NCO Primer

[Aryte]

This is something I wrote months and months ago, intended to give NCO's a "nudge in the right direction." I figured I should post it here for everyone.

The Ordo Imperialis

Noncommissioned Officer Primer

By Aryte Vesperia

INTERNAL -- NOT FOR VIEWING OUTSIDE OF THE ORDO IMPERIALIS -- INTERNAL

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As an individual rises through the ranks of the Ordo Imperialis, their responsibility and trust equally increases. Our organization offers countless avenues, with positions changing almost daily. There is no better place to be than an NCO to begin making crucial career decisions. As a member of the noncommissioned officer cadre, you are recognized as a seasoned, dependable addition to any division. You are the organizational power and structure of the Ordo.

Unfortunately, many individuals do not treat their NCO position as such, and tend to see it as "just another step" on their way to becoming an officer. But, to be realistic, not everyone should want to be an officer, and not everyone /will/ be an officer. It is a very exclusive and limited position that demands huge amounts of time and dedication. Very simply, not everyone has that kind of time to give up. For these individuals, along with those who shirk absolute responsibility, or merely desire to constantly "be in the thick of it," NCO is really a great place. For the sake of refreshing, the title of "NCO" begins at E-3 and continues on to E-5, with E-5 being the senior most enlisted with near-officer capabilities without all of the dedication concerns.

(Interesting fact to be said-- no member of the Praetorian Guard has ever been chosen out of the officer corp. They have all been enlisted at the time of their inductions.)

As the handbook mentioned, NCO's are the enforcers of the group. By that, it means that you are whom the individuals officer's turn to when they need something done. It is impractical to expect a senior commander to manage all aspects of his or her organization. Instead, he or she would "micromanage," or, in other words, appoint key members of their staff to handle certain aspects while he or she checks in routinely to ensure matters are flowing as he or she intended. This is delegation-- a command tree, so to say. High commanders delegate to senior officers, senior officers delegate to their staff, and their staff delegate to general enlistees. Suffice to say, as an NCO, you are the strong arm of the officer team.

Just as a group would not function without officers, a group would be crippled without its NCOs. It is not uncommon, or shouldn't be uncommon to see sergeants and above to be maintaining training regiments, leading elements of a force in combat situations, or overseeing other posts as needed. There is no specific job or duty assigned to an NCO, as the matter is as flexible as the officer above them allows.

A "good" NCO is an individual that works to assist his or her officer, ensuring other enlisted personnel are in line with their expectations. It is important to remember you operate within the powers given to you-- never, ever determine your own policy. Doing so is a very good way to find yourself "career redirected," or rather, terminated from the Ordo. :)

As always, if you have any questions, please ask! There's no such thing as a stupid question. Unless you're Joseph Spearmann, in which case there is.

Though I am sure the part about the Praetorians is a lie now. :D

[Nakita]

Wasn't Sera the only Officer to be choosen?

[Rei Kuhr]

Sera wasnt the only one.

[Agares Tretiak]

There was also Sly.

[Firefox Breed]

i dont consider warents full officers in a sence

[Sera Otoro]

I was a triplicarius W-1 at the time when i was taken into the guard... sly was a centurion O-2...

[Trevor Russell]

What about Johann? I remember he was O-1 in NOI.