Episode
147 S13 Ep 23 – Incorporating Noncommissioned Officers into the Military Decision-Making Process w/JRTC Experts
- Published
- Apr 11, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3436
- Processing state
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Summary
The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-forty-seventh episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by MAJ Marc Howle, the Brigade Senior Engineer / Protection OCT and MSG Jared Cawthon, the BDE Fires Support Intelligence Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge for the Brigade Command & Control (BDE HQ), on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today’s guests are subject matter experts across JRTC: CSM Edward Cummings is the Task Force Command Sergeant Major OCT for TF-3 (IN BN) and MSG Randell Conway is the BDE S-2 Intelligence NCOIC for BC2. This episode examines the role of noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) in planning and the persistent gap in how units integrate them into MDMP and troop leading procedures (TLPs) at echelon. The discussion highlights that while NCOs are often viewed primarily through an execution lens, their experience, continuity, and practical understanding of operations make them invaluable contributors to planning. When properly integrated, NCOs provide critical context on feasibility, sustainment realities, timelines, and Soldier-level execution that officers and staffs may overlook. The episode reinforces that planning is not solely an officer function—effective formations deliberately incorporate NCOs throughout MDMP to improve shared understanding and produce plans that are executable at the lowest level. The conversation also addresses common friction points, including cultural barriers, lack of formal training (such as Battle Staff Course attendance), and underutilization of NCOs in staff processes. Best practices focus on deliberately assigning NCOs roles within MDMP, involving them in mission analysis, course of action development, and rehearsals, and empowering them to challeng…