Seriously, there is nothing less impressive than the quality of some of the NCOs in today's Army. I think it is sad. Even during the Vietnam War, when most of the Army were draftees, the NCO Corp was still built of those who earned it and those who could kick the shit out of PoS Soldiers. I'm been serving in the Army 7 years and I see so many NCOs that shouldn't be Privates First Class, much less in charge of people.
The biggest joke in the Army currently is this "Year of the NCO" trash they keep trying to talk up. Frankly, our NCO Corp at its present state is weak. Senior NCOs need to be down on the line, at the lower levels, kicking junior NCO's asses and separating those that can't perform from the service, not trying to build morale by telling them they are something they are not through the false motivation of some dedicated year. Most NCOs today are too worried about befriending junior NCOs and young Soldiers and have forgotten the basic principles of discipline, hard work, and motivation.
Example: I have a PoS E1 Soldier and her criminal husband (both young 20s) who live below me. I live in a two apartment house in the country side of Germany, how this Soldier was able to even get into the lease is beyond me. For over a year and a half now they have tormented me and my family with a series of misconducts to include, but not limited to: threats, inappropriate sexual comments to my wife, possible attempt at arson, gross disrespect for my rank, bio-hazards, theft, destruction of property, etc. I've called the unit over 20 times, even went and talked to her Battalion CSM......nothing. In a year and a half, and with all my complaints, an NCO gave her a 48 hour warning to clean, came to inspect her quarters, and reported back to the command that there were no issues. That was the only time anyone ever came. I'm to the point now where I call the MPs because of the husband's threats and her first line NCO will come, stand by her side to comfort her, and not even acknowledge my presence as though I'm the criminal and the Soldier is her child she is protecting.
Sorry, I'm bitter as hell, just wrote two separate IG offices about this. Not all NCOs are bad. A lot of my good friends are NCOs. Most infantry and armor NCOs are squared away. But for the love of God, this kinder gentler Army crap is destroying us. Most of our young men didn't join the Army to be pampered, they wanted discipline and adventure. Weak NCOs lead to weak training, weak discipline, poor performance, and dead American boys and we can't let that happen. If you are an NCO reading this, please take it constructively.