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Spring 1992

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We Ware There It was a feeling Slarted long ago - one bleak and wintry mom, when the call went out for volunteers in a nation being born; No sunshine patriot speeches, no summer soldier songs for all the special men who'd paid the price to keep the cowitzy strong.

CHORUS When we were needed, we were there; We were there when we \Vere needed, we were there. No, it wasn't always cal>)',

it wasn't always fair, But when freedom called, we answered, we were there.

Want to find out just who we are, then ask us where we've been:

From the frozen fields of Valley Forge to the tntil C'alled Ho Chi Minh.

Thru the glory and the sacrifice we do our job each day;

We are citizens and soldier.; and "Anny All The Way!"

Reprinlf:d with pennj&11ion

~HCO ournal \ ·ol. 1 Nu. !! Sprin~ I !HI:!

Published Quarterly by the U.S. Army

Serge;ints Major Academy

COL Frodriok Van Hotn Common(ltint. USAS,.4A

CSM Aonnlo Str•h•n Ccmmand Sergo11nl fAl\lOr

SG"t Bill Lopoz EdllOt•ln·Cnleif Jlrn Colllr'IS fAanagiig Editor

Mnr'4l SocbOf Art Citector SFC Diii Hornet' Phcio Editor

lheHCOJoumal b AptciMSIOOt'lpubllr.aliO.'l tor l'IOl'IOOmmisai::f'led ollioo1s ol lt"N U.S. A1my. \lieo·tS •~Pftt$sed herein a re thO:;eoof tho o.uthor!i. Viev.-s aOO coMOnts do not noceMarly r6fl8d th& officill Army or Oepi'rtrl'lent or 0.f.iins• posiilioos and d:> not change ot supe1soda lnlc:wmatlon In -0-thor official publications.

Oi..t missloo is to f:fOVldO o. te1um for the open oxch~noe ol ideas and information. to s1.ippo11 lr t11iniig, ttdu<:htlon and du•1etopman1 of the NCO Cor_os, 11nd 10 toster a doser bond amoog its memoers. The Soe!oca<y ol th* Atm}• approvad foods for pri ."llin~ this ?U:>licelic.1 on JM, 9. 1991, in oooor· :l<tnOt' .,.,i~h p10Yi:tions of AA 2.s.ao.

Oi..-tributton: The Jou1nal Is distrlbtited th(Oltj;lh Iha U.S. Ar;r1y Publloa.llonsC(l(llOf, 2800 Eastern 81\•0 .. Ball!MOt&, t"10 21220·2896. (Phone: (301) 682--5528 0 1 OSN 584-3n5.) Unils or offiooo •11ith

valid l)Vblicotions oooounts ean rooolv& lh"' JO\l.r­nal by having Iha r publication:. aff.ce submit OA Form 12·99 fo1 ind.Jsion in the 12-serias roquiro· mants f12·05 81ock0041}. StJb&eripllon$; lnd l .. ·lduals and no~govemment or;io1ize.t Ol'\S eon puroh4MI the Journal by w:it· Ing to lh9 Supt>rintondant of 0.."'CUmenls, U.S. Govet"nmenl Prinlflg Offf:e, VJashilgton O.C. 20402. Annoal rates: $11 domestic a.ncl APO; S ,3.7S I:> f.Of'e1gn OOdrO~$e~.

Submis1iona: Print and visual 3\Jbmlss·on5 of gaooml interest t.:i 1t-.o NCO COl'f'$ ~rR ir.vited. •J1oolicili<I submlssionswllnol t;.:J 11!1(v1n~. Pt·t> tt>~mpM 31e U.S. gcvernment-furnishod, unloss olhQ('.'l'ise aodltod. Prospective conb'ibutorg a1e a1\COuraged to oonto01 d'lo Joumal 10 disc:i.:SR requireroenw . Talei::hone: (915) 566-9009 Of DSIJ 970-!!550.

L(llters: Len.ars 10 the oditC·I ore or'lCOU(tigad. They mu~I bo ~igned llnd inch.Id& the \\'rlters lull n&"l'la a.'ld rank, c ity orA :>1016\orCityMdeountry) 01¥.:1 mol ln9 acldre6s. I.fitters sllou1d be bfiof a.nd are • .Jbjecl lo !Ktltin9,

The Journ&I {ISStJ 1056·9058) is. published qu!'rtefl'r' ':>ylhoU.S. A1mySerg&Mta~1ajo1 AcoiJ.. amy. Se:::or,::lcl~p01tag&i$paidal El Paso, TX. an::! at nck:iti:>nat mailing oflioos..

POSTMASTER: SOnd 00df0$$: changee tQ 'The tJCO JoumeJ. U.S. Army serg&ants. Ml\jor A.cart. &my. Fon BIO>. TX 79913-1 270.

lHE NCO JOl.JRNAI. / SPBllJG IY92

• Inside this Issue Na~vs & Issues ........................................... ....... ........... ........ 2 Sergeants' Business .. ... .......... ................................ .. ........... 3 Promotion - NCOES Unk ................................................. 4 It's Easy to be Humble When .............................. ............. S NCOES Accreditation .... ........................................... 6 & 7 ReseNe Training Center ....................... .......... .................. .. 8 Career Maps ............................................................ 9 - 11 'Feeding Tham to ma Wolves' ... ........................ 12 &: 13 Guide to Centralized Boards ... ... ........ ... .. ........ .. 14 &: 1 S Feedback .................. ........... ......... , ........... ......... .............. 16 Mentor;ng .................. .. .......... ....... .................................... 17 Encore: 'Guardian Angel ' Solution ......... ........... 18 &: 19 Road to Professional Education ........................ 2 0 &: 21 Letters....... ............................................. ............ 2 2 &: 2 3 Book Reviews ...................... .. .................. ..................... ... 24

•cover: 'Building ProfessionaliSJn' by Frank Hughas

• inside Front Cover: ;We Were There' Illustrated b y retired CSM Gary Boggs

• centerfold: Illustration by Dennis Kurtz

•Pages 14 & 15: Graphics by Lynn Dempsey

• Inside Back cover: Graphics by Frank Hughes

• Back cover: Graphics by John Paul Jones

t

• News and Issues

USASMA slates NCO JUiy Jubilee

NCOs nnd Anny V!Psfrom nrmmd 1he. world nre schc<luled to g.>lh~r ol 1.:SAS)'IA to address NCOE.S llnd related Issues durln$ o Jutr Jubilee thnl fetitures l\vo OOl\C1.ll'tcn1 ca11fcrr r11C~ lUKI Olh.cl' t!Yet1ts.

The July 6-!0ev.ni.f<>< ocli¥e dut~ ond Resc1ve Co1t'IJ>Onc:nt s;...,ld it:rs 01 ~: slntcd to in¢hrdo a world wlo~ NCO.ES Conference- Al thl' saine time, an S~·IA Conference fea!Urill~ S~1A Richard A. Kidd, former S)!As, and CSMs from ""'jor c .. 11-nrnnda ls .schod\tled.

Trnit1hl$ dev~loper.!, school corn· 11111ndcn and 11<odcnry con1mnnda11ts hove ol~o been invite.I IQ discw9 NCOElS and NCO Jead~c develop· nient issues.

A July 7 dlnin& out for conforcnce nllendet'8 <11111 11\elr til>Otlll<g is selwd· uled.

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Sntlilla!S aDd O<her aclivities a.-c olso scheduled f Qr "J'OUSOO durjng tho conJ1;1 t•11t.:c C"\.'Cnls. E1\l1.•1l11iw1tc1lt e•·eois are also bl:lng pLuuied.

Coinciding with llie 20th annivol'­snry of USASMA are homeoomlng celebmtloM foe 1J,. academy"s 13,000 gradualtS who are nble to re· h11n. 'l1h£• evrnlfi inchxl.J ell"\ Jltly 8 gn><luollon or Chss 39 of the '><r­~eants Majar C.01w...e. • golf toun>•· 111ent fornon-cc11,ferencenltCttdcesou July 9 nnd a monwneot clodicu1k111 ;md bnroecue on Iuly 10.

Anti)' dispfay• nnd demonstratioru; ore also sclrouled. incllkling perfor· rna<t<c• IT-· •he Jrd lnfnntry ··ot<l

' Otn\l'J" ~· lU le;lJll. M<>tt infomuiHon 01.1 the !uly l11bl·

lee will be provided d>l'O<lgh CS M_ chaoncl•. Th" UnASMA J'.loln1 vi 0011tact QU lhe Juli u...., is S 0"'[ Rol13 l d Samuelson al DSN 978-8447/8, or \OOIHl! ICl~lol (91S) 5Ci8-li·M7/B.

MSIJ John K. D'AJ11010 USASMA Public Afrolrs

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Update on Courses Several recent cl1:u1gn; ;1ff«:I 1JOJ1-

NCOES courses that ore given by USASM.!\ ot Fo:1 Bliss, Texos.

AcR<l1~11,lc E\.tth&.'\tioo Rc110rts (O,.\ FoJ'Jn 1059) fire now bc:ir~g r;ivc:i1 to ti.1u­den1sof tl1e Fir.::t Sergcnnt Cours~ and the lt•lllc Sraff Co•"""· Pre•iously, AERs \vere gii.·~1 0t1))· for NCO.ES 001.1ra..·s w'KI olhers U1a1 were \ongerthrui lhe five· and six we<?k FSC and BSC, "''pecti•'cly. AR.•623-l •rKl623·205 will bl' updated lo n:nect ll1iscl1i\Uge. \Vitl1out;i11 A.GR, t~1cre .... ':LS no fonrul record of a stw:tent hn\•ing foiled one of these courses.

t r1 Ju1tc, clas..tt lo:-ltl$ f <•r ti..:. BSC ar~:1 lso sdLeduled lo lucn".C:C from about 160 to 200stuJouts l""cbso. DSC Tr.lining Sup­po1t Packages for J«sen ·e Co1'llponcnts are nlso beiJlg up<lnl('(I to reflt!Ct ir11ptove-­u~t1lS axxl ~.-lmi.ge.sU1& are.being made to active duly com1>01>cnt mntcrial. Up­ero.ded p~cknges for Otht~I' OOllrSCS Hild "'objects will also be Ciekkd as that mate-1-i:i.l ~ updated.

So111e units arc nl.so conf11..~<l nbout rcquiremcn' .. for attending U1e BSC. ·m e 00\Ust: is O(}f'jl lo NCOs :lssig11ed 1o eilher

TOA or TOE O(~ru1izations. The fu1l of three pilol courses for

s1>011SCS of CSM Colttse studrnts was conducl.e<I irt Ja11ur11'}'. £.\Jli:r lhe May COLl!'"'....e, evt'l lu.ations 3nd rccommencln­tions "~II be made r~gnrding the fut111e of inChl(U11g sp1>u~s in th~ CStvl trah1in~.

SGM Onn t!ubb:i rd US,b,SMA Oirectcr>le of l'roining •nd

Doclriui~

flotlinc for Ideas ;\ 24-h\iur l1oll it1\~ Jl( I\\' ui"'t'S 1'1C0s a

<llrecl voke in helping the Army decide ~·It..'\\ soldiers ~·car. carry or conswne in a tllcticcl et1i1ironnte1-.t.

T l:e Tmln.i.r1g rui1.I OoclrU1it Co1w11;Uld Systems Mamge...Sok!ieT operates the hotline os 1>a1t cf ils efforts to modenuzc doctrir.e, equipn1ent and Sllpport. Cnlls should include hw;is to irnPJO"" battle· lie1d capabi!ities, comm::ind and control, survi"'U biJlty, sus•nh urie11t :1nd 1nobllil)'.

111ere. a.re lb.rec 'vays lo reach the hcxline. Co.mmercinl access is n\•n11Ablc by calling (404)54S-124S. l)SN access is

835 1245. /\nd, os of lole P<>brwuy, U1e toll free number i:; J.l!CJO.SOLDIER.

1'R/\DOC Systems xlanogcr·Soldlcr Fort Bt'11ni.J1i:. Oa.

J ounml Subscriptions The NCO Jonmnl is now nvnilable by

sublcriptian. ~ is SI I a ye<u fa< do­"'''>'llc an<l APO addresses :utd $13. 75 lo fvr~igu ad,1resses.

To l1et • Stil>SCI i1~I01~ SCO<l • di.eek or 1it01le~o1derto: Sup.:ri.JllC:i.ldt11l ofOocu­n:tclll;. U.S. Oovenunent Printing Office, \Voshingion D.C. 2().102. Ci1e The NCO Joumal, ISSN I 058-9058.

E1uploy1nent Assistance More Ull'ln 56,000 NCOs ond lhcirfnm·

ll y n-.en1be1-s receivM in.f011l1atioo :-11"KI '""" ist once during f ""'") year 1990 lbrougl> the Family 1'ftm~r 6mployment Assis· tnnce Prog1·nnt.

The Army Community Service pro­gram !us 79 offi"'5 for helping soldiers, spouses nnd youths loprcp•refornnd find jobs. It also assisls wirh career plannmg. job;crucl• tr~•inlllJ. resta.11e preparatK>n

(inclLtdmg SF 171 opplications for civil scrviceeinplo)nient) ru1d referml services vb it.• Job Listing Dara B.•nk.

Acco1di11c to a I 989sW"ey, 82 pecr.<nl of Anny sµouses preforTed to 1'1ve jells or careers, :uKI mo:e preferred IO h•ve full· li.Ine can<t:-rs wjtl1in five )·,m. The pro· ~nun is" l•u I iukeJ IO ll 1e Aa n y Career and Alwnni Progrnm fO< those tmosilionl11g frottt Aru1)' to civiliaiJ co11u11u1lities.

Co11l act ACS for rnore i.r1fonn3lion.

J en nie 1" 14.sla Communily ond F>1\)lly Suppon

Cer1ter, .<\JeAandria, Va.

Future Then1es The :\CO 2000 i• the sd1cdulo.d theme

for the Slll'lttuer 1992 Joun1al. Or'.;-.:u1i za­cio11Sa1lll hn1ivic.lu.;:_11sare i.J1vila.I to submit tui icles and let1ers th~l ndchess, envision or predict ~CO issues as die Army 1icnrs tllC 21st """lury.

The fall issue is slated to n~ the ontccr-NCO relallonship.

Prospecti\"e <;ootnbutors are encour­aged to c•li llie Joum11I, ns for in och'll1" '" os posslblc, IO dlsctL<S their ldoas.

TI IC NCO JOLr. "lf;l~L I S?Rll.iG 199 2

A new Army order Service members spared btrdget blow

Longer tours, altered career paths ahead

Enlisted exit plan reopened for some MOSs

15-year retirement urged to ease separations

Defense cuts hit home

sergeants' Business ... as usual lly CSM J:11111e• D. Randolt>h

11ierc 3.fe n1any c.oncems a boul J MJ \\' the Anny " i ll be reshaped i11 1110 coming yoan •nd wh.•t the impact will be on our .io\mty a1~J our soldiers.

1lle Am1y \\rill bec-01t1(' clu1-ch S11lo1.l ler during the nextfourye:m. Howe> er, lam co11vh11.:~LI 1 l~:1l.itlA.·il l re111a.in tlla n1osL~li1e nnd effectjve combac .. r~u.ly 1\nt\V 1J1e "'01 Id hos e\•er sieen.

As expected, many soldi,,,.. ai>d XCOs lnve questions about '"'" lhis reshaping •>ill affect them. We •II know m:my good NCO. and soldiers will IMve the Anny. 'll;creare a .,·aril·ly t.if 1·1rogmn"1."i nnd sepa­rntion bc11elit.s a .. 'ailable to Cl1Shio1t chc tnu1'lition to ci\ilinn life .. f'or ll1ose \Vhc) rt111:,h1 in tuUform., the ,\nny will oon­linue lo be H bon:ut :ind cl1nl1e: ne-il'1g career.

As we reshape. more responsibiLi•ies \\

1itl lw cive11 to - and incre::ascod 1:111JJ113 .. sis "'ill be plll<OO upon - out NCOs. 'fbe NCO will play att e\·er~increa,ing rok! in ensuring that \Ve maintai11 our fighting •dt>.e. S.\,lA R.id1ard Kidd hnscn1phasiz<XI •h~ rnlt-.s of NCOs, espcl~iH lly 111 lh1ue ttlt'.l\s: ll'l:linmining a qunlit)' force: con­ductlr•~ to11gl1, n~listic tmini 1-,g~ r111d de­veloping CQJllJ.."(le-t~. co.ifidt,nt ,,.,.dcfs:.

The NCO,'" the autl1<)1'ity tir,urc cloo· est to !he tru01-~. will plti}' 11 pron'linrr1t TOie in retaining quality soldien-. t .ikf-\\1isc. ,.,.c m 11sf l\"'Cn1it the necess.11')' q1t1lit)' n•JllACt·· n1ci1ts: 10 keep our Anny )'O'Jng and srrong, Ar. r•1,.,c.1ed, lhe NC.'O's gre:u..i role willcontinueto betrnining Y0ta 1111 LC1C

focus on every aspect of yot1r s-0hlle1'8· devdopnl<nl and le•d nnd tnin by ex a1nple. As \Ve counsel, 1llet1tor and 11·nln our soldiers, we musl not overlook the pel'SOf1al v.·clf HJ'C c1f Oltr soldiers tand lhe.ir families. Thi!> combination will ('t~'are lliot \\.i' nviinmin a moCivatcd fon-e .uxl tltal \.,'l' ttiitir1n1i11 qw1it)r· sokfi~ lo be· con1e Ute .!\CO leaders oftomnrrov.'. Otar COfll1nnnder.; v.·ill eX.J.."eCl 115 to fulfil I lh~St~ ml,,,; - nnd rightly so. Afler nil. ci1is Ls "se.rgc:u11n· husinc.ss:·

r..·fany 1imeos.. NCOsco1111•h•in 1JV1I lhe)• don't h."lve ll1e lin1e and rt"$o..lrces to AC· 00t:npli8.h cri1icAI LU.ks. To me,.suchco111· pfainls :.re bi111pl')' excuses for nee: being lhe best poooible:-,'COouecannnd should be. We owe our commanders result• -not exci.ises. As profl'ssion:.li::, \1111 nre ex· pected lo org,1nize auJ ext-<:utt'" to 11'111 kl" r11aAin11111l use of o\:ailable 1inle ttncl re-­wun:c~ W e O\llsl erisflrc t lll'li our sold iers ar~ pttpQJtd lo Ji~h1. lt"!V1 a1vl \\;in.

TI10 Anny works on •he principle lh>I ll\ere is but 0 110 cl\:tin of comn1and. Tile NCO suppon clunnel pt1mll<'I• •nd rein forces it r"'r the ch.iin of oommand 10 \i.·ock etTecti\orly, the NCO support cl\.'\Jt ·

nd mus! be in pbce and 11'«1 by L'nowl edgeable ond ca111prtt'1l1 sergeants. ll ts through the support channel that we p:ise inform;.11 io1\,arfr cC coo1dination nnd isstte orders to ne<:omplish nll nspects of 0111 0 1issiOJ)fl,

NCOs mu.st Jnl-et tl1l'.ir n'SJ)()ll~i l)i lities head...on; tl\ese ruc not son1ethi11g we cAn p>SSofftoOlhrfll \llcmustuseoorlmowl· <dge, talefll< nnd tlpcl'knoc IO fullil l 0..­

responsibiliriee of tn1i11it1g. developing ond caring for our soldiers. Success In cJ1.:~ . .. ~n(lt'\nvru-s \\.ill ensure our Arn1y re1n:ii11.s tri\ln~l l\1ld r~Jttl)'.

We mlist rocu.s 011lhe1>reser11 and look to 1he f11n~. We mu;t strive to 111:tke fl ie NCO Corp> r.f lodoy e\'en bener as "'" pro•ide It... ~\IKnllCO and leadership ow quality ""kli<rs cltser\'e. Such efforu 10-

day ,.;11 ensure lhnl the heart and soul of lhe NCO Corp;i •urvives •nd is pr<pnr•d to meet ttiny ch-.llenge, a.r1}'v.:1M"r•\ :11 ony ti111e.

Rat1dolp'1 (S 1/lc Total Arn~)' P.er ... vur111•! Co1n1,,nnd CS.\f.

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Promotion-NCOES Link By SG!'.I Jdfrey L. Stoddard

1·r:tln fir$t. 'J'J1eo proJ11ote. ·r11:tt NCOES -p1·0J•1otl01• liubge- l'e¢0ttU1\er1-

d;1iion from lhe 1989 :-JCO le<Jde; deYel­opment study is beco1nit1g a reality.

Currently , soldiers ltllL~t co111plete PLDC before being promote<! to sergeant, DJ'\COC before competing for sergeanl first class and ANCOCbeforec,,mpe!ing formn~tcr~rge1'ntstri~. The Se-.1geants ~{njor Cotuse (S~1C) i s l l'llllUired tc> bl,:­oon1e a co1nmand sergeat1t major.

Pending proposals call for BNCOC beco1nin~ a prerequisite for pronlotion to stnff !'>~Cnnt, ANCOC bcconli11g a r1>­~11irCll)COt for sc.t'.(;c~ot fJJ'SI class aud tbc. Si\·ICbeing a prerequisite for becorni.ng a sergeant rnajor.

1·011l::il«~ tills J.iJ1k.flg1.:~ \\'Or.Jc, tlu·ec lhiJ.1gs n1ust l1appe.Jt: Ttainii1g stoats 111ust Le available to s\1pport avail..1bJe promotions for each MOS, soldiers who should be pro111oted n1ust beacct1mtely idc11tifie<l bl or<ler to lr.'1i.J1 01ea1 before promotion, and ooldie~ 111W1l ~ aUo\''"'"-d to atl.en<f lr.1i1l­

mg. Soldiers' p!'.'OlllOl.let1$ could be deL")'l"J..-i

if (.-..)f11.1n~Hl(l1.~r:; l}I't~1.· .. ~1ll ll1ei11 fro111 alleJ1d­

ing training for operational reasons or if the Total Arn1y Personnel Cool111Hnd (PERSCOl>I) does nct schedule them for lJ.a i.n.iJ1g bet,vet-Jl assig1utretll:i.

.1\11 soldiers would com~te for prorno. tio11 to tl1e next higller grade> but their 1•Mn1.,lioru; \Yl>\1ld rwl be effective tmtil after graduation from their prerequisite NCOES courses. ff a soldier cannot he s<;ltcduled forcl<ls.s (e~g·> l1e 's 011 prolile). 111.il:i~.S a scl~tll~U c lt1ss, is an acadernic fa ilure or is releo.sed frotn the co11r.;c for any other reooon, he woo 't be promoted. 01r1~11f l)', l11(: (~ligibJ(~ 1~)1nilacjo11 for

BNCOC is much la.rg<r than lhe number of soldiers '4'e are pro111oting. As leaders, we Jt1\1st send only tlW: 111ost <'ligible ser­geants-promotable to BNCOC. Comb;1t rums soldiers are placed on a local Order of J\1erit List to <1li<nd regional NCO academies. Local adjustments can be n1ade to acx:o1nmodate prioritiac:; ill serlCl­ing lh t:!<il:'! suhliers lo ool1iws.

Tl\e B~COC AutOtualic R~rvaliv11

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System (DARS) schedules combat sup­po1t (CS) ond 00111bnt s~n.ice s t11}po1t (CSS) soldie.rs by promotion points, pro­vi(led otl1eir cril~ria al\!' r11et. f-)9wever, the BARS report is produced six monrlt< be­fore scheduled cln.-;se!->at1d lnany cb.1ngc.s can occ11r. Con1n\."1tde.rs :111d fus1 Sl.1'1'­f;•ants must identify CSICSS soldiers \vl1orequire NCO ES training nod coordi · nate sc:J1eduli;,:I training \.\•iUl CJlC installa­tion and PERSCOM.

Tiw professjo11al de\'eJopment :'\CO i11

the assignment branch in PERSCOJl-1 is resp:insible for sending CS/C::..'\s .Sl)ldicrs 'fJ)Y ro 1:1Nc:cx: ct)1n-s(~ l)l;!l\'-'eell PCS 1nov·es. Ho\ve"·er, soldiers need to s..:ek oµportunities to al1end NCOES courses.

ANCOC differs in that it is a DA­selecled and sclted\tlctd oour~. Tlle A..'ICOC manager widlin the soldier's assignme11t branch is responsible for scheduling. C.ittrently. $0kliets will) fire selected for ANCOC attend COl.U'Sts d nr· U1g Ill(! f(ll10""'iJ1g Usl-al ye:.U'. (1bose se­lec<ed in October I !19 Lare slnted to attend d asses lha1 begin in October I 992). Clnss attenrtancl': n1f1y 1.1<~ six 10 l8 1t1-0J•tl1.S J'ol­lo'"'i."lg tl1e release of th~ Al'\iCOC li~l. Sergeanl li:rst class pro n1otions, on tl \le cthct hand, usually begin two to four tl)\)lltllS f1fler cJ,at µru111olio11 lb1 release.

Under the current system, o soldier could be selected fur both ANCOC and ~c•nt first clnss by tbc same bollfd and be promoted to sergeant fu>t cill"" months beforeattending1\NCOC. Jn bringing the AKCOC-sergeant first cbs.< linkage on lio<.:, thl~e '''jll l'lC fttlju:;llnt·ut!;; r11ade to alt~11da11<·¢ scht."<:lul~. to h1<:lude: having p romotable s taff sergeants ottend ANCOC bofore scJving se.rgoants fu:sl clnss 0 1\..1 alternah"S, arid cvf~ll fh~ lf1)'i11g fJromolions \vl1en soldiers cannot attend training.

L inking ~~1g_elnl nlajor ~l1'Q1notio11S to tlle S"'{C is 1·eJalivc.-ly et1sy _ 01\ce St!l~tt!<l for promotion~ those soldiers not previ .. ously selected for the SMC wiU be sehe.d­uled for the next available class, regard .. Jess of PCS restrictions.

Stocidard is cJ1ic .. r o~f the P£RSC01lf 1vc:o1:.:s Sectiur:.

SMC

Tl l!r t;ro JOURN.•\l I SPRING 1?92

{

lt,s Easy to be Humble When • • •

There •s a story abo11t. tt proud fi rst ser­genn1 who bragged aboll1 hi• son while attrncllng th< son's gr.><luation from Wesi Puh~. "Yup, he'sgol my b<alns," tho- f.,t.,. , bo.1.SU'(f, ... He nlu.<>t ha\·~ your brall..s, .. re­plied top's obvioos l)' irrih1li:d v:ife, ''be­Cho•e I slill l1ave n1i11P.!"

111nt i;tof')' illustrates one. uflhL~Cul rl, hard l\to1s of lrfe: E"en pcrfce1ion hns its short­COJllinJ?;S. AJ> NOOs, \\.·e hnve oAen experi­enoed humbling evenJs UJHt chnllenge our Wltn• os profession;ils. !JI th• ooclle.<l of vrofeuion."ll dcvcloptn.tnt, here's 6Clfl..,.

food for 11,.,ught. l','e"ll call it:

11'.v Easy to be Humble W11c11 •• • Yo11'rl)a !-llJUlld let1derenrolled U1 DSEL")

. . . r.nd evl."J)' n1emhtr of your squad ffi•~ a ccl.kr;e c.kr;1e.e.

Ai o first sergean1, yOta lll'lvie: to ask the comp<Uly cOl!lDWl<kr lo OOIT<et oll~•b'S

in yot1r 1' .. rrer to the promotion bo.lcd. You've fmally leamo.i ro type .. . ond

your children are taking col tt'SCS in ad~

va1'1Ccd comptrier prog1nrln11ing. You'r< s111nmoned to Jhe CS~{'s ofl:ice

co di~tLiz a Q~1P acUnr1, n11d you ask, "liow do you spell that~"

Your ho;.; is ra,·ing about yot .. I HO UT score. . .. 111.cil youpointour1IL.-il it'syo1u PT score.

\.\1tile nttending night <chool, you real· 17.r. lhnt your cllildren are older limn your clnsliin1:1lL-'8 ..• Ancl }'Our professor.

As ~1cJJ0>1 CSM, you scnrl our a flyer ... u.•hicl1 is a.noo)'l11ously renJmcd. \\•it.It er­'°'' cu~ le<! in rod.

During a PT'""" you're bpped by a 4 7-yeM·old female officer.

You tlltlcover during yolrr bricri•!i to tl'1e divisioncommandertlo1I yr)111 O\v11 nan1eis

miss1,...11,,..1 on your l>ri!fing slides. You think :tu ellipsis has to do with the

moon ali#Jlinjl with the Earth and sun. c:orl1puter lang\111ge al11t0St mttdc sense

when you fon;I henrd t<!nns like "llufr,.,," "~1Jlef i 11 ho:~r<l '' and "sign-in."

You invest your(~f1tire \•oluntnry separ.1.­tion pny in the Florida lottery ... r111d looe.

You'rr n p1aloon sergeaut •.• nnd your s:u bo1·d i nAte. &'l 11Ad 1 eader of I 0 )'C."\n. l' J.,.ro js now your ri1'81 sergeant

l11e c~rk in the .ft'liremer'lf !4"Clioo an· 1lOUllCC$ th•• you hold 1he poet recor<I for ' "b;.o,<I tirr.u" . ,, nnd that ~;ou owe the An1ay anolher ~~ar before )'011 c An rt:fi~.

\~our l'lriloon 's averelgt': SQ'f" score was 95 .. And )'OU scored 59.

In fl letter ro ,a, promotion bo;'rcl . )ou boasf 1ha1 you've ··rna.ted out .. )'O\lf PULHES at 361

The CSl\1 who is presiding on y0<11' pro· mctuon bo..i.rd is the s:Jftl("' guy you rear ..

""'d"d 111 the parking lot Ibis morning. n1e .. rskycup'" you instructed to pick uv

your b.'lgt i nforn1s you 1J1flr he·s in the 0.1'1st0uord .. . and he's anatlmlrol.

Y ourdauJlli"r's Girl Soout uniform has n1ore :.\•.'m is a.1111 1Seoor"3tioi1s thl\Jl does. ycur unifonn.

Your ' "°""" >Sl:s why ••Pl) olh.-r SFC in yct1r tu1it cuade 'he promctio11 list a11d you did11'c.

You let )'Our LO ~•ri.l ex1l il'e. \\'1111~ looking :'.II proofs of }'Ollf uniciti 1

pl1oto, you re.oli1.e your nylons 11rive n1ns. Your ooldier.; st"' you walking on waler

. .. when the latrine floods. Your duty !>!djon schedules n gn -lo­

gether ... wlUlc you·reoo le.av<"" ..

Wlt1'T 111'. VA Wl~AN,''BOl,OEI> ~ ...

-

Y 011r OOstt fJl''-1i WS )'O\I i_n p11hlie .. • ond calls yo•1 by tile "'run~ i~une.

Your 1"'1"'11>oy refuses lo t•ke your per OOtlltl d-.eck.

You OOJ1'i.'CC ft pnvaie"s lDlifonn '' tola­tion .. . and he points: out that you"re not wearing n bell.

It 's been so Jons . you can .. t re1nen11Jc:·r }"Our date o f .n111k.

The kid you gol bu.sled 10 yc•rs •no and clrlltllJlli'.4'1 otit of t},~ Ann)" is .,.iour new con1p:m~· 0011111u1i.dcr.

Yuu' 1e uot tclcdl'<I for ihe OO\':inctd CO'Jtse ••• bul )o.1r htlbo-rdinate LS.

) rOlt ""ho)o .. On the rine range. Yo11 ~rnchL1to from !he Fim Sergeam

Cour.i< .. .nnd you· rcdi verted too closkjob at bnttn1ion.

Y 011 l~orn o,nl. lhe soldie-.r )'Oll jusl f11 i lf'd on U;e . .P'f 11.'S! ls )'OUT brigade CSM.

You gel orden lo take a remedial KP course.

You rernm from o long IDY and y0<ll'

family :uks. "Are you bock ... so soon?" YQ11r be'.lf'.N pi1t yot1 in for an awacd . . ,

v.•l1ich is clov.•nAl'l'ltll'"11 to a reprin1a n<I. You g:1in 20 l.lOlnl(ls \Vhile on leave. ·rh~ 1~n )'Ou just tlined v.·il II i~ } 'm1r

<.:Ofnn1ander's s.pouse. You'\'e ftJ11;0Ct(.11t row general 0 1den:.

You're the onl) Jl"nolll •• your high school ramion \'lilhold" ooUege titttte.

Volt learn thnt you were the nm.net-up for 9 non1irliirive posilio1l . .. and lhe job wonl to 001nco11c n•nicd Jethro 'BO<line.

·1·hank.s ro 111a11)'f.Jt1011yuto11s ,"lCOs, '1'''"'' rif \VJ1on1 .s1t·i'~1r tJtes~ PA/i'~r;'c11ces art! non· fte1io1111J.

5

NCOES: Evaluating the Good, Bad, & Ugly By SGl\f Terr.r Ogerly

NCOES is an insticulill nnl npptl)i•cf1 to clcvcloping crcntlve . Jogic<"l ao.d <p.lick­thir1king leaders who can appl)' A_rnl)' tr.tining ruxl fig/llin~ doctrine in their llDits.

. .U m instilutian. the t\nn)· reacl~ im g.o:tls \\ith \ 'aJ)•i11@. dcsrcrs ,,f SUCCIL~. Ho""' Cl\n 1\ICOs a11d u11its 11111,rove NCO a\!11J­t 111i\'8 t111d NCO.ES CQUrae~'? Resull.s fron1 •ceredi~tion evnlw11ions tell us how well we nleel the t'\nny·s 1iln1·1tlnr,i-ci. ·n:M~ r~llls

111!,o '""""''by <-ertah1 inolallalions and thoir Jead<t,; acllleve >1<111d;mls that dude other c0111nunds. They also sl'JO'\\' \\•hat NCC>.t 1u~I 1,,n-)its can do lO in'lprovc the acadet11i~ 1u1oCI cn11rscs in v.·h1ch 1lu.·y ha"'l' a Vl'l::itOO ic1lerl"'.;t.

'fhe standard The Training and Docuine Con1111:>nd

(TRAJ)OC) r~ublion 351-17 delegnlcl rr­~pons1b1 li1y an1oug the subject e.l(IJt:ll 1ral11i11g dt\·~lo1JC.1 $, NCO acade111ies an~ JCCreditatiOfl te.a111s, rn lhf' flll1trc, RJ-.S("l'VtS

"'Ill be subject to this S.'L111e process. E:\'aluotions foct•3 OJt tr.Wting ralhe.r 1ti.."\n

3d111itlistrative V'-'QO:SS(:S. h'lajor areas 1n <'ll•destandardizalion, quo lit)· of trai1•i11g1 Iii.• schoolho11St! cnvlro11nlcnt aJ.ld t.r~ining r~

oources. Aoodl'Jltics J\•cci \'C. oitie of three ratiJ1,as: • .A.c::crcdit. "!\ro signincru1t slK111<X>Ctlil~s

a.rr ec:t trd ining. btlt n report of correct i \ 't'

ac1ions might b< required. • \\Tith.hold accreditation. Iv1inor sl1011·

comings nffccl tmining. Accreditalio1l js withheld and (')() d:t)'·~ is allv>Vl-'CI l'or corre.cti ... e action.

• 1\loc nccrcctit fv1~jor sbortconUJ 1.g~ c:xi.l>t. Prt:\'ious aac1eJi~1tio11 is n"scinded nnd ooJTI.'di ... e ilelion is required. The S1Chcol is re-evalu>1ed within six to n ine n1oe11Jtc;.

Schools tltal <lv e.ittre1r1cly well on evaluo tions ha\'e severa l t11ings in conu110t1. ·111t')' n.1ve lhr full Sl•pport of their post couot1and .. crs and CSM• and lh"Y emphasize .\°CO tminilt.g. This support is aitical to nJtrtiltg 1lu· st~uclard . 'J'hu. involvement of on Installation's .. nior leadership is oleo ro­nected ill the appeal'DllCC Of RCfJli(~loi(,.'~. JI i~

6

f1111her obvious by the Jeade1>hip's respon­siveness lo resolving proble111s thal delracl from quality training, al()ng " 'ilh k1·c11£r1g open lines of con1mtmi<'atlons. FiJl.:lll)'·, tlle best school< are on pO:;ts U.11 p<ovide lhe ne=iry focililics, perscanel ond equip­ment

Forres Commnnd (FQRSCOM) lnslalla­lior1s tend ii lonRlly clo " 't"U on e":.tluations. 'L'he)' n1nk~ :--JCOES " priorit)' beGO\l&Se tlley readily nee the re\vnrd.~ C'1( returnin.g n.('eded le:idership oock to lhcir ~»ol 111i1s. Ibey n:alW: K_11 "ln'K."6l immediate tttum on their invo.1.111r:11I.

TRADOC in; lnllntic'1s 11ndi1locmlly fare I~ v.·~11. ,,, ... 1~riorities at 111:1.11)' 1Ji" Llt\."Se locotions h1cl11dl~ lt:i.sic lrairUug, odvanced indi\'idu:.11 training, and officer nnd warrant offocer tr• inius. NCOllS olten becomes the last priority.

Common Leader 'f raining FM LOO. S slntes: '"The Jl1ost essenl ia I (~ Jc;­

ment of coanbal po\\.'er i!it COlnJ)('tt"nt arld confident lender.::hip. - 'l'his is •1chil'\'ed in part b}' irll•~c.n11i11g Co1111D011 U:ader Ttai& i"!l (CL 1) into phase two of Dl'COC 3nd .-.NCOC. Th•se courses m11SI ~ISO be de­signed to chltllcnec st1.1dents 10 <lenlUJ'iS'tJ-ate their leadership, t1f1i11ing i'11K.1 l(;C.)111ical and lacllcal •klll.s. However. many proponents havedelnyed integmli1lg thistrniniug or lmve 11()1 iJ1tcgnolt<I ii fully. In ploin Cioglish. Ibis 11la1l5; NCOs in these c:oW"'..es are 110( being trained, evolutlrerl And co1111bcl!JJ 0 11 h:~adt"r­ship ta..;;k11' thnl t1re esse11ti;iJ iu ~1 \vartllne en v·irn11.11Jl' lll.

By not lnlegm1ing CLT, mony oour.>!s resemble tl.e bns1c technicul C1t.•Ursl'S llt.at were 1uugli1 in lhe 1970.. 'The ob<eoce o{

CL T degrodei ""' le.flle1sl1ip skills that NCOs should hove'''""" they return to their units.111cso NCOs wi ll not he fu lly IJJ~JXlfed lo lend IJt [(Ill k•.

Conunantl emphasis Successful ~cl>denties eJlist where rorn­

mand<>rs and CSMs gel involvtd one! ensure that re.sourcesnreavnilable 1os1JIJf>On 1>rope-r tmini.np,. lU.nJles. tral1U.1g a1 ~1s l\JK.l ~.,1uip--1nent 1nusl lie 111at.te avaiJalJIL•. Son1e

i 11~:1 I lt\tions do nol llave adequate cJassTul.X spn~ to 111f·et .scl100J rec1uirements. OU1e do not Im ve suffidei1t bil leling lo suppo1t tl· Jesi1cd environment for students. Aca: miies shoukl lrnin st11d.'11ls in Uie IYI"' ( ~virotune'flt that studc111$ \loom ~tum to u euforoo. Unforttmotely, mony ocademy ha rocks ore World War 11-cra woode buildings that are sulJSlnndard IUXI olleu 111

sa'fc. Si.1ch OOJ•tlitj011S def)• the intent c prov.i<ling realislic, aclUcvalJle and co1tsi1 teol slruxbrds.

NC'OES tmining should be conduct .... J iro c11aJJe11g.itlg, live-ir\, h.·rtdt'm1tip-intensi., c11vi1011111 ... ~n• lbiil reinforces leadersltlp on po Of<'$$i0 11al •killi;. IL should complemer. stlidencs' acade1nic tr.I ining 1111.J d:1il) ruJ. tines V.' he11 acadetny sl;111da~ 1ell ~c

Army tilruKl.'\Cds, NCO. .viii enforcethemi their unilS.

Acullcn1y cnvii.~nn1cnt TI1e key to nn effe<:livc academy c1wiro10

111eJ'lt is the oonstn1ctivc use of stucleJ1ts • Uu• both in nndout Qf tlt_c classroom. Stuc.1.ert

Arc oxpected lo plan. sup<rvisc and perfom actt.ll'tti)··related activities 3S th.!y would 11

the ir unils. \\'hen a1l Deaden))' rf"iq uirt" NC~ 1o l=:lf1n<l A1 11:ua1le rv.sl '''l1ile IW':liting 11 the d 1ow line, they degrade the NCO ran)<; a1td U1slead treat stude.i1cs I ike l:insic trainets Some instnllntion< tmn<port NCOES slu dtnlS in "cattle can<" while AIT studed!

DC'°"" I'°" ride 01 "'""""In '""lily, inst.lb lions reeeive funding 10 support All cowses; n.nd this creates n <liq,Aril)' at Utt e.xpcnse of NCC>s $IO~l u<.~ ,lt,·.rnies.

Often, tti_liiJltuttlt is nut a"ailable or :1 outcbled. One acidemy wns t...ining !'COi tlSing an old CM!non thal w3s lxinow\'d frot11 lb: 1J001 museum. Sludenls ~to train W:.1' equipmenl llt:lt is usod in thr.ir uni1s. Suoc· larly , the "old school .. np1nc.:1ch Js loo ol\ea nlivc nnd " 'cU. Son1e :1caden1ies require fo<ll lcx:k1t.r and \Vall locker di.splays of 1JSelB.• iterns, such :is tooth powd('t and slla''ii11 brushes. Otheis requl"' •lt•lcnl< lo sllite bnl5& latrinepi(l<'S with ern...o. \\'hat le.1d<:• sllip trai.n.ll1g value Jo students receive in such on environn'lent7

Acn<lru11ies with dy1u111lic corn11mndan1S nnd St.Affs \Utde.rsland the require1l1.en~ of running 1heir schools nnd NCOES ooun..._ They undersiand ll1at ll1e very heart of• succe.srul course ioeus<S en lhe 9'lecti<lo1 ol qua lily i;n1nll-gr·o111J ll·~dcrs, coupled -with~ qun lity 00111·se 11raJ1~g,er. This Small Grou11 ll•~lr11ciion (SGI) works bc'<l al nC11<k;11tlei

!har hove •de<\uate resour<>:s - suiL1ble clmr\.'Onl.S, 8Jl1aUer in~tnJctor-scudenc ra­tlOSi, etc.

S0f fnsl~l'S the (eOal Of de\'L~l(1pi113 i:l'e­

atiVo, lncical and quick-thinking lead<1rs. It incre.MC& t:1u<lc11t invol"·ement and respu11.si­bility in tloc lcaming process. L;tl"'M>cm group memor.; use group proc..ss methods wid to<hnl1u•.< tostimular. leamiJl!l by "'1ift­ing •h" ernph:isi.s away from "whnr ro think" :O\'•':lr<I "}1,,1u• ro tlti11t •• SGT places ll1e [t:­:>Jl011Sibilily to leam on the sti1d, nt, throush g:l'OllJ' fJAnicipal:ion and slu1.leu1 21f$ignnlcnts as d?scussio11 lcnclt':'r. J Towever, tl-.ere is ~lill reluctan~ to inregrate SOI in10 m any NCO ES"°""""' or to allow snxlcnts to teacli an~thing btycnd CLT.

Su bsta nll;u"l.I stanchl rd Ev:.lual ion~ l•avc olso noted I.\ co1111non

·~~<ll..'11c.o.ss in II ii.! qua lily of instnictiort of I he Am'I}'' WritiJtg Progn-uJ.1. This vnries. :;11 ncnd-

emi<s from good to substandard. Sni&nl criliCJt'l'S l;)f'tcn reflect this gap :\t ctl1ain in .. stallations. 1\rlotl~r -.:01nr11on 1>rol,lem is tllal aca.dem)' PrX lrdi1lirlg: and e\l'aluflllor1 pl:lns are not doccrinall y coJTt"claiLd art 11ot <let8ilcd e2\oug11 to exre:1rtc D qualit)" operntion.

Standardl! in roppearance all» v:uy. Many soldiers sp<nd comiderabl.! amounts o f 01oney to purch.ue sier ... i~bl~ iteans bi-f0tie lh(~Y' 11tl~n.;:I nn NCOES coLrse. 0th .. 1ii report \\' itl1 tlrtsen•IO"'nhlcunifonns - and that SU,) t;

sornething al ')()11I the ur1its of tllese NCOs. Course de.velo!XT.' pl:iy • Irey rol~ in de

signing and Cltpporting SUL."ldards. But Y0111e fu.il in tl•osc no:t;1)()1tsibilities. Poor :tCCTt"di1:. .. 1lon ratings oftc-1 reflect lhe poot' les.son ma­rerials lhat on: l""vitlod to schools. Proper design and development or lesson materials siguifi01rnlly irnpocts leader dev~lopmenl -as \\'ell ns lc~cl1.·n;lli1 1 - in the Arn1y. Propo­nerd.s Ll1:\I fur11ish exceUent lcssnn n1nterinls grr..at.l)'· hel1> nc;1dl!'1ni1:s ~nl accrfrlih-l l Ion.

Proponents m1Ut know and do their jobs. They 1l11i.-n gi\'e their schools honest evnlu;i­tions. Thero is n reluctance to tell the lrud1 or to be the btorer or b•d ne-.·s, and the qunlity of irtitruc1ion sufJt".CS o\S a result. 0Jle evnl11n· tion by• proponen~ for exam pl•, notoo tl111t lbc: e"t·ahr1tor \Vas '"impressied .. because tlte instructor "h:id the sludenls raise their lunds to go to the lotrin•. He had good oo.1trol." Suc l1 e\":lllllllions nre typ_ical. tr thf.s is Lhc caliber or cvnht:ttlo ns "-'e giveourselve.s, it is 110 won<lor !lint mnjor problems are round during acCl"l*dil:1lio1l.

NCO ES l'ns undergone major chnnt:M in tl>e P"-" ID yMrs. TI1e Anny's leade1sltip hns vowed its0001in11ed supp:>rt forprof".,,..;cn>il .'ICO educ.1tiOJ• All thAt i< loft for the NCO Corps L• to "'mal:ethingsh.,µp<n" to bnngoll .'ICOES •chools and courses up to-date ond in line. \Vilh • .\nny fl lilndards.

Og1tr!)• !.': r.)J}e/, Dircc:tur!1le t)j £,ra/i,n1h'>11 t111d S1r1nrl11rvflr.111ft111, l1S.4Sj\-IA.

1

ARRTC One Stop Shop fo1· R e serves

Dy CS~f Jock Rurynski

Good trnlr11ng ii; fl vital ingl'~dicilt i111lle JJrol'tts::ilunal dc.ve.lopment of today's NCO. !'or 1110 Re..,rve soldier, much of this troinine,, r>ri11jc11lnrl}' MOS -produc­i11e """ :--"COES couraos, is provided by Rt.·s"u.-vu CoJt1µo111.•11t schools an<l al'ad­em.ies. However, signifkanl skills and lo1uv.·l~lse. \vhich ru-e needed to maintain An11y Reserve uniis (luring ~>t~~1«:(:th11c

mobillz.1tlon P"'P"mtion, cannot be pro­vicl•-d by 11,....., lmdili<X1al inslilutions.

This J•P is filled by the Anny Rcsccvc R"'1<1intssTl'3ining Center.or ARRTC,al Fon McCov, Wo•. F.«nblisl,.>tl ho 1975 as tbr Army R~f'·e Ttthlliciaat TraiuiJ1g Caller, ii 1:rovided standardized traini11g to dual sc.-.rus un.il lcchnicians. II taughl c1itical adn'lltil&trruive, logii;1ic91, fu1an­clal """ tminin~ sldllsrequired ford•)"tO­<lay 11u1UtCt 1tru1cl! of Resef""\'e units. In 198 1, ii \VOS d i rec•~d to 1>rovi<fe pr('11'lobilll.:!lrion tminlng for a rt1pidl)• ex­IJ"ruli11g A n11y OunnJnnd Re::;erve(AGR) workrorce. By 1982. l\RRTC neorly tripled its curri<ulw11 ns ii provided duty­relateJ fu11clio1111J C0111'$C$ l(J aU full-ti.rot> sL1pport 1n~n1bers of tlK: Re~rves.

'f oday, l\RRTC m.1incnins il$ rok: AS a one-Slop shop fo< full-time support per­sooncl wJoo O<'.fVe Ilic Reser.""- AGR sol­diers receive in it ial orientation and inpioa:ssir.g tl1roug:l1 o tWO-\\•ttk Full Time Sop1>0r1 Enlry Course. Lat..-, tl>ey, ;_\loJ1g \¥ilb ci,•ilians and active dul)' sol~ diers whoo lso prov id~ fi ill-timc s• •pport, co.n receive spt."Ciolized training in fu ric4

lionnl n1 t.'i•S. Active duty soldiers - primatilythose

assigned to renclincss g;ronps - hnve r:i k~11 nd,,-11nt1'16C' of ARRTC courses h1 order to provklc linl~ly ~tticl;_mce lo Re­serve moils they serve. J\RRTC COUIS¢S ore olso Of"'JI to drill Ing Reserve soldiers.

'l'fu..· ccnicr·s Oi.'Cencruliu-d Training Divlsion yro\·ides tailored, oo-k.ication refn.>slM.'f trniulng •nd workshops for R&-5C'J'Ve t."Otrwwads. ln the! PJ.St year, more thon 5,500 soklirr< ,.....;...,d non-residenl trahllllg.. or p;trtkular hit~ to ~lt.ioc f\'COs a.TG lhc lint scr,el"anl and c.oi:1u11and

8

sergeai•ts 111ujor '''nrks-11'.11$, ARR TC dev•lops 11$ c-ou1= from •ur­

vi:.~·s IJ f Rt-sen• C' COCllll l:\lKIS i\lKI from S U b­j ects "'commended by f'Orccs Command. Surveys of studenf~ t\ ll<l 1 h11ir s111X!l"\l·is0Js allo\v the c1.~tlt4.'I' lo IJu flc)liblt• :.u1d res)Xln­sive to U1e ch:u1gi11g 11ecds or individtWs and unils.

The ce11ter ha~ acklecl rever:·.i co•.1.rstS ia

Reserve readiness 50 years ago

• 1940; Titt! RtSf'r''<~ 11u1r\bcn'()

about 120.000,including 117,000 offJCCl'5.

• June 1940:2,7 10R~scrveorflccrs '''ere or1 ncli\IC duty.

• M<ty 1941: .'vll)rt' l l~lrl 16,000 l{e-< servJ~lf "'<'~ 01' :.cti,·e ch11y,

• ~- 19~ 1: More than SQ,000 Re· ""''"$ls w~ro on active. dµry.

• Po11-Wvrld Wr<r 11 cr.i: The Orga­nized J{c$"1\'~ (wiu1 separ~te of· ficer ond rnli.r~d corps) included 33 divi>ions on paper.

• July 1934· A summet camp pho­togropl1 of 1he 6 1 st Bontolion, 100\b Infantry Division, shows just .l2 111et11bcrs ~u offieers.

• 1940: 30 percent orR~er.·esol­dlem !rained {whon 11,.,.,. W11< no pi1y for p~rioolc d1·ill~).

• 1934: 0 11ly I~ prrcontoiRcscrvc soldi11ts tl"ioi11<'<1.

• L940- 194 l: He>e1vis1s wero called tQ active t hot.y "' indivicln­als, strlpph1g uuii. of even their cadrrs. When divisions were mo· blllzed, they hncl to 1,.. complotely tel>ulh.

Ar111v RCMr\la P4.·nu1nn\•I Ccnler I O~tl cm 1/1< book T~·/rt tlir Cili:eri, A l/osrory oftht U.S. Arm~ R .. ,.,.., l!I08·1118J.)

recent years. The Unit Mo,.ement Officer CoUl"$C - open lo NCOs who are suoff sersr-.an~ or hightr - cc.rtifi~s graduates to assist wlit n1.ov~1llt',1 1ts ch1ri11g 1nobiliL14

Uo11.. TI1c U11it l\1obllization Planner's Course trains soldiers to quickly transit I on Reser\le units fro1111J('flCt•,1 lo\C to wal1inle.

In l988, Uie Reserve Retention Sdoool moved from Fort folnrrison, 1·nd., to McCoy,andARRTChMdcvclop«i•rldi· tion:U courses to train retCJ,tklll skills f1)r all Reserve lluil levels Recently, a ne, ... '°'"""~led 10 fll>l·lin< i...1<1ors called ST AMP (Skills, Techniqu .. a.ndAnn11on M.ann!"meflll'rogrAm) "'"'' oclclcd to om· phasiz.e supervl'°')' """lvcmrtll in the relerrtiort t~

Future requittmtnts will I Md to more coLLrse inno,·a tions. Por exanl1)le, ARRTCis rlcvcloplug•nActlve Compo­netU O:rie11lal iou Cou150 clcsig1led lo help activedul)·ooldiers trnderslnnd 1he1miquc fw1ctions nnd roles of Reserve units. 1.e;. sons IM J'nc<I f1·0111 DctJt.\l'I .Sltield .-nd De-sert Stornl 1ujg,J1l l.:aJ lo devcluping 11ew 1i101.JilizaUorL pku11·1inJ11. co1.1rs.es. 1\ nd Total Quality Managcrncntprinciple-; •nd concepts will influence AR RTC cou1S<s in order lo help R.,;erve unilS prom«<: greater cQhesion nnd effec:ti\'Cness.

lo July, ARR'l'C wW begin cW... in a new $LI millloo facility that f.,.tun:s modem !raining teclmolo~ in 25 da ... rooms. A year later. ccnstruction i3 sched­uled lo begin on '"'"' bille!B for 4..50 slu· dents.

ARRTC plays rt key role in rh~ profe.<;­sional ~If ·dcveloi>111t.11t of nny NCO "'ho helps &\ll' J'nr1 lh~ R~s~rvl"s . \\.'l1ile CQIUJJJetio11 of thecenler'scourncs nre not directly tied to promotion, thoy will bo,. co111e increafli11i;ly ir11pot'ln11l lo lhe n1od­em NCO. Unils cannot succeed without NC<>.; \l.'ho lUtd~mdtllCirroles ii1n1ain4

tnining unit effectivc11c111! ; lhi! incltldes the Army Resc-rv•-

AR.RTC wilkontinueto pl•y nn impor· tnnt role in making sure ll•1I the Reserves - ond its NCO Corp$ - nre prepared for toda)· ;uxl tomorro\v.

R11c,\'lt-,-l:i is 11,e ARRTC CSJ.f

Career Maps Providing Clear Directions for Professional Growth

lllf NCO IOllRHAl I SPRJNG 199 2

•

• p

' -- •

By Vic Zilcl

NCOs now have a convenient guide 10 help link personal self­developt1lc.r,1 actjvilies 10 military career go.-tls - rhc NCO L<adcr ~If-Development Carett Map. A S<rics of JO of these nups. each designed for a spec:iftc C:u-eer Management Field (CMF), Im bttn di<uibuted to all Anny edllCllion cen~rs. CounselO<S will assist soldier.sin 1he eITec1ive use of the guide for their poni<ul>r CMF.

C•rcer mops provide clear directions for prof ... ional growth by listing activities that enable soldiers to become more proficient in c11rrenl tu1d future jobs. TI1is proponent·driven initiative, supponing !he chief of staff's top priority of leader development, provides o progressive, sequential program designed 10 enhance and SlLSCain 1nilitary com1>etencies.

Focusing on brood, gerieral recommendations that address skills, Lnowledge and attitudes (SKAs) successful NCOs have found beneficial 10 career progiession, carttr maps rttemmend activi1ies llL115"pport leader developmenl and job performance. ~lf-devclopmenl activities and goot. on cruecrmaps are only

recornnlCtKJ.11ions - not requirements. Soldiers are 11ot expected to complc1c all activities since duty assignments may preclude off-duty education. Completion of theacllvilieson the career mop do not gunmnlee promotion. However, doir1g so helps improve perfonnonce in NCO ES and on the job, which con contribuie to promotion.

The career map corresponds to llie pillars in the leader devel­opment ~ operalional assignmients, institutional training andsclf-<levclopmenL The operational section, foruamplt, lists ranks and skill levels as well assampledutyassignments. Soldiers shou Id consult with their supervisors for detni i.. of their specific CMF.

The institution.,] leader development section outlines theappli­cnblc NCOES structure, from PLDC to lite Scrgt.,nts Major Course (SMC). Tiieeligibility time fmrne is generalized and in no way rc0tel.S the lin1e constraints for attendnncc RI these COltrSCS. However, there is an indication o( what NCO ES course must be completed before being eligible for promotion.

The leader self-<levelopment section, centerpiece of the career map, lists recommended NCOES-relatcd activities which repre­sent a common core of studies. This 5C!Ctior\ also gives the

9

Self-Development

Institutional Training

reco1nmended reading and writing stan· <lards. Roughly half of U1e CMF propo­nents rec-01ru1•end a reading standard higher than tJte Am1y-reeommcndcd lOth-grade level before comple ting ANCOC and 12th-grade level before completing the SMC. Consult DA Pam 000-67 for fu11her infonnation on writing Slandards.

There are also recor1l111ended CM-F'­rclatcd sclf-dcvclopn1ent courses and ac-

10

NCO l .fADE.B SBLF.QE\(BLOPMEN'[ CA1£ FB MAP

mU! Ofl CAIU:J!Jl NANAGl!MENT F1ELD1 l"l'ANT~Y

CMf NUNBl::I: II

I O PERAT IO NAL LEADER DEVEL OP-AfE NT I ...,. n(; Sfe/ Crt. ,.,,. llAHX$, ualJ. 1JM;L It HILL Ll!YEL20

SKIIJ . l.F,YW a. IEOIU11Elllll!TllNr Jf>lrtJ..ilPGEANT OllTY ASSlONMfNl'S

TEAM LIAllEl

SQllAD LEADl!ll

[ 1 NS TIT UT ION AL L EADE R DE VELO PMENT I INsmvrtONAL ""' tlAINUIO PU>C INCOC

Mf

LE AD E R SE LP · DEVE LOP ME NT I

l'RIOll TOJltJ )C: nlORTO BNCOC:

I t.:11f:Jhth Coul!)Ol:dUoo 1. Cc;1mm11r11cQUar. Ski lls

IU!CONNl!NOOD :Z. flollic Mnlhenu1lic.'I 2 f't'tllo1111t"I Supcrri s.1011 3 Co1.npuler J.1tern.ey ( I IC Or1ly) 3 Dch1>VtOf(I) S1:·iCfl.('('

NCoE&-.1.ELAnD " Sl~ M&ne~e_m('l'll COUU:l!S

li«>"•a.W ~S..i.d: 10 tlmnmm!.!Jladiosiil.Dlod: '" AdUm w,...s...i.J • A<hic¥o ...... Sc...i.d • -

Skill Lne:I ID SU! LnclJO

tmCOMMEM>ED I I Jilcu 11lc:t•flnee Wanagcn1-enl 2 2

IAnd ~""llo.l •on \ACCP IS10700) P.ffeclivf" lfnt ini:. ACCP/l(:) lh.;;urds Na11t1\t"rn~nl CMf·lll!LA'tllD (ISJtlOO) 3. In I ('l"Jl('rn(lfl 1.1 I • 011u1-.1JU """I j()IJ

wtJaSD ' IWh: Refrt':She r ACC1' for MOS AND

a lnf('ln lry We-Ol)UOll S1•etitah1t • Computer literacy C'AUrtiC> (A(.'CP?, l• l) (All C'XCCJll I IC) ACTM\11lS

Rfiit•n Prolt-.l0twl .f«-edln-8 (8('(' ,\tlACht'dl

---ll(X}MMEl'l.'0£0 IW/IS tN, Ct.'1!t'l'61 Stu\111.:11 <".MP.QJ..AnD Cf.RTJJll(;ATIOH UR Dt:CUtiGOAL OY f lit ISU1 Yt:Afl or St:r<v1c1;

-NOTE • Sec DA Pcun 600 61. The" Arm y Wnting_ Slan.dn.rd is wr1u ng

' h i.'11 e<1n be undcM1lex>d Ill It 11u1gli.'. '"P'd tt:edi11&. a nd is (rJ}('r !tlly f~C' O( j)r J'Ol'8 111 l(rUtlll llllt' Oll"l; IJQt'l /Cll. hnd U!!IUfC.

LEGEND ACCP Ar1ny l'OffC#l)Orldl'TtCC' Cour.e Pr0i;f6n• C'l'RIS Srtlf\1rll f".-0mpt1l<'•' lnlllrlkllOr1 t• hcn: A~bllablc) l..C Cour11c round h1 ~lll"n•nt Cto:nler

ti vii ies. 'fltis portio11 relates to skill levels within a given CMF, providing a sequen­tial list of activities specific to that CMF. These activities consist of post-secondary courses, correspon<.lent.-e courses, com­puter-based instruction, Amly leaming­center activities atld, itl sorne cases, pro­fessional readings. Some organizations have references tailored for specific MOSs.

The concept of self development places

responsibility squarely on the soldier and is ~le only leader development pillar over which the soldier has direct control. Ide­ally, the C3reer lr1ap will be a continuollS effort, synchronized with institutional trai.Jtlng and operational assig:ru11eJ1ts. Maps are only guides. Individual soldiers drive tl•e train that deten11ines results.

Finally, there's a recommended 0.1F· related certification or degree goal. At­tairili1g a degree benefits a soldier's career

fHE NCO JOURNAL I SPRING 1992

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I

1Ut f UIJfl l -.C, Al f~IY ~}l1 4flff:'114f1Cl\!) It mar bOI bt' IN•hlt> to f'Omplt-tft •II rttommnided ~ llM<"I' .-..-.:un•t-nl• •••J pttt d,. o'f d"lJ t'OlaC'tottOn AttrnMll"' l!WthOd• ef .. h._.1_._, ( Mt cvu1 :lit' f rrun ''' rMS..tt<tt1ll M'f' potm•bk- (narnin.t1ona. ~~ COM,.... •nd M t: l'tt'O#I,_,.,.. "~ t ) - •r; f'dur.tlOl'I ~._.., f or ._._.fl,.. "' ~pif'tuic ,,....__""'":1 ~ '>f'- ~~. ,,

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lll!ICIAHT

.. .._.,.,,, CIM IDI r llt.m.&•1AnNCO '

""'°" M:illlOtOl ... SlllCWnS- COllllS· .. .

PNOll to /J\CXX NJOl 1'0 SMC:

I J'r1nl'11•lf'll DI .... , •I( m..1 l I ~r('tl lttf>f1~1.1f'1 (Sl•ll•liH. 2 ()if.4J11"'°ll01 I l ... hlll,Kll Z H..man ffilllllMlrtt W•rtaff'tlM'nt

n unMl1 "' W1tl • Plott• t T""'•u1.1-~I Wtot••• ') C'CM.lhifllf"-1

.... i1' h5tsSc.w 10 .. M .... S..W It _....,._..... _._......, . _._.,. ,.. ....... !WI ...... ,.

I 1·r111 •PIM> ol I »lfU• '""'' I O.-a~n 1 ':\lll 1on11I M•11.11.&"m""' I a..r.d41,..._llo • N~llollC'l!IUt'lll ''"'rHna Nt'"tht1<loln11y lnt~rper9011nel Rt'IOlKin• 2. Problt'IJI • l•il~

• Prrror rnart' fl Aflll• ol ,, J Pohl1c11I & ience/ J f'onl• 111p1n"'' Hut 1'11 l•rultl• ulJI lnle rnisllonal Rc l.ollon• I Adv Re-t rc>~1u·r AC'rr tor M~ • GrOt1P IJ)'l'ltlft'UC11

• Un lnl t l It 0111111 r·,.. • 1.ong Ran1tC" S~l'll(ltll&nce (ACT'I' ~· 1 :~ 1 ) U-~d~r COUl'!tt' (ACCP ~ 1 ~10)

- ~

II.I !BS IN v .. 1\1\1'! .. mttl

ft) 1ttt: lctl~ )fA.11 gr • •W'KT. - -- -

-'..,....,.~ lo:O Ul l"nn11""1 )4nl ' Af1Ilf 'tif.,,l'J' 5<-hool

ll/lff 6 (I, lnlle-r I f'll

progression ancl serves ns nn incentive for self development.

Supervisors and edtJCalion counselors may use the career map ns a tool to help soldiers develop professionally and per­sonally. Counselors will evaluate aca­demic reconls and ensure soldiers ha"e the prerequisite skills or courses required before enrolling lhem in any college-level cotirse on the carter nl.1p. At the same ome, eligible soldiers will be encouraged

ruE HOO tc)URNAL I Sl'f\ING 1992

ro achieve 1he recornnlencled reoidlng and Y.Titing standllrds. CourtSClors also will poi111 ou1 credir rcco11111\tndntions lllade by the American Council on Education for degree plannin11. \Vhen possible. sol­diers will be provided a pbn that shows bow the C3tttl' nup ttCOmmCndations link tospeciftetducotiorul goo ls. If neces­sary, alternative courses which Atisfy the career nl3p rtt001mmd.11ions 1nay be of· fer ed.

The CMF 11 Caree1· Map, left, is representative of many CMFs .

Operational Assignment

CMF proponents will u1xlnte the career maps as professioJL1I nel'ds ancl rcx1uirc­ments change. Those who take advantage of this career guide will be Uking one more step toward beooming the quality leader demanded by today's - and 1omorrow·s - Anny.

lire/ is an ~duea1fon sptelaliSI in PERSCOAI "s A t/j11t1111t Gtntral Dirtt~ torate.

tt

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I l~C:C>IVllL'ICi 1>1:1t~)()l'I ·"·~·-1~1!1,C>RT TC> 1)1.l)(i 111:1 ---

•

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Wbe1

Feedin1 By !SC Robert L. Phifer

SOT Dae recently arrived at Fort Bragg. He has been in U>e Anny for three years and has attended jwnp school, although he has never been on jwnp status. In his previous assignment in Gem1any, he completed PLDC and correspondence courses. Now he's at the division replacement detachment, thinking about what ijes ahead. A couple of blocks away, his new unit has been notified of his pending arrival.

A popular expression in Doe·s battalion is, ·111e train is moving r .. 1er than ever, and it doesn '1 Jook like it's going to slow down.· Doe faces• hectic poce when he reports. A better expression migl~ be that the 1111it will be "feeding him to the wolves."

When ho does report in, he's briefed. U1cn it's 01n of the airplane and into the foxhole. He "s constantly being corrected because he doesn't know unit SOPs and standards. Al the initial manifest. most of his learn 's equipment is nol properly rigged for an airborne operatjon. 111 tlle motor pool, 1\0 parts are on order for his Httmvee because he did not know ordering procedures. Jn the field, it's discovered thnt he's never led a team tactical movemenl, and his team is lost for several hours.

Unfomullliely, many new leaders don't grasp their jobs until they repeat mistakes several times. 'Titey sometimes full prey to stress and react negatively to otherwise simple tasks .

Such a scenario could have - and probably has - taken place on many Am1y posts. Every unit has some requirements or ways ol doing •ltlngs thar must be passed on to new leaders.

Certain U1tegration 111echa1lisms sllOuld l\ave been put into action when Doe was still at U1e replacement detachment. FM 22-100. Milibry wde1,.hip, calls this "Developmental L.eadei:sltip Assessment;·· FM 25-101, Bottle Focused Training, calls it -Leader Development;" and U1e 1st Battalion, 325th Airbon>e Infantry Regiment, calls it the Unit Leader Development Program (ULDP). With the idea of purling needed information into U.. system, Uus article is designed to share with fellow NCOs our merl.IO<l of ULOP.

Why'have ULDP? There areseveral'reasons. According to FM 25-101, one reason is to develop junior leadees- Anolhct reason is that such a program feeds the hunger of motivated leaders who la<k experience when U1ey arrive at new units. Equally important is tho! unirs need continuity when leaders rotate. Army Chief of Staff OEN Gordon R. SuJUvnn lists leader development as one of the six An11y imperatives.

Whal are U1eobjectives ofULDP? FM 100-5, Operations, stales/ • .. ',..~ · that we need con1pelent and confident leaders. Operatio11aJ '', 'V•~ · :~is jllthanced by development of the nine leadership ) / " '*'' ...... w-~ ... i.;- -:=-.. ~- ~":(; <'"..-!,

1 a New NCO Reports, are You ...

g HiID to the Wolves? cornpe1encies. Assessment and posirivc feedback ore in1portant to 1his process been use they also help NCOs recognlte their •1reng1Jis

. and 1veok1"'SS<$. An overly simplified model of this process can be described ns h1volvb1g assessment, feedb~ck, craining, re.inforce1ne:n1. educalion. experience and stlecti0tl for advanoemt:r\l.

A dynamic leader developmen1 syst..,, includ .. three equolly impol1luu ptlmrs: institutional training, self-deve~1 and opemtion.'ll assignments.

Unit ~r development also involves three ph.'\S<S; reception and integrntion, bn.•ic skills development and ndvonc:cd devekJpn1en1 and sustainment. This means th.11 the progran1 is a process thnt sp<t11S a soldier's entire tour of duty with a unit. It also means that NCOs ln the unit share responsibilities to make ULDP effective; llMl NCO Development Program (NCO OP) is nn .xcellent .iortlng point for this~·

Now, let's llkl'. Doc throogJ1'our process of ttecivlng new leoders.

Bef0« he even amves, his rtCO<ds are reviewed by the bo.ttalion rommander and CSM. They determine where he should be placed, comidering factors such as• need for staff time or troop time. After an interview at lxlctalion !eve~ he is told of his assignment.

The CSM then tss•MlS a formal Ul..DP p<1Cket; it includes a schedule of required nssessments and goals. Key stnff NCOs brief 1he new sergeant 011 tllcir responsibilities a1\d how tlley work witl1 the chain of cotrnnand. TI1e CSM gives a class on the profrssion of anns an<l then gives Doe a written history of 11•e w1it, traditioris of 1he regimern and o copy oflhe battalion Mission Essential Task Lisi (METL). Doe is then inttoduced to his firsc sergeant.

It's top's responsibility to monitor the results of Doe"s _,..,.,.,ts - such as skills, knowledge and attitudes for Doe's skill level - and 10 send rcpons to the CSM. n,. first sergeant explains the impon.'nce of these assessmenlS in a positive way. He also gives Doe a cnlendnr with nssessment mil<slooes. He further explains thnt nssessme11u: will focus on 1.he nine leadership competencies: conun11nicatiorls, supervision, teaching and counseling, soldic.r·tenn1 development, technicnl ond loctical proficiency, dccisiOl1111aking~ planning, USC of DVl.liJable systell'IS and professlonnl ethics. Before leaving •his meeting, Doe fills ou1 n le:ider development counseling form and receives a copy of the comp<tny METI.. and NCODP.

During the .-ptlon and integration ph.~. Doe conc<>ntrates on dlOLSe 13Sks v.hich the command h.1s ddermined are unportnnt. /

Examples of areas which units might sJr:= ore physical fitness, MOS tosks, common tasks, NCOERs, Writing awards, -

Al the platoon level, Doe receives a of'!•• pfatOl>!)'S

•&''"'i· -~ . ~\\'

\

collective tasks, !he sqund's collective tasks and U\C supporting soldier/leader individual tasks. During this 30-day phase, he also receives nn initial NCOER counseling.

Al tho end of this phase, Doe is counselod. His perfonnance is reviewed and an action plnn for improvement is developed.

Now Doe enters the bnsic skills development phase, using his •ction pion to bring him in line with standards. If warranted, he is plaoed on the order of merit list for the 8.uic Skills Education Progiu1n. During this phase. he· s assessed on ME'll.. proficiency, collecdve tasks. soldier/lender individ1L1l tosks, weapons qU3lifieation, soldier-tenm development and his ability to teacli preliminary morksmanship. This phase typically lasts abotrt 60 days, but Doe remains in !his phase umll nll standnrds nre achievtd. A follow-on counSJ'ltng is provided and Doe Is ready for his next phase .

Tiie ndvanoed development and sustoinmenl phase helps Doe maintain and improve profici~ney in tJ\OCe t3'ks he can do or master. I le's then assigned additional dutios, such"" key control NCO, <qual oppommity NCO and saf<ty NCO. He attends devt~ntal and technical COIUS<S. He receives DS5istnnoe with prcpllring a self-development program, OOsed on the slolls he needs or wishes lo develop. nus phase includes corrrspondence courses and prof esslonal reading. It will continue for Ille duration of Doe's t·our with the ttnit.

Doe hAS now been fully integrated into the unit. He has been chnllenged nnd hos proven his skill and will.

TI1e ULDP - actively supporting the throe pilillrs of leader development - will result in a competent and oonfiden1 leader who knows his job and who seeks n higher l'vel of exceUence throughout his time in the Anny.

Phif•r Is IM /int urg~ant of Co. D, l/J2Sth A R. Fon Bra N.C

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•Fiche •201 File

•2A

_..., .... - -·-· - -... .... ',,_

'"' "':'- ':.-. .. . ·­... ·-.• .. .. ·­- ·~ . ._.

·­-.. " ........ - .. ... . ·-- ·· , .. _.

Seven Letters are an Easy ~ By SGM Lena Williams

The Anny's ocnlillliud selection boards choose NCOs for promotion, NCOES courses and elin1ination under the Qualita­tive Management Program. And while they h..1ve been convening for years, ntany NCOs still do not understand how these boards make decisions that are so critical to NCO careers.

Having served on consecutive centraljz.ed promotion boards for the past four years, I'd like to share my observations and vie\vs on what • board looks for in NCOs.

JllSI what do NCOs have to do to come out on top?

Remember this acronym: PROMOTE. It stancl<; for perronnance (:.u1d po<ential), re­cruiter (and otlter "hard" jobs), your OMl'F (Official Military Personnel File), memoran­dum (that can be used to correspond wiU1 boards). your official photo, IIllining and education.

Lei's look al each of these separately .

Pe1fon.11ance & potential This is one of the 1nost critical areas any

board considers. A recent DA swnmary of the latest SFC board lists perfom1ance and potential as the first item o f discussion. It adds: "Selection boards continue to tell us ti.it U1e NCOER (NCO Evaluation Report) gives then1 the inf om1ali 011 they need to n1a ke their decisions , .. performance remains the qualifying factor:·

14

Perfonnance and pote.r1lial go hand-in­hand. If an NCO excels in a ll jobs, • board will conclude that this NCO can be expected to handle jobs with greater responsibilities. The NCOER is the key to verifying this performance.

Recruiters, et cetera Recruiters, drill sergeants, first se.rgCAnts

and similar jobs are co111111only referred to as .. the hard jobs:· Success in these positions tells a board that an NCO is motivated and seekir1g challenges. Not everyo11e ca11 handle the demands of these jobs, and not everyone is \villing to tackle them. 111ose who do - and who do so successfully - are senior NCO material.

These jobs are also considered career en­hancing because they give an NCO more experience tJ1an otJ1ers in the sanle MOS. Varied assignn1ents \vi1l1 progressive re­sponsibil ity are equally important within an MOS.

OMPF Your OMPF, plusyour2- J and 2A forms,

are vital docmncnts. T he 2-1 gives board 1nembers a quick glance at your career. in­cluding assign111ents, awards , special training and education. The 2A repeats some of the information from the 2- 1, but it also gives an NCO's 111ost recent SQT score, civilian edtrcation and NCOES completion or selection level. Both the 2-t and 2A should be complete and up·to·date, and in-

formation from one document should agree with the other.

S imilarly, NCOs should request a current copy of their microfiche files from the En­Listed Records and Evaluation Center at Fon Harrison, Ind., months before a board meets. NCOs must carefully review Uus file to en­sure tllat it contains aU NCOERs,awardsand other required documents. 11 is equally Un· portant that this file excludes items that should NOT be there. I have seen fi les that contain Article 15s that belong lo 0U1ersol­d iers and items (like relief for cause NCOERs) that should have been removed because of successful appeals.

Men1orandun1 NCOs being considered by a board may

corres1xmd directly with the president of a board; ~lird party correspondence is not ac­cepted. Correspo11dence can be a plus or~ minus, depending on its contents. Its purpose is to call attention to information that is not otherwise part of an Nco·s file, or to add docu111ents that could not be included through normal channels.

Some correct examples: Explaining why you bad a lengthy non-rated period that was caused by having four ratecs during a five­month period, including college IIllnscripls that were not available in time to forward through personnel channels, or noting that your uniform does not include unit insignia or a parcll because you are assigned to an organization that does not issue these.

Tii[ NCO JOURNAL I SPRING 1992

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. --_,_ __ .. ... ·--. . --· -~ ____ ..

-: --:: . . ":.::"" .. . .. . -·-- .. ~.:.~.. .. .. ·--

uide to Centralized Boards Exan1ples of infonnation in correspon­

de.nce l)tat \viii backfire; An ex1>lanarion that your extensive field duty prevents you from in1proving civilian education, an excuse th.it your MOS does not offer enough leadership nn<I supervisory positions (\l.ihen you have failed to volunteer for recruiting, drill ser­geant, etc.), or calling attention to your outsi.'\n<ling J>erfon11ance and awards (i.e., calling attention to acco1nplishments \Vhen these should olreody be documented in your file).

Ollicial photo TI1ere is no excuse for NCOs 11ot having

current photographs befonea board. Funher, this can be the most important iten1 seen by board men1bers. lf a pich1re is worth a lholt· sand ,..,ords, your officia.l J)horo q11ickly nnd visu:illy tells bo:ird 111en1bers a lol about your •ppearance, bearing and ability to properly \\•ear your uniform.

NCOs who fail to e115ure that a currcrlt photograph is on file are usually assumed to be apathetic - or, perhaps, deliberately try­ing to prevent having their true appearance kno\\'ll to board members. It is no coinci­dence lltat photos are oner1 tnissing fronl files containing NCOERs that indicate bor­derline compliance with height and weight s1andards.

I lo,vever, whc.11 a sol<lier looks sllarp in a photo and is properly wearing all authorized 3\VRrds and decorations, board mc1nbcrs are usuolly quick lo give a high rating or lo spend

iHE NCO JOURNAL I SPRING 1992

tnore tin1e looking for positive infon't"lation in records.

Training For purposes of this anicle, I'll define

training as a11y n1ilita.ry training or education. Most peers are about equal in this area, arid the NCOES and promotion linkass11resthis. So w11::tt can an NCO do to stand out? Take NCO ES and speciolity courses through cor­respondence, al lo,ving you to co111plete co11rscs sooner while also den1onstrating 111otivation ancl initiative. Good grades and special J10nors in resident or correspondence courses also set opon outstanding soldiers.

OLllCr tr.1i11ing, Stich as airbon1e, nir as­sa11lt, n1aster fi111ess, etc .• also reflects motivation and initiative. But, if you've col­lected badges and patches and have ovoided :lSSignnlC-lllS that need these s1>ecial skills, a board migl1t view your training as a waste or money that did not benefit the Army.

Education While t]\e previo1LS iteJllsare not necessar­

ily listed in order of in1portance, it is appropriate tJ1at civilian education be ad­dressed lost, because it is often the final <liscri.n1in.ator thal dcten11ines who does a1ld who does 1101 get the next stripe.

The Anny education goal is for all NCOs to ncltieve two years of college by their 15th year of service. J-lo\v c.ritic.al is this to you? A good indicator of your level of civilian edu­cation can be found by looking Ht st;1tiS1 ics

fro1n recent boards. If most NCOs in your MOS were promoted to the next higher grade with 15 years of schooling, that means fl\at you would have to con1plete at least three years of college in order to be highly co1npe1i1ive. Son1e 1'v10Ses require more college tl1an others. Regardless, earning good grades ond toking courses that contrib­ute to degrc..-e progrnrr1s are helpfti l ~ rJ1is tells board n1en\bers that you·reseriously pursu­ing a degree and that you·re not just taking courses in order to "look good on paper.··

WJien all other things are equal, the deci­sion of who to promote or not promore is often decided by lhe most obvious di.scrimi· nator; c iv ilian education is often thal discrin1inator.

Of course, all that has been discussed here is important. But, if! hod to choose the single ma&t imponant item that every NCO should enstLre is cornple1e and acct1rate. it would be your OMPF. It is possible to be promoted wi1J1 a 111issing or outdated official photo, or with a 2A that might also be less than perfect. However, if your OMPF fiche is missing, you can ·1 even be considered for promotion. And, if your fiche is missing NCOERs, awards, etc., your char1ees of being selected are slim.

lf you want insurance ll1t1t you 'II be con1-petitive for selection - especially during the dra,vdown - just ren1en1ber and practice this PROMOTE g11ide to success.

JVillia111s is 1/1e Sc/100/ Secretariat sergeant mnjor for USASMA.

15

16

CSA, SMA Recognition Contributors of articles and other

llems publlshtd in lhe Journal ""' be­ing recogniud by Anny Chief of Slaff OEN Oordon R. Sullivan and SMA Richard A. Kidd.

At SUiiivan ·1 susgeslion, he and Kidd are signing certificates of appre· ciation for contributors of notable fea­tw.o arlk:les, artwork and similar con­tents. The Journal Slaff will nominate contributors to """Ive certificates.

'Trivial' Pursuits Still scratching yoUI head because

you c;111 ·1 ge1 1l1t• irtJOn11;uior1 you Jll'.t'd

to prepare for a centrnli ud selection board? Has one CSM told you that correspondence to the board president shoul<l Ix· in civilittu f('ttcr f<)n11a 1 ;111tl

another told you that it sllOuld be in 111ilitaf)· 1ne1n ora11du111 format?

Strdlt l1110111orc. AccortliJ1g10 SOM David Kel1n1, sergea11t n1ajor of the DA Secretariat for Enlisted Selection Ooards •t ERCC. board5 want such correspondence in official n1en1oran. dum format

\Vh:tt about qual ilic:ali<.lll b'ul~"-'$ for "'t"apons, grenade, ere.? You shl)ltld \•leat "'hat your records indicate \Vas

Receiving such a high-level "attaboy" would wanant a bullet corn-111611 on an NCOER as well as call attention to NCO contributions be­yond lheir normal duties.

Your chances of gettingpublishtd in lhe Journal are greatest if you focus on upcoming issues, such as lhe summer issue devoted to The NCO 2000 theme, and if you contact the Journal Slaff lo discuss your ideas.

your 111ost recent qualification, eve11 if ii is several yt';trs old, Kl·h1r1 ~1dvises.

Sii,1ilarly. i f you're confust,."'tl be· cause your unit said you are autllorized to \vear a co1nbat stripe for service cluri11g Dl·&·r1 Sll1n11, be surl' th;it yOtLr official records clearly reflect your en ­l1llen1ent to this stripe, Kehnl says.

The.· lx>llo1n line, he.· c<tutions, is tl111t your recor<lsa1t! co111plclc a11d accuratt: and th.at you carefully review regula rions tocnsun:.· you arc complying 'vith tllen1.

If you're still stu111ped, gi\>·e hin1 a call ;It Fort I larriso11, lnd. J lis DSN n11nlbc·r is <,9<J-3740. t-lis co1111111:rcial number is (J 17) 542-3740.

THE NCO JOURNhl/ Sl'lllNG 1992

• Mentoring Teacher, Coach & Counselor

Dy 11-ISG Cltrlstlnc E. &ltzlnecr

In Greek mythology, l'vlentor was a lo)':•l friend aJtd a<:l\'iser to Odysseus, king of Ithaca. :\.fen tor helped raise Odysseus' ::on Telemachus "W'hlle Odysseus \\'as •way fighlillg lhe Trojan V.'ar. Meritor bec3me Telemachus' teacher, coach, cotu1Selor and protector, building a rela­tion.~hip b:.ised on affection nnd hi1st.

r..1entoring to<la)" i~ syOOCl)'JllOUS \YilJ1

the proC<.'SS by which we. guard and guide others. 1'1entors seentlngly "adopt .. those J)loct~ in their ca1·e.

.4.ltl'loogb rnmtorship is not ne'' ' to the A_nn)', it is most often <tsooc.ittted \viU1 office.rs. But. mentors can be- Md are ­squad leaders, section or platoon ser­!]<>..ants, first scrgi!anls and sergr.,qnts n111-

jor, as \veil as officers and civilians. Meuloring is :m rspc<;ially critiGtl skill

for NCOs becaU<O they are charged to train and develop junior leaders. Jd,,,.lly, e ... ery soldier is bolJt a practicing mentor and a protege recipient of mentorship.

Mentor's Checkll$t • &1011 ·~ample for me sold.ier lo follow

in yoor daily d~<tll~Y• of <oott1g~. ca11-dor, c~n~pe;t.enCe ahcl 001p,111jt1oir.11l.

• Q C( IQ ki\owycmr soldi<!oi1¥:.idc ijftd oul, and iden(ify' hill o.r her •1le11gtl"' ;md weakne~. Then cri:ate o h:ainingpro­gram that is tailored for your &.>ldit\,..

• R.~l'lew lhc soldier's •nllil•ry records; te~ch tl1e s~ldler aboutttiese forms aod filoo; •fld 1!$ial with 1lpdati11g ~ cor• rccting recOrds.

• Develop a j6\J description that includes the soldier's Input. '

• \V jdli11 tile f1111newotk Qf Ille tu ul 's and yourswujards, wort With jh~so)dieron ~mblisl\ing challenging and nrtai~able ~ools.

• l)iscllsswitltll~ ool~iiey the import an"' of unik>,rstandingand foilowing the pro· fessional Anny ethic of loyalty to na­\ior~ lho Anny 1111d to lhe 'tlni\', dnt:y,

This ideal circle of mentoring only occurs \\:l1e11 a l111it h .. "\s crcaced a1\ acn1oot,hc10 "'·here the art of leadership is recognized as a learning and growing process, and ~·here 1nistn kesare tolerated i\.<; p3Tf of that process.

There i• lhe adage trutl "some people live and learn; andsomejustgoon living.· 111ose who do Ji,·e ruKI learn must be given a chnncc to s1~cec:d or tau. The)' tl1ust be c_halJeugt':d t11l(f 1.>llsl 1~d lo lake 1.isks - to think for themselves.

Today·s recruits are ~1e best and bright­csr C\'cr. NCOs l1Av1. .. tll<~n:.spo11~i1JiJify for developing th<>Se soldiers to the best of !heir abilities. \Ve mak.e lhal happen by sltn.ring our t..-novvledge "•ith tlle leaders of tomorrow. ,\nd the most effective Wa)' to sl1A1:e th~t kr1owle.(.ig:e is through men[oring-.

Becoming a mentor should ncl be a hn.<:ty endeavor. It is nC>l n p•rt-lirne job. It is an intef'L';e rel;:iti<>ni:;hiµ b~t '''e~n lt-.acher and studenL The process requires time and caring.

~elfle;;.~ seJVie<\ aml imegrlly. • Continually evaluaf1> Ole soldi~r·s pet·

fonnanceond provld<> rimely foc(lbnek,

• l (,Ach U1u soldillr how to objeclivcly evolunte his ot her pcrfonnan~ nnd 10

1tSe each s1lCDe$$ or failure' ft) L?an\ r'o.<I grow.

• Fornwlly coum;cl each quar«ir - Al a nllniimlfll.

• l'repare thesoldier's NCO ER fairly ai\il accurately.

• Get lhe soldier enrQlled in MOS and sold ier .. orien~ed corre~pondence courses.

• Send Ooesoltlierto tho Army Education Center to improve eommunieotion skill<, such.as taking th? Arrny \l/ritlhg l'rogr;un.

• C?ncoumg< U10 «>ltlltr to g,o tO·COll1>$• an a J"ll1-tin~c ba$1s.

• l'lr,l"\ft f9r al'.ld Sc:ti<l ,U!f' soldier to •J.i· .

Effective mentors arc totally commit­tc'I to :spandinf1 th1~ ncccssa1y rin1~ and attention ii takes to share values, at•intdes and beliefs. This includes helping a sol­dier make cnreer decisions and providing support and encourage1ne11t tllat allow leaders to gro\1/.

lnfom1ation on training and caring for soldierscan be found in FJl.122-lllO,l\111i­bry Leode ... hip; FM 22- IOL, Leade.1' sl1i1' Coun,'5l.::ling; autl Fl\.122· 1.02, Sol· dier TeAm De\:elopment.

1'he accompanying n1entor's checklist alro 11rovide.a s0t11e liasic gt1idfltlCc. You 111ight 11a\•eotl1ersug:gestio1\S or prior·ities Oiat cn.n be added to this checklist. The important thing is thDt }'OlJ offer yo11r soldiers a prog1an1 for gro\\1h.

~1enlorjng isnotjust a fo'\lte)'' bu~'h·ord.

It is• proven approachond a valU3ble tool for NCO leaders.

Seit7.ir1}!er is Chie,f WcrdJ11asti'r of the [)Ppn,'t111 P.ut nf .1¥'ursiug, }.·f ()ncrlej ' A rr11y C(.>1u11111niry Hospital, Fort Jackson, S.C.

proprrale nJillltlJYschciols.

• o ;,e Ute l?Qldier aclditlonal responsi­bililie• oud appcopriately ceward l)im or her.

• H•·)µ rlic soldi!ll' lerut1 bow to polisb comn1Ul\ication skill$ thro1Jgl1 prilcti· <111. ·~~i;cl'l"". r()fo i1IAyin1J and j1111k>r tea~•esl1 i p.1 ta in i11g,

• Create .opportttuities ~nd enco11rnge the soldier to teaclt classes to olhi!:r sold(~

' • 1~11in llie$<1[dicdcgloyoucjob;.lhou Jal lhe soldiec (lo it

• Teach the ooldi~ h9w to µse Army regulation~, Th!S am! pamphlels w he or,~ 1)¢c6111~ farnlU•rWith tltw'"'"d k'l1ows Wllilr& Ip gel j.nfoonation and ~~1'\VtXS,

• -ei:epnrethesoldierforp(Omofion1 lial~ mock 111'Qmotio1t boards and provido ooootructi ve-crii i<1ism.

17

•Encore

'Guardian An el'

&iilor 's '10lt:: E11core is a new feature designed to allow rraders to address topics from previo1is issues of t/1e Journal. 1his firs1 Eli core feature relates 10

1he wi111er issi'e :S combarilieme. J\nicles that significa111/yco11rribure lo fi'rtlier discussio11 of torlier roplcs will be co11Si<kredfor 1/risfea111re. '17wy slio11/d be /Je1wee11 four and senm dou.ble-spaced, typed pages. !.fore s11cci11ct obserw2-1ioru about pre11ious topics sho11/d be addressed i.11shorter letters 10 the editor.

Bv SSG \\f es S.11..., • and Cl'T Kevin Dougherty

As sc.x1t 1Jlatoon obscrvcrsjcontrollers at the .l(1iul Re.·1dlt-.ess ·rr1th'l l11g C'cntcr nt Fort Chaffee, Ark.., we hJl\'U8Ctn plntoons go through an cnli"' rol!llion without be­ing 1w 11>plii>d, eslnblishins reliable c<>m­munica1ions or kt1owina " ')¥ti fJ1c re.cJ. of lheir balblions are ~oing. One~ fortltisis lhnl thereisnoooe

pe""°n at the T•ctical Opcralions Ccn1tr who is oornpleldy d•..ticatcd tothescouls. There Me plenly o( people who 1-<i•e a p•rtial interest in scouts. b\.c it is ~y ror anyoftheru to be prroccupicd with other conceolS. Our soturion to tJ1ls problcn1 is to have a scout "gun·r(lk.1rl nugc.r· nt the TOC. \Ve've considered sev.ml «llllll­dates and we thinklhe beslman ror ihcjo~ is. tile S....'Ollt J' latoon ~crncant.

In reality, S(·,rn1I 1 1lal ~XJl \.to; ~i re ahuost n(\\'ays scpamt.ed frorn the re~1. of ll1e.ir l.iol11nlion by eilhertlrncordicunce. \\'bile this separJtion is e.s8\'llfiAl to i-1-.e scrnlls' ability ID colltct infocmatlcn fer the ba<-1.alion, ir represe1n problenis that n1ani­fc.1. tltetllit'lvts Ut the fon1'1 of C01rununi­cations, i:=1pply •rwl knowing the S.IUs of friendly forte$.

Having a guardian angel is one 60lution to improving lhc <;00<11 plo1oon'sabilily ID conduct •uslained operations. His duties '\lo·ould include:

• Gcnemting. coordi.Mllng and possi­bl)'· co11duct.ing resupply operations.

• C.OOrditltlting , .. •ith the battnlion sraff for ret~(lll a1tt I s11rveJI lnuce plans, fire support, link·up ope.mliorw, JX1Sst1ge of lines. tro1tspol1ntio11 ruxl air tnis­sion Uricfiugs.

• Being• dedicated rccclvlnJlSlalicn to enhance t .. vo-"·ay 001n1nlntic.-1lioru1 between lhc plntoon and 1J1e TOC.

• Providing infonn.ition to lhe banat­ioo staff during OOW"Se of aci ion de­velopment and wargOJning ,....ioos.

• Initialing oper.uion one! fr.lglll<!nW) O<<lers for the platoon leoderwhen tho mission is chm•pt<l.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ti

Proposed platoon sergeant role would benefit battalion's scouts

T11e p1atoot\seJ"geiUlt is the best ntatl for this job b=\11.se he is compleldy respon­sive to the scout platoon; he has a vested interest in its health, '''el fare and success; he lmdesstands itscapabililit"s a11d limila­tions; he has the rank and exll'?rlence to "n1ake things happen .. and he call effec-1ivcl)' conunlulicate with staff nlembr:rs and \\'Tile opcr.lliOIRi onlcG.

We"veoonsidered other players in this role, such as the ossistru1t S-3. banlefield ir1foon:ition coortli1utt-0r .• the CS~i· and a tr1en1ber of tJ1e ~-®t plafoou who is on profi le. We asslDne. based on our obser­"'fl Lion~. thsit neitlu'!f the assistant S-3 nor th~ CSM hn\•e scout platoon experience.

Tiie o rd}' ap(Xtrenl d rawf:xtck lo l1Sil1g

llte p)a.LoQu sc=rgeant in tl1is role is U1at ltis being at the TOC denies Ille platoon a v•h••ble nsset in the field. However, c lo5e.r a11alysis slt0\\'$ tll:.ll rnost SCOllt pl~l­toon sergeonts arc co-located with the !'.cout platoon leader at the Con11nnnd Post, oOl!n firx li11g thc.:n1sclvcs in tl)C role of a s}lado-w· platoot1 le-ader instead of perfonning traditional NCO fuootions. If the CP isaruicked, both the platoon leader f1n<I platoon s<".rc:ea11t bocru11e casuall)· risks. Having the plaloon se¥ge«nt at U1e TOC, ho, .. ·ever, \Vould allow ltlm lo as­Sllll lt> lcnclcrshipof the plntoon in the event lliat ltte platcx:n1 le-.-.der is;-. a.sually C.lr if communications :ire se'v·e.red.

Let· snow exantine a typical JRTC sce­nario ru1d see bo'v tJ1e t>CO\lt pll'li0011 s£'J'­~e:\nt, iflooated at the TOCin hisguardi.1n aogcl role, co11l,l 11lleviate tJ\e prohle111s goJlcmUy faced by scootplaroooo.

1·1ie l.:0ttal ion is C<)11<luctiug4"s.e::trch an<l ~ttrtck operation 'h•hilethe scout p latoon is condt1"ting a zone reeon to tty to find the e-11e111y. Dllriltg lite oper.llion. bull1 ll:ie s.couts a11d rifle companies are mo\•ing a lot. J-'ro111 tJte ·roe, Ute scour platooo sergeant cru1 keep tl1e imits infontled of the scouts' locations. This helps prevent fratricicJe. For exa1ttJ)lei, if Co. A calls for fire on a Sl&Spec.ted enem.)' elenLent, tl1e scout pbtoon se~e.mc quickly checks tl1e t.B1getagai1~ the locatiorts ofltis scouts. lf the soouts ha·ve been 111istaken for the

lhf NCO JOURN1\L / SPR!IJG 199l

t"JleUl)' or they a.re roo close for 001r1foct to lht'i l"rgc::t, l}lel>lr1h)011 Sc::rgeant a<.lv i.st:.S tf 1e Fire Support Officer. V.'hile the FSO is suppored to know the locations of f:rierldl)'' fore~> iht.~ ruuucrous scout .. ki 11-ings" at the JRTC jl&Slifies a redundant confinnation. Like"ise,. the platoon ser­g('.anc can kccr t he t-oCOUtt. informed ~bo1lt l<>cati<11os of (>lher friendly for=. ff the scouls have a need to re-enter frier1dly line.; for any reason .• they will be able to idcntif)· \\•ho is ill n rtOSiliOt\ to fix or finish an)'· enenty tlt.e.)' fuld.

Because oft}aecli~tance at \\'IUcJ1 OC<>uts operate in front of th~ rest of the battnlion~ conlntwticat ions is oftert a problent. If t11e SCO\ll J'l~toon serge·ant dO('s 11'c regtllM1·ly ltear l1isscot1lS011 a r<tdio, llecarl call front tl1e TOC to check on them. ff this is 1ms11cccssful, ht <M follow the plotoon ·s SOP by trying 011 .. , frequeJJcies, lr.rns­mitling on unse<:ure ( h•nnels. using Ml frequencies> etc. If a.JI else fail~ Ile can get rJtt-; (.'OflllllO offte~ ill\IOl\•ed. TO<) oric 11,

ttouts gatl1er exce)le11l h1for11l ation tl1at goes unreported beciluse or communica­tion< problems. It is easy for the TOC to forgct. oh<>ut rhe reouts, "'"I ti t<> guard inn ai1geJ crut circtmtvent lhis ovecsigld.

After a C0\1pJe of da)'S into operations, the scouts will ne<'>d lo be.resuppti('d. lllis is difficult since soo\ds don't ha,•e the same support stn1cn11·e As d<> rifle p1J1-toons. Again, the platoon sergeant guard .. il'lrt a11gel cru1 cornpensa1e for lhis. He knO\\.'S the scouts" sc-henie of maneuver, hoy.• 11tt111y df1yS(>f ~tf>t>l i~ tt111.."Y are carry­ing find whflt logpflcs are needed. As the r1la t(K)11 JJK>~'e$ t(> il.5 l,'lbjel,.1j\•('; r.r11ly pOill~

during zone recon, tlie platoon sergeant can ensure I hat sttppl ies meet up witl\ the scouts. TJ1err1:tn}'ocout 11fatoons that have gone :m enlire JRTC rot.'\tion \l..'i0tout be­ing n,_-<11pplleil will ntte;.t to Ilic V8Lt1e of l1a'vitlg a gur1rdia11 t1ngel fill Ill.is role.

\Vhilescoutsgatherinfonnationduring znne reCl)ll> tJte .'l· 2 pi~.ces tog:C"Jl1er '' pio­ture of theent"my situalion. He might feel cert•in enoush about enemy location< dwt he belie-,,·es an ottnck is \varrru1ti!d. 111< sootns will proballiy be tasked to

cood\tct an are .. 'l recon. Unfortt1r'late l)', the IJ:.i;ltaliOtt $1:1ff 118\Utlly flfi'IOS tl1iS 11 \ i~iOll wi!hout the knowledge of and without input !Tom theSOOll!S. [n the most extreme CA.':!C \\'t' 've scett, Ute b.<ltJalion attockcxl nn objective one Ja1ometer rrom the sootn platoon's objective rail}' point, withotrt t ither gtollp r~alizing the other's situa­tion. lf a g1.eardian a11gel had been ii) the TOC, he could l1aveadvwed theS-3abo<" the scouts' position and role. sent a warn· i1lg order and c0t1ducted face-to.face co­ordlnntion ''rith ke}' pla~·crs , S1>ch ~s the FSO, ba.')(:(I on inS1n1ctio1lS fr1)1t1 the 1>l:l.· toon leader. Ideally, the platoon sergeanl could ha\'e personally delivered a fmg-111c11tilr'}' order to the~ l)lntoon :\s ix-rt of a resupply ntlssion.

To continue \\•ilh the 1nisadvenl(1res of the ••me platoon, the plntoon CP wos lllisidentified aud ottnckcd by a friondly­Cobra helicopter. The plotoon sergeant was"killed."Had he been in theTOC, he CO\tld ln1v(~ ailviS('tl the Cobr:• of lhe SC.Ottis' locatioc1 before dle engag:e.1nent. Tl1is \\•ould also ha\'e. avoided the ch.1nce of both the plntoon leader and plotoon s<J·geoant being kille~I. Hnd th,, platoon leader been killed an}·v.·ay, tl1e platoon sergeant could move forward and assume c0tr1tnand of tl1e scouts.

\Vhile having the platoon sergeant at rhc 1·oc hn.~ significanr. nd\•anrngt-..co, ic does lmvea cost. The platoon leader loses his easy access to the more experienced platoon sergeant during fie ld operations.

lJrtils v.·ill ha"e to c<..->,1<luci cust<.111Li2ed Mission, Equip11lenl, Tecrain_. Troo1---.s­Tirne an a l)'l:i is lo <letenr1ir1e if t}1e gu;trd ian a.ngfl concept '"·ill "·ork for the.m. DnsM on our o~rvatio1is of at least one scout plaloon rrom every light infunlf')' division in the Anny, all of which had similar prolilei1tS-> we HUnk that the g11anlia11 an­gel coru.:ep( i::; a \:iabJe o,,Liou ;111U tl1at tW soout plotoonsergeanl is the. best man for the job.

Scars a11d Do11g./1ero' nre scout plaroou o/J.~r.n~r~:1.1r11ro/Jers ril 1Jre .1 R'Jt:. '/'hPir hea1Jr111arti'rs is at Little Rock Air Force /'Jn.~c. r1 rk.

19

• •History

Road to professional By MSG .John K. D' Am•to

Durir1g the AJ1ierict1l Re,·olutioi), educa· lion levels of NCOs and soldler> we<e mliw­portmt. There were no knowledg.e tests for c1tlisll1\CJlt, t111. i11ing \VOS conducted Yi•ithin a u1Ut aJtd p1·ou1otious were deter:n1i1~d by e.ach comman«.fu1g QfTicer.

On Jon. L3, L992,469seniorNCOsgrndu­nted from the capstone NCO ES course at the U.S. Am1y Sergeimls .\-l~jo.i· Academy. Ten had master's degrees, 161 bad baclielot• or <c«0eiatedegrees, and tlie balance had at least sc111e college.

But, thcmnn:h fron1a small, mg-mg Army of uneducated soldier; and NCOs lo a h.igMy !rained and educated corps of ]1JOfossiooal• has be Am long a11d rocky.

As early as 1776, COL Hemy Knox, com-111rulder of the field artiUeJy, ree,.'(JJ£1J)Nt.l)(-leJ formal schooling for artillery officers, b=d Oil Uie i;Xl(~t5iV(: tl.l"1'd for his n1en to know math, aocording to Robert Arthur's .8.islory of Fo.rt ~ium,,.,. In 1824, the Attillery School was finally eslablished to trnin l>olu officers and enli5'cd men. fifty years later, lhe. school was LCll<hi.ug NCOs ln hJs1nry, geography, reading. writing and nmth. Dur­i11g Wodd Wor T, it expanded ils curriculum 10 include clerical, electrical, llll\SI<,,. gwu1er and radio <:ourses for enlisted JtleJl.

The Sign•l Corps was not far behind in •ducatingeJilisted men. It was 1he first branch to use y.•ritte.n inteWgeoce tests lo $Cl't~Jl

recruits, noted one government publication. Wirh the udvent of " 'orld War I, the Signal Corps used 45 civilian colleges aod lecbnie•I instit\ttions to prepare \UISk.illOO rtauils. It \Vas also the fU'$t branch to require a l1igh sd1(,'0l educatio11 for selected aircraft me­chMks in ils fledging Air Service br.incb.

TlleSe branches were tJn: e.\c~ptiOtlS. ratl1er thttn tl1c 1tOl'.l1l> according co f\'Ien ,\'.anted for lhe l".S. Ar1Uy, a book by Robert K. Griffith Jr. Through World W;u I, the lxiSic enlistment criteria ~·a~tb..ill "AJ1y .1u11lecitizen between the ages of eighleen and forty, able­t>Odicd, frr.e from disease, of good character and temperate hablls, may be CJ~Ls1cd or accepted forenlismtem .. -·

10

He abo UOled th•t in 1920, 86,CJOOsoldiers - mostly ne\\' enlistees - were enrolled in more than 3,000 c.lasscs throughout the At'Jr1y~ i1lCl1iding n10t•e than 5,0CJO illiterates and non·English ~-peakirtg 8oldie"JS \Yllo re­cei \'ed basic laJiguage trail ting.

Attemp1ing to raise the quality of its in­ductees, the Am•y Introduced ils first sttu1-d11rtl L<'8ting or all uppliCJlnls in 1927, nl­though the r<quiremenls were lax by today's standards. "/\. n1ental age of ten years or belO\\' was con.sideced grolUlds for rtjccfion, but iftherec<uiling vll'icer fell lhal tJ1eappli­cant would make a good soldiex ... be.could enlist lhe applicant,'" wrote Griffith.

The (;rl)llt Depre<sion Jed to drn.<lically reJuc.U1g tl)esjze of the .~·n1y a.t,d, ~·ith vast civilian une.n1ployment, a boon for recrltlt­ing. According to Griffith, -qunlity, not qoanlil)•·· OOc:a111e both a slogru\ atld roolit)" \\'hen applicants , .. ·ere required to score. ru1 eighth grade education equivalency on en­Ctaf)('C 1~$. llespite higher stnndardc;.. one COlnl\\.'lltdcr\\i:Ofcthcnthat hchnd ·~a \Vniting list <:>f applicauts now t1Wl\bering 850 . .. all ltighsehoo) graduates, many wiU1 additional technical education.•·

The start of \Vorld Wnr ll n!{(llUx~ a coo­scripl Army and •tandards were relaxed. Sti fl, Samuel Goldberg's book Anny Trnin­ing of llliter!tt~ i.n \\101·ld \Va1· II lists recn.Uting inslrucliorlS fro111 t.-1::t)' 19-1 J Ul;:il indicate some restrictions remained in place. .. No registrant in tl1e continei1tal United States," 1J1e iilstruclh.>11S rei:i<t, ''"•iJJ be io· ducted U-1to tJ1e 111ili4try service wllodoes not have tho en pacify of reading and writing the Eo.i:;lisll language as comn1only prescribed for ihe fourth gr.ide Jn granunarscbool."

\\'hen census figures released in 1942 re­·~~hxl thnt l3.5 IX'•"tenlof udullsover24 had 00111pleted less tlia.11 t1ve years of schooling, the V/ar Department "·as forced to fuc1l1c:-.r rel~x cd1,teaticH1 slnnclnrds. In June 1943. ac~ C(>rt:ling t<J t'ioldberg, tlte<len\.ilnd for perso11· nel outweighed the desire for literate re<ruils aruJ U1e \\lru: Dcpartnieutscrnp1)00 education requirements entirely.

'f he enlist111ents of illiterates, y,:rote Goldbe-.rg, lJtll Ilic AnllY bAck into fhe l)lL~i·

ness of schooling recruits. In a 2 112 yeO.t" period, more lllJln 2j0,000 soldierscf.As.5if.io~ as illilerate had received special langu:ige training - and two went onto win thel>iedal of Ho1tor.

\\'orld \V'u fl-era soldiers., ho\\'e"-es, '''ere belte.reducated than those of \Vorld \\'3.1" I.as reflected in a SW'YCY in one infantry division cited by Griffith. The survey showed that 48 pe.rcet1l of lo\ve.r eJtlisled solc.tjecs were higll school graduates, though nearly SQ p<rcO:mlof •ll sergeants !•eked high school diplomos.

Aft.er World War fl, l11e size oftJ1e Anny dropped drastically and rfforts v.·crc 111.'!.l·~11i~ I to recruil and retain volunteers. At the same time, Griffith \\TOte. Unl"'eT'"°...al l\ililit.'U)' Training was proposed " .. . in wh.ich tho roldier "'ould be l':1ugbt 101Jec0tuea civilia11 of g.ren.tl)'· increased earning pD\\'er alle.r his period of public sen•ice. .. : In effect. lhe Pu:iny w·o1d(l lx::coolc a 11oti01»ll school. 1\.1· though Universal t.1ilitary Tuiin.ing was r<' ­

jected, policy1nakers and manpo\ve.r expert::; ~atne oon\:inced that edLtcational beneftls could attract and retain hrrgc number.; of soldiers.

Increasing cone<m for NCO ttaining led to tJ1et':reation 11f tJ1e firstcrue NCO acade1ny at Jen.sell Bart at.ks in Mu1ticl11 Vlest Germany, in 1949. Acroniing to Ute W-dUrun Elli!; •nd TI101nB$ O tnningham Jr. biogmphy Cla1•kt of St. Vitb, the academy's 'ix-week course served as the model for NCO schools tloal fo llowed, and it was later relocated and re-11nn1ed the Seventh Anny NC'O t\c.ademy.

"Its ptupo.se,'' the)' \.\Tote, "\\'as to dc\'clop \vithin the noncotnmissioned offioor an abil· icy to recognize bis responsibilities and • \1t'illiogness to a~cnurie thr..se responsibilities; the coofidenee needed to apply the knowl­edge he possesses; leadership techniques; •nd high pcr<C>rull nnd professional smn­dards."

The ucadem)" was hig:hl)' s..1cce-ssful, anti by t 959 there were 17 such academies in the conlineltllll United States alone. Involved in o Cold Warandan am>< race, and entering Lhe space mce, Anny 1"'1dmhip recognJr.cd the noed for beuer trnined and belter educated NC-Os. According to Harold Clark's and

TUE NCO JOUl\NA~ l SM\lt:G 1'1S2

education long, rocky

Harold Sloan'• Cl•-1110 in the ~filit.ry, ··never before l~sech1catio1) bee Ji so euef1tial ... T ecbnological advanc<! has put a J?f•mium on knowledge, agile minds, quick responses, ondclear thinking."

During thnt sflJne ti1ll<.;. 11l<1re thRf1 300 cdncation centers arou111J frie ¥i0fld \Vere <iffering courses co enlisted soldi~rs. Tn the: early l'XiCt<!, soldier partlclpatioo In civilian OOucatior1 pcogr.,Ins gre''' ahrtost as fa~ iiS

they could be provided. 'l'l\Cn ca1l 1e Vietnnn1 and tl1e draft. Tn 1966 ..

the rapid buildup resuhed in a U.S. force in which less tlt.1nhalf or new recmits had a high school education. As in \Vorld War Il, Griffith found, the swelling of the ranks and lhe S\viJ) "sl~'ke and bake .. advaiLcemenl of :\COs diluted the overJll professionalism of ~1e :-1 CC) Corps.

ln 197 1, tJie Board for .D).·nru:11ic ·rrai11ing diooo...-ered th.11 tl1ere was .. a \videspread crisis of confidence in the U.S. Anny Non­co1nn1issio1lcd Officer Corps .. . senior '.\C:Osser iott;ly doubttheprofessionalquali­fiC3lions of their juniors." Coml:x.t a011s MOS tesrs supporr1'<1 tho<e perccptle>n.<, "nd the board tlOted th11t. "011r jo11rneyn1eJ1 ser· goanlS ... scored on the avotRgeonJy 6 points :ilK>VC randomcha1tC(~ - a c.lia1ni:tll)' lc)w l~"·cl of professionalism."

Because NCO training wos, of thot time,• l(·ic;1l 11nit's res1x:>nsihilif)· .• sch1.,,.)I curricul::t

and st.ndards varied greatly. Ae<ording to onerti:t".'111> .. $c)rno(aca(fe1n~) ... had irnpnr '-ise<lclassrooms . .. in nbandoned messhalls. Ont .. . badanenrollmeotof only20students, nnotl\ef (l\ad) i:w·elve tinleS chat nunlbei'. So1t1ecourses l>lSl.XI for 16 weeks, otltetS:for onJ:.· lwo."The valueof tl1eseac:;idemies was doubtful nnd the pr~tt.Si of an Arn1y at'\\.'ar pre'·ea1terl rnany NC Os fron1 atter•ding \J)tt)l. One surveyed oottalion had only 27 academy gmduates :1mong 194 NCOs.

Aca<lo;.~rll)' 1.~U'Olh11ents soon begM to fur-­tiler decline arKI disillustorted cornmaJukrs slarted closing local schools. GEN Bruce C larke, who established the first NCO ac•d· emy in 1949, wos sent by G&'I \Villinm \Vestmoreland on a fact·fincling missi<>o io 197 t. According to Ellis ond Cunninghom, a11 >1slo11i::;l.i:d Cl:trke. foluKI tliat "Qnly S per­cent of tJ1e NCOs ~·ere being fonnally trained. The-re '"'ere only fouracadenlies 1eft t<> trnin 100,000 NCOs and ci>ese courses v.·er4..., 11101lll~ long." Following Clarke"s alarm diat. -we are running m Anny with 95 percent of the NCOs untrained," the trend was rc\'crsed and ~ade:Jnies beg.1n reopen~

inr; - this li.tl)t uudei Ut\v gtlklt:lirtt'5 arid stmd.rds.

TI1»t s:iine y~tr, the A.ml)• established NCOES - o staodordiz.ed, progressi•e nnd s}1Slen1atlc series of schools for jur1ior ol\d seuior NCO len\l~rs. Jt origio::.lly ir1cludt.-d

BNCOC, ANCOC and the Sergunts Major Couroeat USASl'<IA. PLDC wa• ackled in tbe mid-!980s.

Today, USASMAalsob.1So F~tSerge..mt C0t1rse, Battle StaffNCO Coursealld a Con1-n1ancl Sergeartt MajorC0Ltrse,alU1ough these are not part orthe fonnal NCOES. Addi lion· ill l)'",. thcrcarc46 NCO ncadt":mir.stmin ing the acti\re Aa11y a1ld JllOre tl1an 155 Reserve Component academies and training sites worldwide.

TI1e Anny's e111phasis on f oa11...i.I ed ucarion for KCOs is e•ident by the linkage between NCOES cou"""' and promotions. And the increa.~ing crnphAsls on ci\•ilinn ctfnc11tion is suppo•tcd by the high munberof NCO; wiUt college degrees. ns noted nt the beginning of this nrticle.

At no other time during the p~ 200·plus }·ear..> of our Anny· has the eclucntional push been more pronounced than in the most -re­cent 20 years. (~01l\petiti0t1 for fewer pro1)lO· lions in a smaller i\.rmy might place even greattt emphasis on civilian education. The result niny b~ that NCOs in cl~ tlC:Xl d1-,cnOO rottld h11velittlechoiceabout earning college degre"5. Like doctors, lawyers and teaclters, a college deg1..., migl1t se""" to separate professional NCOs from their prede<:essors.

/) 'Ai11olfJ is. the Put1Jic Affi1irs •\1CO }Qr USAS1\1A.

21

• Letters to the Editor Wo11u.•J1 in Co111bat

I :Jnl tired of he~ring otl>out how \\I001en

can or cannot lt.'lndle stress i1t CCJmbat. I h:we not deployed for combat in my 19 years or ""rvioo. Bui l fed tJL11 n1y feeli ngs would be die same as men's: scared. Tiie nlllles won't s:a.y it, but they are ""ared.

Ao f0<stres.s, women soldieB ore undor ,t10r~ s tress dl"IJly 1h ..... t1 Ate tnnlc r.oldicrs. ~'01nl' l l have lo lll\1\'t~ If u~rn~~ IV(~ nl eve1y

new ns.5ig1101ent. Tite Jnale soldjer of the same rnnk con wal k inlo any job and be accepted ru1d resµ•<.1\:~l.

f e1111,1cs "''i1l l1ul Vi..! accepted h\ Ute ntili~ tar')' or in m:mage1nenl positions in our society, or allowed in combat, Wllil males accepc wQtne11 as AtdMlrity figures. The views of society 11eed to cli:mge. Me.n refuse to accept fen1ales as le~di:rs or as peen i1\ hii her mnks. And subordina(es will notoccepl or acknowledge orders from females.

Our lea<lers need to e<h.tcate. and gi\'e femalei; the suppon lhat is needcJ I<> ac­CUll~~ish 11o: 111issio11. Tho fem• le, like lhe male JJOldier, should be able to select what job she wants. If a fen1a.ledesin.-r; Iv drivi;: fl lllnk or to be in the Infantry, she should be • llowod to do so. 'll>cse MOS es should be open •lrl~y on a volunhu bnsls. There sho\.dd \.ie no f~nal~ µlaced 'Jl (I OOtllb.at

nmls MOS w}1odot:s nol desire to be i11 that MOS.

Our lc:tders ,_I 10 StlJJPOlf lhc female soldier when orders nre !!;sued m1cl IJ1c 1ualc ignores tlKJse orders. 'll1e c:oo1111t 11t wider· tbe-bronth may be thnl "she is only a fe­male; and lhemale oOker or s"11ior NCO laugh.•. 111i.s is wrong, yel it happens. 'i''Ol1\f>;n \Yill not m1rvlYe il1 conlb.11 ttntil males leun1 to acce1JI tl1t*lrl in Ilic. Anuy. Also, othe1 females rnuot leam lo work for rern;lks """ leam lo do their jobs, rather tbau. irttlruidate n1ales to get tl'K"jr wny.

Ancl lo all you wo.u1eJ1 ou1 Lltt'J'O tJSitlg males to your advantage on Uie job -sltmn~ 011 'J'OU!

MSG Ju<lilh A. Ah o> Fort Bliss, Texas

Hampered Career? During my 12 years in lhe Anny, l've

continuously bellrcl how horribly hnm­pered my career lllls bl'w-and wi II be -because J amexduded rromcombat. Your "'i nterartJcleon,\·omen in ccn1b:lt '3id that

21

.. fernttle NCOti dv lt()I Rf:c1r1 to ' hare \vo111en of'licers· beJief.s l1111t U1eir U\\' ll ca­'"""' have been homp..-..:1 by !he cxclu­s~'"" JUSl wlK>a.re lliese won1enoffittrs? ·ni.at's a buncl1 of hog,va.WI

]' ,•e hacl L11e opportunil,>' lo IJe A µln10011 I cadcr. company oomm ander and b.1t tolion "1lff officer. 1l1ese are lhe "pll.llT" assign­rnenls for any vfficcr. ~ly career ht.si been ]list gcea.1. I, r.ud nlany ot l\Gr ~'omC\n oftie­ers, totally Sl1pport the cu11111u~11ts voioc.tl by CSM Mylrs and SGM Loiton. \\'t ore f1tt>fi-::siouab1. We kriew (uJI \\.·ell wf1a1 \''e

~·ere. gettiup ir1to \'fllL'll \Ve Join••d ll_ L~ 1\rnl)'· And, like the stu•g..:a11ts n1ajor, \\'e f1>e·I •1aJKh•r<t. shot~d not change just to ;K'Couu1)()Ci;ite wocnec\.

lftlwAm1y '• leadershipdecides loopi!u combat pooillons lowomen,so be ii. lf oot, ond some women feel 01ey're beingm:aled lUlffli.rly, tl.c volwv:ary s:eparation inc:en live is still available.

-.......,..---..,,..,~ C.PT Suson ~I. Oli\·~r

J~orl Harriso11, Incl.

O/i1rer is 1111/"' 11Ul11ory /JO/ire lirt11tel ..

P1ior Se1;·ice NCOES It Is becoming all too oom11ion th•t >01-~ \.\>1jU1 prior S('Nice Are not ~ivhig C[cdit for CO\&.rses that are equlvalrt1t to NCOES ooumes, espedolly if soldiers lfl.l!Vt'<l iJ1 otllcr st1"''j<.~r. hrtu1cl-.es.

NCO. sl JOuld ask U1eir newly assig11ed soldiers wl .. ,t prior servi~ tralltiJ1g lf1e)' received nnd then help lhe<.oe soldiers to ge1 thot ll:ainini: certified and In their official rncords. ,I\ fom1er ain11ru1 \YJKJ oornpJcll'(I the A it Fbrct :->CO Prep:iratOf)" C°"""', f <x ex;unpk, ca11 get cre(lit - incloding pro .. motion point. - for l'l.,OC.

NCOs can help their soldiers wiU1 lhe equivalwcy derenninatlon by sending tmining oertiftcales for PUX:, BNCOC 011d ANCOC to:

(For PLDC:) IJQ, TRADOC A TI'N: A TTG-JLN Fort l'vlonro<, VA 231>5 l-5000

(Fv,. DNC:OC and ANCOC:) Commander, l'vlILPERCE."\ ATTN: OAl'C-El'T-FN 200 Stovall St Alexandria, VA 22331-0400.

Tl1e delenn_i_11Atjo1t fc1r Pl .. OC equiva lency on) y I"'""' oboUI one wrek, b1 pad because it is no1 t.10S-specific. BNCOC

and ANCOC delerminaiions take about rt)lJI' Wf:CJ..~ lK"..CflOOC propOl\Cllll; 1nust de· tami1"' ir tl>e rel31ed coursos m..,i MOS stmdards,

Holping yoar soldiers earn equivalency cortlOcnUon will help tl1em get promoled soor1r1. If will nlso S.'lYe: tJle lllOtle)' that would kt•e t-n cpeut lo lllelld them to

NCO ES coW"SeS and will k""plhern on the jol:> ln.iond <>r being TOY for severnl w~··kR

F>fSG Fol'rest 8 . \\'etkins Forl M0tiroe, Va .

Wc1rki11s is 1J1e sun/or srajf arrd r-1·a;11i11g NCO for TRADOC s NCO ES Branch

Thliuing Replacemenl:s A concerted e.(forc to cnhnnce NCO

le~rdevelopn1ent l•as been under wa)' iu nl)' un1l for more than a yen. U1Jder lite guklnnc:c of the CSM, we luve ooncen­lrnl"'I 011 a1>plying U1e concept of "training )'Our replacen1er11. ..

" '• M•commi~ed to de\'eloping qualily full If\' leoder.;. Here's what we' re doing:

All NCOs are givt.n the opportunity lo e.xcel, Sl•1ge-•• ·ults t) f all r.111ks :ire carefully guided into increru;ed duties and responsi· bililks Wlder the supervision of the unit's sergc:utfs nlajor nnd first sergennts.

}.fanagemenl lnsks are •sslgu.:d to •IL NCOs, including 1<1sks nom1ally !"''­formed lwoffi.,.,.andsenio.-'.\"COs. They , are given 1he authority and arc 1llowcd the flexibilily lo crei1lc 1u1<l <l.:velo1i programs. Senior NCOs serve as assist:ants. coacl1es :uld 11lrt\tors rlu"Oughout each taslc.

TI1< conunand • lso emphaslu. NCO assignments, to include rotating positions, ch•llcngingNCO•hy pl•cing lhom in lead­ecsltip 1>06itiOJl5 A11d mootnnlencU11g future assignmenls.

·11,e n~dt is thnt \Ve are watching our NCOs blossom ri~bt before our eyes.

SGlvl " l urk l'i..1illo Orlando, Aa.

Pis 1il/o is a.<sig11ed to tlit 14Jrd m4NSCOl14, 8ls1 ARCOJ1.

School vs. Time Time is ooo major obslacle NCOs face

v.•hr.:n ~·e 11ttempl to continue our civiliai1 eduaition. How con we toke care of unit respoiwibilit""'. t·TXsand·rovsandgolo school? There are solulioos.

1111 llCO JOURl<Al I SPRlliG 1992

Firsr, k ... .a:n1 :-.l>Oul rava1bble education <+Vo<!Uflili<$ °" pool and off pool Ask c;_uest:ions. \V'hat is~1nUti111t111t 11111llberof st1!<lor11s n>qllired for o class? W0<~d the "'11-101 consider moking ormngements for clJss sites nnd l1ours lo :l cco1n1u0<Leite a g1oup? Du you k 110\v other solcliers or civilinns who would 'like lo t..1kt' a Ct"rta.ll1 co1n c',> I (n\Y much ndvnnce nolice would ~,.school need to ollow you time to find ~udt"l 1 ts lo Si)Crl UJ) l'ul' :i CCl'lr1iJL COlJ~'! ~fake propo<nl• ond work with schools to reach ngree111ent

The koy lo n non...,,ditlonru schedule is lfKtl it nfft.nl flexib1l11y, )1ulructors C&Jl work OrQUnd FTXs ond wcli, Here '"" oomeex.1mpleo: •four-hour class one night • we..k fur 12 weeks, o " ... kald class lhal ir.ttli onu •month on In day ni$hl er. all c!ay S.rurday for three n>0nths, a con· d•nsed cf:153 (l:ilom whil~ yuu ·n: 011 ll·"'") t'l.1tmee1S•V•l)·<by for i week from 8 a.m. CD j p.nl.

't·ou 111\".n't :. 1111king:. $Chonl tt> nllcr i1~ l)1:1111l::1ri18,jnsl II 11; lrnLliti()11a I ti n1e:s a1lCI on· c:unptis sires. Yot1·re or11)· liinited by your imoginntion nnd your desire to continue yen tr ti>vi l i}111 Nhtef1tirn1 iu Cl.,tning. up witl\ solutions to the till1r, (')h~ lncl~.

St'C llul G. Si!n• ini; Sn•yl'na, ·r e.no.

Top Brnss & Insignia Could the Joum:il publish photographs

or •ll the tov Anny brn.'>I, like tliOOC or tl1c d1i<r oh1aff and !lie "'rg•anl m•jor of t11r Arm)' tha1 '-'"t:re in the sumn1er issue?

Or,could you dedicate• pull-ouucction e;;1ch ye:i.r to pt1l>lish Litt." ~•1lin.-! ch~ill• of comm~n<fs photo~rophs?

Either option would be a valuable ser· vice to units.

I would i\IOO :lSk u~11 }'(.lU jJUlJli:;.1:1 a color chAn (')f alt nctivc duty 1.u1ic.o;' insignia. With deactl\•ntion" It would ho fl™l to know whicl1 r1nlli1 nrl.,81 111 oa ivo.

SSG J elTrey Siok"" Forl Or<!, CaLir.

We l11>pe 1l1t n·mrly p/Jo11>gmphs <>fti1e CS.·1 and S.~111 "'l'rr ~[uL A.11dwe ·11 w n­sider your°'"" ltkas f<>r fimtrt "nrini pow.JS. • Nou, lth•Vf!vrr, tlltll prmidi>tg clroi11 of <OJ1111ta1td phOlographs - espt· 6!1/ly local VIPs - is th~ tN{J(}(Uibility of yo11r local pl:Olo fo<iliry.

TH >:CO JO~RNAl.I SrRlt.G :992

Oisn1issed vs. Foll Out \\<"hen do you say "dismisoed" or "fall

ou;" 10 a formation, 1<ponll<ss of the for­ulfirio1l si?.c .... ?

Nun11." ~'i lla l1el1l Front Royol, Va.

F1\I 22-5 .'lltJtes :lrar "fall 011t" ;mpJies thar ajormnr/1>11 Is bcl11g tcmporarily t.<· cu.st.;/ /i1.Qrtl~~r 1o s·1111lt/ by or regroup /a1cr. "Di )·111issetf 11 ltfl.)' a 1nor;.• fir11'1e ri11g bto.­ca11se ir disn1i.s.ses soltlicrs for tl1e doy or w11il tJM ur..l.1 sclrrd11lrd fo11natlo1t Often, lra\,.e,~r. n oon1pn1l)• 1~1/t order ·'platoon Jead~r;lsergranrs. 1t1:U-chr,rg11 of )YJHr 1;k1-too 11S, .. lec•i11g .u1;a/ler e/e,,te11ts to Ji..s­miss rl1e1J· sofditrs.

~1arkctablc Skills? C.::tra·r _XCOs :ire IE:1Ulll("tl l>)' lt.c Clth:'S­

tion. .. \Vhot -..;11 l do whon m)" mllitory career is over'!"

Tlie fi1(:t is tha1 lhl' Clrl'iu:r Cf>rps l<: cl~ llla! l.!IJ;e1111:11t bn1ucl1 of u~ i\r111y and et\"' lis ted sold iers nre lhe bl11e -('..oll ~-1 r workforce. The officcr·s cnrcor is prof.,,. sionally 111anngetl. ()fficcmnresenl back to sc.·holll .,, 111id~:U\.'l'tr 10 otJlni11 s1d>v':u1cx·d degr.:t"s, 011 IOI' Vf lht:il' college degl'ees. They· have propressi,,e nssigiarnrnls ll:l:.tl convert to ci\illnn monogcmcnt i kills.

Tl1e 3"t'r.:tl!l' r1ilis1c-<l soltlk.•r b:ls H hjW1 school cducntion. 'll'e ottend prof<ssional dev-elopme11I i;chools_ bu1 nlOGl of our C3

re.!CS are SJ.ll' t ll lm0<I -on in TOE ~g:rr Dlt'UlS and ~~11i11p 1lill5 lft:al a1c f"jn"ly

marktt."lble in the civilian ~tor. Very few NCO. earn ad\"llnced degrees and olilain m.'t.'1.aget11ent skills.

If we ore to hove • smoller ond more refinect Anll)'", 1h 1~ Cnncr~ 111ust enncf kgislation tl1:tt woul(l puarn11tee ac1 OJ?'" tlon:tl college ed1X'~llion for Ct\teer NCOs. Vile n'llSI break 1he 1,Jue collnr syndronu: and ensure 1Ju. 1 ·NcO.- 1~t i 1·e w ith con1pcti. li ~·i.\ 1n~-1rkctal>lt.• skill:;,

Gay '90s?

SFC I,orry C. Bostick Port Dix, N.J.

&,f.,,..,..,., tl1e cncl......J article (Air Force Times. Dec. 23) tlutsays fourpttSi· defltinl condicbl.s fovcr •llowing homo­sexuals in lhe 111ilitary, I :telru1w,lly oppaie.

t.his and I ><1P110rttl1c official DOD pwitiun

llnt UJC hom°"'xtnl lifesiytc it p<oj11diciol to good order and proper di9Ci1~inc.

Homosexuals need medicol, psychcr logical °' spiritwl help nnd, for th<ir own well being, tliey should S(•ek help immedi­ately. 1bei.n; Ls not a cl vii l'ishts iSSlte, as some people portrt\y it.

~~~~~~~~

SFC .Jock H. 8u1·k e Jr. \Vylhevi lie, \!~• ·

Plato vs. Comic nooks Hil1,pened to con1e 11pol'I tJ\e Jounin.1

while pulling• """•kenll of!ilnff duty offl. cer. :>.-ly lhoughts we11t bock lo aJ1otlier dny's d1t1y in 1968 at Dang Pl•. near B.'ll1gl<ok~ when T U>'i'\.~ tt n 1nner - 1 dr:aifttt ~ilh eiglll n1001hi in the Anny.

SSG Smith, my SDNCO, wcr ked in the C.f!'plO repair scclioil. I renltm.bc.11ha1 he seemed older tlnn Rl061 st.arr sergc."\lllS were during th°"" q11lck·rromotion yrors. I pegged him as :i laicr.

We both came prtpare<I with rendin~ marerial. Neither of us wns rendingPlato"s Rl~1•t11>1k~, l.Mlt lhroo- y.-.anl na nn English u1ajor l)<ld l1e]pe(l 11w. to rcie:og.1ll1..t, ir -noth . ing else, lhe clilTt'rel'u.~r. lletwe1.~11 con1ic booksnnd literature. Smith wns r101 rl"Jding con,ic books.

1· 1n 1l(l( Sl1r{\ jlt.~ hnw I 1)hm.qc,d it w i1J1°'1t

gi:lllng a vurtcl) i1l lhe 11ose, but J said <>;>ma-hing like this: "'W11y nro you reading u,.1 ;,tuft'? How can• e111-e.'t toldier possl· bly enjoy books lh tint? What are ~"'' doing in the Army?""

;<.1y ,,.,,., is s!ill s!migh•,"" r must ....... used mo .. >tld than tha!. I liopt!so, beclluse Smith's reply showed his class:

" I like the Amiy. My MOS ,i.,..,.., •t h.1vc C.>1 .,..ornotions, ll11I I like the wot k. My MOS keepsmechlllenged. l"m nol gelling rich, but the Anny pays me enot13h to support my family. We e11joy truvullng aroun(I tl1c ~·odtl and lllu Ar111y lt:ls us do thot. I like whnt I'm doing, nnd I don' t huve nny T<'trtl~ nhoul hn,•ing l)ll'ltle rhc Anny 111)' Cllf('(~r."

For OlX:<', I snid the righ1 ~ling: nothing. Smith didn ·1 lmow It, b111 his few words

changed :•t lc:tsl one tJ<'r:>on·,oiulook for­e»er - DOC jw.1 about IS"COs, IJut about strr~·pes R1•I gener111iti('l;, too.

CW3 Sttvt N. Kohn flon llood. Tcx>S

Kohr1 is n for1ner SFC.

21

• Book Reviews

Talking with victor Charlie:

An lnterrog<1tor's Story

Dy Scd.F""'k'k 0 . ·r0trtscn Jr

Balla111inc l1oola. 1990, 3{).I pag.., $4.9S (PO)

KCOs m;idc signilkam contribldions in eslablishing in1ellige11ce 5}'St"1115 to "" lrACt illfcroltllio.11 frQ1_1t cn.:111y 111ia<.n1l'lli

and Q1l11m Jurin.g llx: Vielrnun \VJI, •C· con.1ing to Touri&011. He ll"Counls NC'O co11trib\1tio1tS to i.J1lelUgence C'OUectioi,, t.hrol1gh i.L1h:JT1Jg:tl t01-i, atxl lbc vuluc o J' tlte inf onnation to deciding levels of priorillcs and the order of intel distribution.

NCO inte1·rogal ion te1111•11 dcvclo1>CLI nu

Klu Che Boys Goodbye

Dy ~1on1kaJeJIGCJI .SleVGl 130C~

'11w. P11119,11'11 <Jro11p (NAvll11t1011), 1990.

512pagu. S21.9J /ID. SI0.9J (i'IJ)

If c•cn • sm.•ll pct"<'lll•Sc of <he infoc­ntation in thts book i_.~ al!cumtc, l1111;clr ... •Us of American soldiers ntighl h>,ve been '"sokl out"' in Vietnan1 lo protecl covert C1Aw1d uillihll)' opcrntlous in:>lonh Vle1-1lat1t, Laos, 0.uu~ a1MJ TiuailaLKI.

Acoordingtolheaulhor, Uie Victn:uncsc govcmmcnl had a wcll..iocw11cr1tcd hi.

index syscem tcurrenlly referred lo os the E11(•111y Or•ll•r of 8:111L ... ) 10 verify iJlfono.:.1-liou collt<fW rrottl various $US~ls a.rxl prisoners o( Yto<lt, infocm.ation '-"·hich op­cmlions planners 1JS<d 10 tnrgct enemy posi~ions, tunnel COfl1plexes and food er wc;rl"JI"' c:rcJ.,,., Tlllnslating tmusands of c;ipluml W<utn<<lls, iulerrogalioo l"'1D1S i<lentifred enemy cadr< and "<•rifled loco 1io1k5 of major enemy Ut•its.

The alllhor al<D raises tho issue of the fR~bJk:.tlt of vrisatea. Hecotislantly em .. ph .. i:tc• U1•I hwmwe ~tmem of sus­pocls and prisoners results in oblnining more infom1a1ion lhnn docs brutality. This is one ofl"W'O ilnpon:n.nt. lesoons NCOs can lean< from this book. Th• other IPSSOn is l11'tl t11e con1bination of initialive1 sinlplic­if)'S-11d h:tn l w1)1 k ~11 1:irotluce. anetTeai\•e. funotlon&J S)'Slt'111 at any l~veJ.

1 higl1l,>• reco1n1ne1'ld this book and be­lieve it sl\:>uld be required rC.'lding fo11he NCOi; ir1 iritl~ll igi:noc op~rr11 ions.

SG~I Ruy T. Akiyama

lol'y ol' selling French POWs for cash J11a11y yearn aOt'r tJ1e French abando1led the ir 11lilitn')' efforts.. In 197:~, Pres ident Nixon l>l'OlllL<red $4.5 billit)ll in ilitl l ( l

.Nortlt \.'lL•ll1a111, Jer1sen-Slevenson says. nnd ii is her lheory that U.S. PO\Vsorestill boing he l1i ns 101\SOll) for lhi.s 11npf1i(l rtwn­structio1\ aid.

Je-J~11-Stever1.Son, \\'ho worked for "60 Min11t_.5" n.~ it rr"l:>nft'rl n 1985 segme-Jlt of the pmgmo1 Jl~rtniniug to PO\.'is, cl~~m·is tli::11 t!kl onne'I services and other govem­n1c-nt ugencies constant)~· blocked her ef­forts loprell:lred·1:1t ~ory, ir'lCJ11diog tl l.l'eats or vloltin and burglary lo lieJ home. Htt iJ~tcnit.'\VS SttfO to confion thal over 370 U.S. POWs were being held b}' !he Pathct Lao and thnr none were evrr rclc:>Sl.~I .

J almost wish the book were fiction. As.urning the occurncy of this book, ii sl10Uld be rcqmr«I """""& foroll sOO!ica;.

AfSG CharlK R. Cartrr

on Strateg1 11: A Critical Analysis of the Gulf war

Dy COL (Rel.) l lany Sw11rne1S Jr.

/kl/ Publishi11g, 1992, 295 pages, S4. 99 (PB)

The author aslcs: \Viii the Unil<d Stale$ ~ay pttj)(l.red lo fare fulure mililruy cl<>l­lenges, or re,isit pasl apprcoches lh•t in­•ited renewed aggre...,ian. Analyzing 1••&1, present and future military postures. Sum· mers brings past failures and the Gulf war into focu.~ by \L~ing Carl \'On CIAll5CWj1z.' "renlarkable trinity.-1heory that 81J-eng1h ls the res1.lll of Lmily among tlle people. t1le government and lhe milil31')'.

Part one looks at the ""V iet1111111 syn­drome"' in light ofthis 1hooey and pn11 two re"·ie\\<·sthe n•ajor chanc~ that 111t'!rked the renaIB&uiceofllre U.S. fighting force. Part three focuses on how the Gulf wnr joined the .. tri11ity .. to achie\•e n clear a11(I dcoi­si:~·e. victory,

U'U1e United Slalos,as lhe wocld"s only milibl)' superpO\\'er, is to be respons ible for 1mintaining world .. vide peace, U1c nu,. H1or 11u-tilll:tiris it crumol retun1 to U1e. p:~t. He plaett the reader on notice tl1ot dr3$tic reductio1lS in ourarn1ed forces or1JOOr11 1~4

positlon.U1g or foroes a11d equipn1ent ls a Slrp botkward. The enemy is&ludying the steps !hot were taken IO a<hicvc •ictory in the Gulf war. The United Stales might 00(

have the sanle ad\"ant;)gC$ ht lh.c rut\trc. Senior lllCOs and offi<tN lllu:.l tr•dlllis

book to compare its C01rtent to n1easures being takeo today by our political lead<is and ask lhemseh·es, "Deja vu?"

~1SG Ftlix L. Sonti>go

Book Review Guidelines for Journal contributors Here are SOfl)C guidelJJ'leS ror ~ad~ tl1e!: W.tIIC liiLe 0'5 )'OU 5ee here and in past Be critical, but back up yo11r iill~

ers who are interested in reviewing i..ues of the Joumnl. pression; and views .,.;th rads. books for lhis column: Include U1e full title, publisher, priao, Stick to subjects for which you

Books s1tou1d be conten1pornry, cop)-right year, numbc.rof pag.c---.ot, ,, .. he~.r ha\·e sot11e e.xpe.rtise. with copyrisJ1ts in ~1e 1990$. hnrdbnck (HB) or pnp.,rllnck (PB) aad lhe Stay with subjectsthatshould ha"e

Keep tlle lcnt U1 of rcvie\v' ol>.J\tl s l11gl..: OOJJY JJriCl!, broad in1porta.nce or appeal.

24 1?'£ NCO !OUl\1-.11\L I Sl'f\!tlij 1992

CHARGE NON

NESSTHEREO

YOUR GREATE

AND THEREBY

OTED

tNCO Journal