NCOs in the American Army - Essay Example

Army Logistician is an article dedicated to the Army training management system. A Short History of the NCO is dedicated to the foundation of the NCO, its evolution, history, and educational system; includes explanatory photos and tables. NCO Duties, Responsibilities, and Authorities Study Guide is a list of the main UCO duties and responsibilities which is shown in the form of questions and answers.
B. The purpose of this paper is to show the role of the NCO corps and staff in postwar history. The question demanding the answer: has the NCO played an active and appreciable role in the postwar U.S. Army history?

2. A. After World War II, the constant growth of military technologies led to the necessity of new educational program development: “Emphasis on NCO education increased to the point that by 1959 over 180,000 soldiers would attend NCO academies located in the continental United States. In addition to NCO academies, the Army encouraged enlisted men to advance their education by other means” (1). In 1950 the U.S.A. sent soldiers to Korea.

The NCO soldiers took part in the war, and some of them were real heroes: “Near Surang-ni, Sergeant Ola L. Mize led the defense of "Outpost Harry." Learning of a wounded soldier in an outlying listening post, during an artillery barrage, Mize moved to rescue the soldier. Returning to the main position with the soldier, Mize rallied the troops into an effective defense as the enemy attacked in force” (2). During the war in Vietnam the NCO took a large part in combat leadership: “Needing large numbers of NCOs for combat, the Army created the Noncommissioned Officers Candidate Course. Three branches were established at Fort Benning, Fort Knox, and Fort Sill” (2). There were also many cases of heroism among the NCO soldiers during the war: “Five times, Ashley and his newly-formed unit attacked enemy positions, clearing the enemy and proceeding through booby-trapped bunkers. Wounded by machine gun fire, Ashley continued, finally directing air strikes on his position to clear the enemy. As the enemy retreated, he lapsed into unconsciousness” (2).

B. In 1971 the NCO Educational System was introduced. Firstly it consisted of three training levels: “Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course (to provide basic leadership skills and a knowledge of military subjects needed at the squad and team level), Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course (to provide the student with advanced technical and leadership skills), and the Sergeants Major Academy (which prepared senior NCOs to perform duties as sergeants major at the division and higher headquarters)” (2). The next rather important step of the NCO reforming took place in 1986 when was “established the Primary Leadership Development Course as a mandatory prerequisite for promotion to staff sergeant. This was the first time an NCOES course became mandatory for promotion” (2). In 1987 a new Sergeant Major Academy was built: “This 17.5 million dollar, 125,000 square foot structure allowed the Academy to expand course loads and several courses” (2). Today the NCO Educational System is in the process of growing, and reforming: “the NCO of today combines history and tradition with skill and ability to prepare for combat.

He retains the duties and responsibilities given to him by von Steuben in 1778, and these have been built upon to produce the soldier of today” (2). The NCO personal (i.e. observer-controller/trainer noncommissioned officer) plays an invaluable role in training programs and soldiers' combat preparation: “Responsible for the training, mobilization, and deployment of RC (Reserve Components) units, these NCOs are the silent heroes who ensure that nothing but highly trained soldiers augment and replace AC (Active Components) units on the frontline” (3). The NCO training programs are of high importance in the U.S. Army: “Noncommissioned officers are the principal trainers of individual soldiers. Each NCO (and junior officer) must be capable of performing every task required of his or her immediate subordinates and understand the relationship between individual job requirements, SM [soldier’s manual], SQT, and job books” (4).

C. A NCO has its duties and responsibilities. The main responsibilities are: “Maintaining discipline; Maintaining government property; Training soldiers; Ensuring the welfare of the soldiers; Executing the mission” (5). An NCO has also three types of duties: specified, directed, and implied. Both duties and responsibilities of an NCO are essential parts of the NCO Educational System.

3. As was shown above, the NCO played an active and appreciable role in postwar U.S. Army history. Its activity during the wars in Korea and Vietnam is the heroic page of U.S. history. The NCO educational and training programs influenced the U.S. Army in the postwar epoch (1945-Present) and laid the fundamentals for further development. Read More