What's a Marine Staff NCO? Well aside from all the creeds and poster Marine stuff sometimes you're dad. Or gramps, you are the one everyone looks to when the chips are down.

You're an instructor, a task master, or "that no good S.O.B!". You're the guy YOU wanted to be when you grow up. You're bastard at times, but you know you need to be to maintain dicipline.

You are "comand presence". You are a good listener, a story teller, a joker, a killer, or a cop when you need to be. You're judge and joury, or a lifeguard.

You've been trained to be a master of the art of leading fine young men into combat and bring them back, victorious undetected, AND alive.

You're disciplined, never off guard, or off balance. You give commands in a voice that cannot be duplicated in Hollywood. A voice that commands respect, loud only when needed. A voice that only time and experience can develop. A voice that  you have for the rest of your life.

A Marine staff NCO is a professional who knows his Marines, their needs, strengths, weaknesses, and training. He knows how to use them properly, and efficiently. He is devoted to the Marine Corps and his men.

He knows he's not much good without them. And that they are an inefficient, grabasstic, noze pickin' mob without him. So he trains them to the best of his ability. Trains them to be able to take HIS job if need be.

He wants his Marines to be as smart, swift, silent, and deadly as he is. If he gives a five paragraph order he demands that every Marine to know his job and his place in the mission.

He'll spend all night helping a Marine prepare for the next challenge. But he demands 100 % from that Marine in return. He gives you courage because he knows what to do with his own fears. He'll do everything he can to make you a better Marine. He eats your chow, sleeps with you, prays with you, trains with you, and fights with you!

What's a SNCO? I don't know how else to explain it.