you my life.
im only 15 so thaks and i want to follow in your foot steps.

Joe of KY 1:14PM February 19, 2009

Dach,
I think you brought up some excellent comments, but I thought I would share my thoughts on that as well.
I got out of the Marine Corps about a year-and-a-half ago, and was looking for an electronics maintenance poosition- similar to what I was doing in the military. Through the interview process, the HR rep that was interviewing me told me that my military experience would make me a better candidate for a production supervisor position that had just opened.
So, I continued my interview, but instead was asked questions I had not even prepared for. As the interview went along, I felt a bit of confidence rise inside me as I felt I aced every question that was asked. I ended up getting the job, and It was all because of the knowledge that the military had given me. Not with a Bachelors degree (which I don't have) that was required for the job. So, to all of those NCO's that feel they don't qualify for a leadership position in the civilian world, I say that if you have the desire to lead people to success, the only thing stopping you is yourself. Go out and be aggresive in your job search. Who knows what may happen in the end.

TCS of OH 12:28PM December 29, 2008

I knew Sean in school, along with a lot of other stellar leaders, that was what our school was all about. As a group the people who have walked the path of military serivce will be the ones who lead us into the future. When I read about the lamentable 'Gen-X' and 'Gen-Y' the missing point is the exceptionalism of those who chose to serve. The choice of service is ignored and they are often looked at as victims, which is so far from the truth as to be laughable. They willingly have chosen to walk that path, and have had ample oportunity to walk away from it. In many ways the next 'Greatest Generation' is being forged before our eyes and without anyone even realizing it.

Eric B of CA 5:10PM December 22, 2008

I have known Sean Dynan since he was a boy. He is special and will excell in anything he tries. Sean is sincere, committed and a born leader.
Each time he is deployed we all pray that he and his Marines, he feels they are his blood, come home safely.
He is the essence of being a Marine proud, strong, smart and dedicated to his country and to his fellow Marines.
If the other Junior Officers are similar to Sean we will be set for leaders in the future. God knows we need them.

Joe Keenan of KY 8:53AM December 16, 2008

"I think most officers would tell you the enlisted leadership is most important to operational success. Many employers know this and look to the enlisted ranks (and not just the officer ranks) for the future leaders of their companies."
Commissioned Officers know that they need Noncommissioned Officers to make things run, although many do their micromanagerial best to marginalize them in their leadership role.
However, the idea that "many employers... look to the enlisted ranks... for the future leaders of their companies" is laughable. It is based either on ignorance of the truth, or it is disingenuous hogwash. Most senior Noncommissioned Officers are offered jobs such as janitor, security guard, school bus driver, or postal worker, and a almost never given credit for any management/leadership experience by the civilian employer, even within the federal civil service.
Dachtorstrange

dachtorstrane of OK 9:59AM December 11, 2008

I know that Capt Fick is most likely known for leading the platoon depicted in 'Generation Kill.' I would strongly recomend his personal book 'One Bullet Away' as it lays out in great detail how good troops from Pvt. to Capt. enhance each other and the unit. I just wanted to note this because of the squables I see from some of these comments. Justin Kelley Boston Ma

Justin Kelley of MA 7:29PM December 06, 2008