c. Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA)—

(1) Acts as the focal point for required DA NCODP actions which do not otherwise define themselves by functional staff responsibility.

(2) Is the focal point for all HQDA agencies and their field operating agencies (FOAS) on decisions which impact on noncommissioned officer development and NCODP policies.

(3) Renders an annual report to the Chief of Staff, US Army (CSA), on the state of the Army's Noncommissioned Officer Corps. This includes an assessment of the implementation of NCODP in major Army Commands (MACOMs), the ARNG, and the USAR.

d. Chief, National Guard Bureau (CNGB)

(1) Integrates the NCODP into pertinent directives and programs unique to the ARNG.

(2) Provides advice and assistance to the DCSOPS. e. Chief, Army Reserve (CAR)—

(1) Integrates the NCODP into pertinent directives and programs unique to the USAR.

(2) Provides advice and assistance to the DCSOPS and the Commanding General, US Army Reserve Component Personnel and Administration Center in the development of NCODP supporting programs for the USAR.

f. The Inspector General (TIG)—

(1) Inquires into the effectiveness of NCODP during scheduled inspections and staff visits.

(2) Provides appropriate feedback to the Army Staff. g. The Adjutant General (TAG)—

(1) Coordinates with DCSOPS the Quality of Life (QOL) initiatives which impact upon NCODP.

(2) Insures that educational policies, which impact upon noncommissioned officer development, support NCODP.

h. Major Army commands (MACOMs)—

(1) Provide the support and means to promote effective NCODPs in units, organizations, and activities.

(2) Insure that intermediate headquarters assist in supporting battalions and equivalent commands to develop formal NCODPs.

(3) In addition to the above, the Commanding General, US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) will provide NCODP guidance and assistance to the ARNG and the USAR.

i. The Commanders of battalions and equivalent organizations

(1) Are responsible for developing NCODPS which are responsive to the needs of their unit and the aspirations and development of their junior leaders.

(2) Insure time and resources are provided for the conduct of unit professional development training. This includes formal periods of instruction and timely counseling of NCOs as an integral part of professional

development.

(3) Insure that there is, throughout their units, a clear identification of those tasks that are noncommissioned officer business.

(4) Insure that a clear and distinct noncommissioned officer support channel is established. This support channel will not replace the normal supervisory chain of command, but will complement that system.

6. Implementing guidance. a. Professional noncommissioned officer training should be programed as integral portions of formal and informal periods of instruction. It should be implemented at the lowest level feasible. This may be company, troop, battery, or separate detachment. (Battalion or equivalent level for more formal type training is appropriate.)

b. Unit programs will complement formal training presented at military and civilian institutions such as that offered by the NCOES and civilian schooling.

c. NCODP professional development training will include instructions applicable to soldiers of all career management fields; it will include familiarization of those tasks common to all career fields. FM 22-600-20 lists specific NCO responsibilities-the broad skeletal structure of a noncommissioned officer's performance. They are as follows:

(1) Train soldiers.

(2) Care for their professional needs.
(3) Account for their status.

(4) Maintain fitness and appearance.

(5) Be concerned about the soldier and his or her family.

(6) Supervise, counsel, motivate, and discipline.
(7) Be loyal.

(8) Plan ahead.

(9) Set the example.

(10) Maintain the unit's equipment and facilities. d. Portions of the NCODP may be formalized into periods of noncommissioned officer development training which should be institutionalized in all commands. The topics selected should be attuned to the geography. mission, and shortfalls of the unit. They should supplement professional training gained from daily, routine. operations.

e. NCO communication links at battalion levels and higher should be established. Their purpose is to consider, but not be limited to, problems and recommendations related to improvements in the development and QOL of all NCOs and enlisted personnel. They also serve to provide recommendations to commanders on topics which affect enlisted personnel.

f. A matrix of NCODP supporting programs and policies is provided at appendix A.

g. A selected list of noncommissioned officer development training subjects is at appendix B.

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

E.C. Meyer

General, United States Army Chief of Staff

General Orders No. 98, HQ, U.S. Continental Army Command, Fort Monroe, Va., 18 July 1972.

TC 001. Following action directed.

United States Army Sergeants Major Academy (5AW3QTAA) Fort Bliss, Texas 79916

Action: UNIT ORGANIZED

Asgd to: Headquarters, United States Continental Army Command (WOGSAA A) Fort Monroe, Virginia 23351

Mission: To provide selected non-commissioned officers a broad and varied, in-depth educational experience designed to qualify them for promotion to Sergeant Major and subsequent service in top level noncommissioned officer positions throughout the United States Army.

Effective date: 1 July 1972

Authorized Strength: 47 Off: 1 WO: 42 EM: 90 AGG: 30 CIV

Required Strength: 47 Off: 1 WO: 42 EM: 90 AGG: 30 CIV

Accounting classification: As appropriate in accorIdance with AR 37-100.

Files/records: AR 340-18 series applies
Morning reports: Entry will be made in record of

events section of Morning Report prepared for effective date (AR 680-1)

Authority: DA msg DAFD-OTA-CO, 182811Z Jul 72, VOCG confirmed

Special Instructions:

a. TDA 5AW3QTAAOO b. TPSN 66113

c. Priority Status 20832

d. Equipment section of TDA will be forwarded to DA at a later date.

e. Personnel authorization will be provided from Instructor/School overhead resources. The course will operate as a separate element within the CONARC school system with education and training matters under the jurisdiction of Commanding General, CONARC. Attendance will be by PCS for approximately 22 weeks. The student input of initial class will consist of 160 students and subsequently after DLISW phases out, 200 students per class. Administration and logistical support will be provided by United States Army Air Defense Center and Fort Bliss, Fort Bliss, Texas 79916.

FOR THE COMMANDER:

OFFICIAL:

E. THOMAS Colonel, AGC Adjutant General

Although the specialists of the two world wars were not combat leaders, and therefore did not receive training in leadership skills, the more senior specialists were often called upon to assume command responsibilities. The distinction between the NCO small unit leader and specialist became blurred in the post-World War II period as the Army's needs for men and women who combined both technical and leadership skills increased. Today, in the era of the complete, professional soldier, the position of specialist has all but been eliminated from the rank structure. Only the Specialist (formally, Specialist 4th Class) remains.

Extract from Army Circular No. 204, War Department, Washington, 24 June 1942.

DONN R. PEPKE Major General, GS Chief of Staff

IV Conversion of specialist ratings to technician grades. 1. Section I, Circular No. 264, War Department, 1941, is rescinded.

2. The following enlisted grades are authorized and in appropriate cases will be included in allotments of grades and strengths and in Tables of Organization:

Technician, third, fourth, and fifth grades.

3. a. Technicians are noncommissioned officers. They will receive the pay and allowances of the pay grade indicated by their titles. Technicians, third, fourth, and fifth grades will rank among themselves, according to the dates of their warrants, below staff sergeants, sergeants, and corporals, respectively.

b. Technicians are appointed for specific duties of a technical or administrative nature. Warrants should indicate the specialty for which appointed. All appointments during the present war will be temporary and

warrants issued will so indicate, except that noncommissioned officers holding permanent warrants who are reappointed as technicians as a result of the action. prescribed by paragraph 8 will be issued permanent warrants as technicians.

c. All regulations and orders relating to command authority apply to technicians in the same manner as to other noncommissioned officers.

d. The appointment and reduction of technicians is governed by the same regulations applicable to other noncommissioned officers of corresponding grades, except that technicians, fourth and fifth grades, may be reduced upon termination of their assignment to the duties for which they were appointed to the technician grade. The authority to appoint and reduce technicians, fourth and fifth grades, subject to the foregoing provisions, may be delegated by commanders authorized to appoint technicians to company and detachment commanders.

4. a. Effective June 1, 1942, all specialist ratings, except air mechanics, are abolished and all enlisted men holding specialist ratings are disrated and reappointed to technician grades as follows:

b. Specialists, fifth and sixth class, are disrated and will be paid according to their rank as privates, first class, and privates.

5. Pending publication of revised Tables of Organization or revised allotments under the technician grade system, grades and ratings now authorized are changed as follows:

a. Substitute technicians, fourth grade, for specialists ratings, first and second classes, and for one-half the number of specialists, third class.

b. Substitute technicians, fifth grade, for one-half of the number of specialists, third class, and for all specialists, fourth class.

c. Eliminate allotments of specialists, fifth and sixth classes.

d. Allotments of privates and privates, first class, will be computed as follows: Subtract from the total number of privates and privates, first class, now shown in Tables of Organization or published allotments, the number of basics (if any) and the total number of technicians determined under the above instructions. One-half of the remainder is the number of privates, first

b. The new pay grade titles will replace titles presently in use. Enlisted personnel will be converted to new pay grade titles appropriate to their actual pay grade in accordance with a above.

c. The noncommissioned officer corps will consist of the first four pay grades only.

5. Conversion of enlisted titles of grade.-a. New warrants (WD AGO Form 58) will be issued for all personnel in grades 2, 3, and 4 in consonance with the pay grade titles above. Warrants will not be issued for personnel below the fourth pay grade...

6. Technician titles. Effective 1 August 1948, technician grade titles prescribed by paragraph 8, AR 615-5, are abolished. Enlisted men who on that date hold appointments as technician fifth grade, technician fourth grade, or technician third grade will be converted to a new pay grade title appropriate to their current pay grade. Appropriate warrants, WD AGO Form 58, indicating new pay grade titles will be issued for personnel in the fourth and third pay grade.

7. a. First sergeant title.-The title of first sergeant is not a pay grade title. It remains an occupational title appropriate to a first grade position of such special importance in the noncommissioned officer corps that distinctive insignia of grade is provided.

b. Sergeant major title.-The occupational title of sergeant major will continue to apply to appropriate individuals at regimental and battalion level.

8. New enlisted insignia of grade.-a. Effective 1 August 1948 two types of enlisted insignia of grade are established, as follows:

(1) Combat insignia worn by combat personnel which will be gold color background with dark blue

color chevrons, arcs, and lozenge.

(2) Noncombat insignia worn by noncombat personnel which will be dark blue color background with gold color chevrons, arcs, and lozenge.

an

b. Both types of grade insignia will be on embroidered background 2 inches in width forming 1/8-inch edging around the entire insignia and between each chevron and arm.

c. Except for color, combat insignia will be the same as noncombat insignia for the same grade.

d. Listed below are the appropriate insignia for each grade (see fig. 1):

First grade. Three chevrons above three arcs.
Second grade.-Three chevrons above two arcs.
Third grade. Three chevrons above one arc.

Fourth grade. Two chevrons.

Fifth grade. One chevron.

Sixth grade. No chevrons.

Seventh grade.—No chevrons.

e. First sergeants will wear the grade insignia of the first grade with the addition of a lozenge between the chevrons and the arcs.

9. Definition of combat personnel.-a. Combat personnel are defined, for the purpose of determining entitlement to combat insignia of grade, as all personnel assigned to the designated combat units listed below:

(1) Infantry, armored, and airborne divisions (including 1st Cavalry Division) and component units thereof. (2) Infantry and armored-cavalry units.

(3) Artillery 75-mm How; 105-mm How or 155-mm How battalions; 8-inch guns, 8-inch How, 155-mm gun, 240-mm gun, and 240-mm How battalions; field artillery observation battalions.

(4) Engineer special brigades and component units thereof.

(5) Engineer combat battalions.

(6) Chemical mortar battalions.

(7) Constabulary brigades, regiments and squadrons, and component units thereof.

b. Action may be initiated by commanders of major commands, to recommend the designation of additional type units other than those defined in a above as combat units. Such action will be forwarded through channels to the Department of the Army for approval.

Extract from Army Regulation 615-15, HQ, Department of the Army, Washington, 2 July 1954.

Separation of Noncommissioned Officers from Specialists

Section I

General

1. Purpose. These regulations set forth procedures designed to increase the prestige of the noncommissioned officer in the Army by identifying him as an enlisted commander of troops. In order to do so, it is necessary to distinguish the noncommissioned officer from the enlisted technical or administrative specialist. These regulations effect the necessary distinction, and at the same time give full recognition to the importance of the noncommissioned officer and the specialist. While it is the desire of the Department of the Army to restore the noncommissioned officer to his traditional position as the backbone of the Army, it is also of fundamental importance that prestige and respect properly due the specialist be preserved. To accomplish the purpose of these regulations, the following objectives are established:

a. Identify the noncommissioned officer and specialist as separate categories of enlisted personnel.

b. Prescribe Department of the Army policies and procedures governing the conversion of a portion of each present noncommissioned officer grade to specialist grades.

c. Provide for the enhancement of the prestige of the noncommissioned officer.

d. Preserve the respect properly due those persons appointed to specialist grades.

2. Applicability.-These regulations are applicable to enlisted personnel of all components of the Army, except retired personnel.

3. Effective date.-Effective 1 March 1955 conversions to grades and titles outlined in these regulations are hereby effected for enlisted personnel of the Army in accordance with the procedures outlined herein.

4. Definitions. For the purpose of these regulations, the following definitions apply:

a. Appointment.-Administrative action which effects change from a noncommissioned officer grade to a specialist grade.

b. Noncommissioned officer.-An enlisted person who has been appointed a noncommissioned officer by competent authority for the purpose of exercising leadership over other personnel.

c. Pay grade. The statutory pay grade established in the Career Compensation Act of 1949, as amended. d. Promotion.-Administrative action which effects advancement from a noncommissioned officer grade to a higher noncommissioned officer grade, from a specialist grade to a noncommissioned officer grade, from a specialist grade to a higher specialist grade, or from a private grade to a higher grade.

e. Specialist.-An enlisted person who has been appointed or promoted as a specialist by competent

24. General.-Noncommissioned officers must be capable leaders. In order to insure that noncommissioned officers are equal to the tasks required of them, commanders of all echelons will give their personal attention to improving the quality and prestige of the noncommissioned officer. The proper assignment of noncommissioned officers, based on MOS, grade, and leadership ability is of utmost importance in the enhancement of the prestige of noncommissioned officers.

25. Enhancement of noncommissioned officers.In order to instill the desire in the noncommissioned officer to assume added responsibility and to attain the desired results of a competent noncommissioned officer corps, special attention will be given to the following points:

a. Careful selection of noncommissioned officers. b. Training of noncommissioned officers in their duties and responsibilities.

c. Prompt removal of noncommissioned officers who fail to attain or maintain the acceptable standards of leadership.

26. Authority of the noncommissioned officer.The position of respect and leadership accorded the noncommissioned officer in the chain of command depends directly on the degree of authority and responsibility that he is allowed to exercise. The delegation of all authority and command prerogatives proper to the position is essential to the development of strong and capable noncommissioned officers. Maximum care must be taken to avoid usurping the authority of the noncommissioned officer as to do so will adversely affect his pride, spirit, ambition, and initiative, and will undermine the prestige upon which his effectiveness is dependent. Thus, in order to cultivate, establish, and maintain the prestige and authority properly due the position of the noncommissioned officer, commissioned officers are specifically charged with requiring of noncommissioned officers the exercise of all responsibility pertaining to their grade. To this end

a. Noncommissioned officers will be utilized as appropriate in the dissemination of orders to the troops. b. Noncommissioned officers will be encouraged to