NCO’s in the Business World
This article is from Forbes
Magazine and is by Col.
David Sutherland (Ret.),
who commanded a combat
brigade in Iraq, has served
as special assistant to
the chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and is cofounder and chairman of
Dixon Center for Military
and Veterans Community
Services, an enterprise of
Easter Seals Easter Seals.
When I speak to
corporate leaders I explain
that the difference between
a master sergeant and an
MBA is that the master
sergeant has been doing it
for 20 years.
Companies that hire
MBAs planned to take on an
average of 14.6 of them in
2013, up from 11.4 in 2012,
according to a Graduate
Management Admission
Council survey of corporate
recruiters. But why do
consulting firms, financial
service corporations, and
energy giants look to hire
more than 100,000 newlyminted MBAs when more
than 1,000 soldiers leave
the military every day and
bring as good, if not better,
skills to the table?
The GMAC survey said
that U.S.-based companies
planning to hire MBAs are
focused on both growth and
efficiency. But you won’t
find anyone more qualified
and with more experience
than a non-commissioned
officer. These are senior
enlisted personnel, truly
the backbone of the U.S.
military, including master
sergeants and chief petty
officers, and they typically
have a minimum of eight
years of experience under
their belt. NCOs know how
to problem-solve, under
deadlines and often in the
throes of crises. They have
managed large teams of
varying ages and skills while
ensuring that multi-million
dollar equipment stays in
fighting order.
Here’s what NCOs
bring to a business through
hard-fought experience:
• As an extension of senior
leaders, they ensure that
the job gets done. An NCO
ensures that the officer’s
commands are carried
out correctly. My brigade
command sergeant major in
Iraq, Don Felt, expanded my
decision-making ability and
command in the field. He
got the job done before he
was ever told to do so.
• They are a vital link
between top leadership and
the factory floor. Regardless
of the commander’s physical
location, the NCO makes
sure work is done to the
standards prescribed and
that resources are available.
A master sergeant holds
responsibility for thousands
of people and serves as an
essential mentor. How many
recently graduated MBAs
can say as much?
• They ensure a solutionsdriven approach. The
NCO serves as a senior
adviser to the commander,
determining the causes
of the obstacles between
the present problem and
the desired outcome. The
NCO then comes up with
the solution to achieve
the desired result. I have
witnessed NCOs in Iraq
and Afghanistan, including
the sergeant for whom
my nonprofit is named,
uncovering intelligence and
taking action to protect the
force. Often this means
putting themselves at risk,
saving another’s life while
giving their own. What
other employee in the world
guarantees their job with
their life? And what CEO
wouldn’t prize a manager
with such critical thinking
and loyalty?
• They provide feedback
that translates into
opportunities. The dreaded
annual performance review
in the private sector is an
everyday responsibility for
an NCO, who is responsible
for developing subordinates
to take his or her place on
the battlefield. NCOs are the
ones who develop the bench
of future on-the-ground
leaders.
• They are motivated by
incentives beyond money
and instill the same
motivation in others. In both
the private sector and in the
Army, gone are the days of
bonuses or performancebased compensation. What,
then, motivates a person to
show up for work? In the
military, it’s a commitment
to the team and a loyalty
that has been ingrained
in the organization by the
NCO. Regardless of the
means, the NCO knows how
to boost morale beyond
monetary compensation.
The Army NCO
creed begins with
the line, “No one is
more professional
than I.”
It’s not just talk. It’s
living. To all hiring managers
considering an MBA, I ask
that you consider an NCO.
Don’t fall into the trap of
tossing aside a résumé
because the service member
lacks the pedigree of an
MBA. There is a powerful
case for hiring NCOs like
CSM Felt. And there is no
better day to start than
today.