Empowerment of the American Noncommissioned Officer

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Empowerment of the American Noncommissioned Officer
The United States Army history covers a period of over two centuries. Throughout the course of those years, the ever-increasing empowerment of the Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) has progressively taken on a more demanding role. These Soldiers are the most professional, educated and disciplined NCOs throughout the world. They have obtained an increasing empowerment through factors of education, technology, and modern tactics used from an all-volunteer Army. History exposes that education, technology, and tactics have changed the manner in which battles are fought, while additionally increasing the responsibilities and duties of the NCO. The NCO’s professional development with NCOES schools provides the knowledge and skills for the advancement of today’s NCO, and the mentoring of subordinates to become the leaders of tomorrow’s Army.
NCO Education
Throughout history, the training of NCOs was largely accomplished using on the job training. During the 18th & 19th centuries, the NCO’s education was based on previous experiences and tactics, experienced or veteran NCO’s trained subordinates based off their own knowledge and leadership skills. There was no standardized training program Army wide to train NCOs. Starting in the 20th century, war was on a global scale, the military had grown exponentially in size. After World War I (WWI), the Army realized the need to better trained NCOs in the area of leadership. NCOs across the Army were lacking the technical skill sets the military wanted in the NCO corps. Fundamental rank changes were made to further identify specific areas of expertise within the NCO corps, to enhance the leadership structure and create more accountability with...

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...As the requirements to progress in rank become more stringent, the NCO corps will continue to see a stronger NCO. Education, technology, and tactics are instrumental to the foundation of a NCO. The further empowerment of the NCO only solidifies the conviction that the NCO is the “Backbone of the Army”.

Works Cited

Arms, L. R. (2007). A History of the NCO. (2007). Retrieved January 6, 2011, from http://www.ncohistory.com Association of the United States Army. Retrieved August 3, 2013, from http://www.ausa.org/resources/nco/training/quotesforwinners/trainingandteamwork/Pages/EducationandLearning.aspx Combined Arms Research Digital Library. Retrieved August 3, 2013, from http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ Elder, Daniel (1999). Educating Noncommissioned Officers Retrieved August 12, 2013, from
http://www.ncohistory.com/files/Education.pdf

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