--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Professional courage is the steel fiber…" description: "\"Professional courage is the steel fiber that makes an NCO unafraid and willing to tell it like it is. The concept of professional courage does not alwa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db1/william-a-connelly-54705_army_professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber_1473275.jpg" --- # Professional courage is the steel fiber that makes an NCO… ![“Professional courage is the steel fiber that makes an NCO unafraid and willing to tell it like it is. The concept of professional courage does not always mean being as tough as nails, either. It also suggests a willingness to listen to the soldiers' problems, to go to bat for them in a tough…” quote by William A. Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db1/william-a-connelly-54705_army_professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber_1473275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db1/william-a-connelly-54705_army_professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber_1473275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db1/william-a-connelly-54705_army_professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber_1473275.jpg) > “Professional courage is the steel fiber that makes an NCO unafraid and willing to tell it like it is. The concept of professional courage does not always mean being as tough as nails, either. It also suggests a willingness to listen to the soldiers' problems, to go to bat for them in a tough situation and it means knowing just how far they can go. It also means being willing to tell the boss when he is wrong.” [William A. Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professional courage blends firmness with empathy, supporting subordinates and challenging superiors when needed. **In simple terms:** Courage means both strength and listening. Key Takeaway Balance firmness with compassion. Themes leadership courage empathy integrity Mood serious reflective Type leadership ethical When to use this quote - combat leadership - conflict resolution - ethical dilemmas - command decisions Key Concepts military ethics decision making team support Questions to Reflect On - When have you needed to confront a superior for the right reason? - How do you show empathy while maintaining authority? A Different Perspective Courage can be perceived as insensitivity if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Boss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boss/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [Tough situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-situations/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) ## Related quotes > [Good NCOs are not just born-they are groomed and grown through a lot of hard work and strong leadership by senior NCOs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/good-ncos-are-not-just-born-they-are-groomed-and-grown-through-a-lot/) [William A. Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/) > [“I must make notes even now, I must, no matter how dangerous it is. That is my professional courage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-klemperer/i-must-make-notes-even-now-i-must-no-matter-how-dangerous-it-is-that/) [Victor Klemperer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-klemperer/) > [Always, always lead by example. Those whom you lead will be quick to grasp the true identity of a truly professional NCO and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-l-copeland/always-always-lead-by-example-those-whom-you-lead-will-be-quick-to/) Silas L. Copeland > [The good NCO has never been short in confidence, either to perform the mission or to inform the superior that he or she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-g-bainbridge/the-good-nco-has-never-been-short-in-confidence-either-to-perform-the/) William G. Bainbridge > [Soldiers expect the noncommissioned officer to be technically proficient, up front, and honest with them. Soldiers must know that NCOs care, that they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-e-morrell/soldiers-expect-the-noncommissioned-officer-to-be-technically/) Glen E. Morrell > [The goal of the corps of NCOs, whose duty is the day-to-day business of running the Army so that the officer corps has time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-g-bainbridge/the-goal-of-the-corps-of-ncos-whose-duty-is-the-day-to-day-business/) William G. Bainbridge > [He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/he-is-a-man-of-courage-who-does-not-run-away-but-remains-at-his-post/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Having courage does not mean we are unafraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/having-courage-does-not-mean-we-are-unafraid/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“Courage does not always soar, sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anna-radmacher/courage-does-not-always-soar-sometimes-courage-is-the-quiet-voice-at/) Mary Anna Radmacher > [Courage doesn't come by doing what everybody else says. Courage does by what you know is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/courage-doesn-t-come-by-doing-what-everybody-else-says-courage-does/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [My courage does not depend on the weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-anne-radmacher/my-courage-does-not-depend-on-the-weather/) [Mary Anne Radmacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-anne-radmacher/) > [Courage Does Not Always Roar. Sometimes Courage Is The Quiet Voice At The End Of The Day Saying: I WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW Timeline…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-does-not-always-roar-sometimes-courage-is-the-quiet-voice-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Courage does not mean living without fear, courage means being scared to death and doing the right thing anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/courage-does-not-mean-living-without-fear-courage-means-being-scared/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Among wellborn spirits courage does not depend on age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/among-wellborn-spirits-courage-does-not-depend-on-age/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [Courage shows itself in many different ways. A soldier heading off to war, a freedom fighter giving their life, or even a nurse braving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartley-brewer/courage-shows-itself-in-many-different-ways-a-soldier-heading-off-to/) [Julia Hartley-Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartley-brewer/) ## More by William A. Connelly > [Soldiers are members of a profession of arms which has existed virtually unchanged for thousands of years- far longer than most other human institutions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/soldiers-are-members-of-a-profession-of-arms-which-has-existed/) [William A. Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/) > [You're not being paid by how hard you work, but by what you accomplish. If you can't hack it, pack it. Our challenge today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/you-re-not-being-paid-by-how-hard-you-work-but-by-what-you-accomplish/) [William A. Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/) > [Good NCOs are not just born-they are groomed and grown through a lot of hard work and strong leadership by senior NCOs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/good-ncos-are-not-just-born-they-are-groomed-and-grown-through-a-lot/) [William A. Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/) > [It is difficult to be a good noncommissioned officer. If it had been easy, they would have given it to the officer corps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/it-is-difficult-to-be-a-good-noncommissioned-officer-if-it-had-been/) [William A. Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/) > [Every good soldier wants to live in an organized environment, secure in the knowledge that he or she will not be threatened or harassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/every-good-soldier-wants-to-live-in-an-organized-environment-secure/) [William A. Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/) [Explore all 6 William A. Connelly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Professional courage is the steel fiber that makes an NCO unafraid and willing to tell it like it is. The concept of professional courage does not always mean being as tough as nails, either. It also suggests a willingness to listen to the soldiers' problems, to go to bat for them in a tough situation and it means knowing just how far they can go. It also means being willing to tell the boss when he is wrong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William A. Connelly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber-that-makes-an-nco-unafraid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber-that-makes-an-nco-unafraid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db1/william-a-connelly-54705_army_professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber_1473275.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db1/william-a-connelly-54705_army_professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber_1473275.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db1/william-a-connelly-54705_army_professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber_1473275.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Professional courage is the steel fiber that makes an NCO unafraid and willing to tell it like it is. The…” — William A. Connelly", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William A. Connelly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-connelly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Professional courage is the steel fiber...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber-that-makes-an-nco-unafraid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-connelly/professional-courage-is-the-steel-fiber-that-makes-an-nco-unafraid/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```