Marine Noncommissioned Officer Essay
The role of the Marine Corps Noncommissioned Officer during the Korean War
Sergeant Jesus J. Rodriguez Jr.
SNCOA Sergeants Course 4-12
Staff Sergeant Stewart / Sergeant Olson
14 May 2012
THE ROLE OF THE NONCOMMISONED OFFICER DURING THE KOREAN WAR: Marine Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) have always been a crucial part in fighting America’s war. They distinguished themselves by taking on the responsibility to train their inexperienced Marines, and for accepting the challenge of command when platoon commanders were casualties. Small unit leadership played a key role in victory especially during the invasion of Inchon on September 15, 1950. Most of the NCOs involved in the landing at Inchon were combat veterans, however the majority of their subordinates lacked experience due to the manpower cutbacks and downsizing post WWII. …show more content…
This meant that NCOs had a responsibility to train these fresh troops quickly on tactics, weaponry, and close order combat. Time would be a factor, even though General Douglas MacArthur’s plan on the invasion of Inchon was well planned. Marines were deploying early and would have minimal training. Non commissioned Officers felt the pressure and had no time to waste, especially when lives would be in danger during the heavy fire fights and cold weather conditions that these untested Marines were not prepared for. Along with that, not having the proper equipment was a challenge especially because of the casualties from frostbite in below zero degrees2
During this time of war challenges were constantly being given to Marine NCOs.
Most of the engagements were at the platoon, squad, and fire team level, and were led by NCOs. For many this was a new level of responsibility. Additionally, many missions that usually were conducted by platoon commanders were led by NCOs. This challenge was made more intense as they deployed quickly in order for the invasion at Inchon to be executed at a deliberate time. Many officers spend a lot of time getting educated on special tactics and learning how to maneuver their platoons. NCOs had on-the-spot training either through their experience or from brief guidance they had just received prior. Noncommissioned Officers had no choice but to take this challenge and become the leader their Marines needed them to be. At the end of the Inchon invasion 20 Marines were killed in action, 124 wounded, and one missing in action. Marine’s lives were lost and it was difficult to try to maintain high morale and dealing with the pain after losing that many Marines, however it was the most recognized action of the Korean
War.3
Being a leader and an expert in infantry tactics is the key role of the Marine NCO, especially during war. “A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him,”1 General MacArthur said. The quote says it all and ties in with the role of the NCO. The leadership that develops through the time and effort that NCOs put into their Marines will always be crucial to their role in the Corps. With war comes blood, with pain comes heartache, however NCOs live with the leadership decisions they make everyday and in this case it cost them 20 Marines lives and 124 casualties. Even though some were lost the mission was accomplish and a complete success. Due to the decisiveness of the NCOs and the leadership they provided for their Marines they were able to secure Inchon and all objectives in Inchon in one day.
One of the most important things NCOs are capable of is accepting any challenge and making smart and timely decisions. Although the battle of Inchon only took one day to secure the small unit leadership was the reason that the Marines were so successful. Challenges were constantly being presented but the NCOs were able to maintain control and in doing so saved more lives. Even being challenged with the cut backs and the down sizing, NCOs were still able to produce war fighting Marines which led to the victory in Inchon and ultimately victory in Korea. Leadership is the key role for success and that’s what separates the Marine Corps NCO’s from any other organizational leadership. This is why the United States Marine Corps has always been dominant because of hard charging Marine Corps NCOs.
Bibliography
Military Quotes/Quotations. 2009. http://www.military-quotes.com (accessed May 9, 2012).
Operation Chromite. 2012. http://www.kmike.com (accessed May 9, 2012).
Vallowe, Ray. Inchon. 2002. http://www.koreanwar-educator.org (accessed May 9, 2012).
Notes:
1Military Quotes/Quotations. 2009. http://www.military-quotes.com (accessed May 9, 2012).
2Operation Chromite. 2012. http://www.kmike.com (accessed May 9, 2012).
3Vallowe, Ray. Inchon. 2002. http://www.koreanwar-educator.org (accessed May 9, 2012).
Sergeant Jesus J. Rodriguez Jr.
SNCOA Sergeants Course 4-12
Staff Sergeant Stewart / Sergeant Olson
14 May 2012
THE ROLE OF THE NONCOMMISONED OFFICER DURING THE KOREAN WAR: Marine Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) have always been a crucial part in fighting America’s war. They distinguished themselves by taking on the responsibility to train their inexperienced Marines, and for accepting the challenge of command when platoon commanders were casualties. Small unit leadership played a key role in victory especially during the invasion of Inchon on September 15, 1950. Most of the NCOs involved in the landing at Inchon were combat veterans, however the majority of their subordinates lacked experience due to the manpower cutbacks and downsizing post WWII. …show more content…
This meant that NCOs had a responsibility to train these fresh troops quickly on tactics, weaponry, and close order combat. Time would be a factor, even though General Douglas MacArthur’s plan on the invasion of Inchon was well planned. Marines were deploying early and would have minimal training. Non commissioned Officers felt the pressure and had no time to waste, especially when lives would be in danger during the heavy fire fights and cold weather conditions that these untested Marines were not prepared for. Along with that, not having the proper equipment was a challenge especially because of the casualties from frostbite in below zero degrees2
During this time of war challenges were constantly being given to Marine NCOs.
Most of the engagements were at the platoon, squad, and fire team level, and were led by NCOs. For many this was a new level of responsibility. Additionally, many missions that usually were conducted by platoon commanders were led by NCOs. This challenge was made more intense as they deployed quickly in order for the invasion at Inchon to be executed at a deliberate time. Many officers spend a lot of time getting educated on special tactics and learning how to maneuver their platoons. NCOs had on-the-spot training either through their experience or from brief guidance they had just received prior. Noncommissioned Officers had no choice but to take this challenge and become the leader their Marines needed them to be. At the end of the Inchon invasion 20 Marines were killed in action, 124 wounded, and one missing in action. Marine’s lives were lost and it was difficult to try to maintain high morale and dealing with the pain after losing that many Marines, however it was the most recognized action of the Korean
War.3
Being a leader and an expert in infantry tactics is the key role of the Marine NCO, especially during war. “A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him,”1 General MacArthur said. The quote says it all and ties in with the role of the NCO. The leadership that develops through the time and effort that NCOs put into their Marines will always be crucial to their role in the Corps. With war comes blood, with pain comes heartache, however NCOs live with the leadership decisions they make everyday and in this case it cost them 20 Marines lives and 124 casualties. Even though some were lost the mission was accomplish and a complete success. Due to the decisiveness of the NCOs and the leadership they provided for their Marines they were able to secure Inchon and all objectives in Inchon in one day.
One of the most important things NCOs are capable of is accepting any challenge and making smart and timely decisions. Although the battle of Inchon only took one day to secure the small unit leadership was the reason that the Marines were so successful. Challenges were constantly being presented but the NCOs were able to maintain control and in doing so saved more lives. Even being challenged with the cut backs and the down sizing, NCOs were still able to produce war fighting Marines which led to the victory in Inchon and ultimately victory in Korea. Leadership is the key role for success and that’s what separates the Marine Corps NCO’s from any other organizational leadership. This is why the United States Marine Corps has always been dominant because of hard charging Marine Corps NCOs.
Bibliography
Military Quotes/Quotations. 2009. http://www.military-quotes.com (accessed May 9, 2012).
Operation Chromite. 2012. http://www.kmike.com (accessed May 9, 2012).
Vallowe, Ray. Inchon. 2002. http://www.koreanwar-educator.org (accessed May 9, 2012).
Notes:
1Military Quotes/Quotations. 2009. http://www.military-quotes.com (accessed May 9, 2012).
2Operation Chromite. 2012. http://www.kmike.com (accessed May 9, 2012).
3Vallowe, Ray. Inchon. 2002. http://www.koreanwar-educator.org (accessed May 9, 2012).