What Is A Toxic NCO Corps?

John Quincy Adams said it best when he said, “if your actions aspire others to dream more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” The Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Corps are the backbone of the Army and the leader of Soldiers. NCOs instills discipline and direction for Soldiers to become great leaders one day, but yet NCOs are making their ranks toxic in nature by not abiding and not living by the NCO Creed. Why is the NCO Corps constantly having problems with leaders creating toxic work environments from their actions and leadership? Could it be that NCOs are becoming more narcistic and losing their integrity to enforce their backbone? If the NCO Corps does not correct this toxicant that is corrupting the Corps from within, the Corps
The squad, platoon, and even the unit will be negatively impacted. Meaning, a negative or toxic NCO is around, Soldiers will either look to move away from that NCO or they will jump on the destructive NCO’s train and create a rift in the unit. From these actions will create animosity, high drama, gossip, team sabotage, high emotions, and anxiety will occur among the Soldiers and NCOs. This can split a team, squad, platoon, and so forth; where the group loses trust into each other. Furthermore, making the team or the unit’s mission ineffective. Once the toxic environment is emplaced, negativity turns away from the toxic NCO and focuses on destruction of the team. This is how toxicants spread through a unit like a plague, destroying the integrity, honor, bond of a team and their relationships amongst each other. The toxic NCO Corps will create toxic climates by changing the establishment’s culture of the Army, and the Army will forever be destructive and
Once they start holding themselves accountable, then you can correct the problems and issues. This takes every leader to correct and enforce the standards to everyone in the ranks of the Army. There are no exceptions to upholding and being accountable to the standard, polices, regulations, and the law. Next, not letting your personal feeling or toxic language to infect your subordinates or fellow Soldiers. Never gripe to your subordinates, if you do always gripe to your peers or your chain of command. Lastly, it’s not about you, it’s about your team and unit. NCOs never put