The Year of the NCO

I have been one personnel of the Non-commissioned officer, NCO groups as the CPL, since this July. When I had promotional ceremony, I did not consider that my state would change. However, that is wrong thought. After attaching an insignia of CPL on my ACU, a supervisor requires me to take care about a junior KATUSA. For example, a supervisor brought me to account for a junior KATUSA’s mistake. I think a supervisor tried to ask me responsibility at that time. It was hard for me to correct somebody’s fault, because I was afraid of ruining a good relationship with them. Also, I was not used to speak out. However, I had to do that as NCO. At that time, I first understood how NCO is a tough position. Then, I realized what the NCO is in a group with the wisdom of hindsight. From my experience, I start to reconsider about the position of NCO.

NCO is the backbone of the Army organization. In the human body, the backbone is the part of giving a body its main strength. According that meaning, NCO groups organize the Army and support it from bottom to top. They help the official groups and take care about junior soldiers. What the Army has the great NCO groups is meaning that they can conduct their duties with good effectiveness and high efficiency.

However, to be a good NCO is a far different from to be a NCO. NCO personally should set an example to their inferiors and themselves. Their good example improves the morale and shames their inferiors into working hard. Otherwise, their bad example destroys the military spirit and makes the inferiors commit an error without feeling guilty. Therefore, the Army established the title ‘The Year of the NCO’ in order to encourage and motivate each personnel in NCO groups. ‘The Year of the NCO’ is the title for the best NCO in the unit. However, I think the title is not for one best NCO, but all NCO themselves. All of NCO members need to take pride themselves as ‘The Year of the NCO.’ Therefore, they who have pride as ‘The Year of the NCO’ should conduct right things even without watchers.

Let's go together

"We go together", that is the first slogan of ROK-US Combined Forces Command.
Today, I build up one group on facebook website. The group is named as "Let's go together".
I'm going to tell you why I pick it up as name.

I've serviced as KATUSA on Yongsan garrison since November, 2008. KATUSA stands for Korean Augmentation to United States Army. I met a lot of U.S. soldiers, some is belong to our company and other is not. I hang out with some U.S. soldiers around Yongsan garrison and Itewon. I had a lot of fun with that.

However, one day I started thinking what if they can enjoy real Korea. I'm still think Itewon is too customized to U.S., so I can say that area is not any more like Korea.

If so, I started again thinking how they can meet real Korea. Can KATUSAs be one of solution? Maybe or maybe not. Every weekend, KATUSAs usually would like to enjoy their own time with their family and friends. That's reason why KATUSAs can not be the final solution.

If so, how about Korean Citizens? Usually young Korean would like to take a risk. They want to experience extraordinary things.
Is it brand new odd experience for young Korean to meet U.S. soldiers? Humm..Yes, it is! They will.

Finally, I kick-off this group. As I mention before, this group help both U.S. soldiers and Korean Citizen to build friendship among them. We highly encourage both U.S. soldiers and Korean Citizen to be the first penguin who reach out their hands first to the different world.

If you have interesting about this group, please contact me by email or facebook.

Let's have fun! Let's go together!