2014 — The NCO Guide

Interview with Deputy Commandant, USASMA

December 9, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

INTERVIEWEE: CSM Tedd (Joe) Pritchard, Deputy Commandant, US Sergeants Major Academy; INTERVIEWER: CSM Dan Elder, US Army, Retired This is one in our series of interviews with noncommissioned officers from the field, as well as those in key or strategic positions who are influencing the Army and the Noncommissioned Officer Corps. This interview is with CSM Joe Prtichard, who serves as the... Read More

The NCO Induction Ceremony

November 7, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

An unofficial guide for Noncommissioned Officers inducting the newly promoted into the Corps Prepared by: The NCO Website & SGM Dan Elder 2 October 1998 The concept of inducting newly promoted noncommissioned officers into the corps has a long-standing tradition, however is not an officially recognized or sanctioned activity. There are no official requirements to perform a ceremony of any... Read More

How to Create an Individual Development Plan

July 19, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Individual Development Plans (IDPs) have long been used as a tool to help individuals develop their skills, further their unit’s mission, and achieve their career goals. Some units require all soldiers to prepare IDPs, while others rarely use them at all. All leaders, however, have the option of using IDPs–even in units where IDPs are not common. IDPs are an excellent... Read More

NCO Lessons in Leadership from Abu Ghraib

May 31, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

This is an excerpt from a paper published in the MPRA magazine by CSM (Ret.) Jeffrey Butler, the former senior enlisted advisor of the 16th Military Police Brigade. This article was in response to a course requirement where Butler was asked about his most challenging team assignment, the answers are timeless lessons in noncommissioned officer leadership. This excerpt is reprinted by permission of the... Read More

When was the US Army NCO Corps formed?

May 31, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

I was asked a question recently about the creation of the US Army Noncommissioned Officer Corps. I had to scratch my head for a moment because it was not a question I had heard before. I am a self-declared military historian and I specialize in the history of the NCO. I run the NCO Historical Society to help catalog and archive... Read More

Interview with the War College CSM

April 25, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

INTERVIEWEE: CSM Malcolm Parrish, Command Sergeant Major, US Army War College; INTERVIEWER: CSM Dan Elder, US Army, Retired This is one in our series of interviews with noncommissioned officers from the field, as well as those in key or strategic positions who are influencing the Army and the Noncommissioned Officer Corps. This interview is with CSM Malcolm Parrish, Command Sergeant Major,... Read More

BG Sinclair, Uniform Policy update, and Mentorship. Episode 10

March 26, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

BG Sinclair, Uniform Policy update, and Mentorship This week on Episode 10 of the NCO Guide podcast we look at some current events and our primary topic is about Mentorship. CSM (Ret.) Dan Elder and his co-host CSM (Ret.) Archie Davis discuss how the verdict of the Sinclair case may affect the Army in the long term. We also look... Read More

Compassion as a Leader Trait, Episode #9

March 21, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Compassion as a Leader This week in Episode #9 of the NCO Guide podcast CSM (Ret) Dan Elder and CSM (Ret) Archie Davis talk about Compassion as a Leader trait, and provide 10 tips on leaders can use to be a more compassionate leader. Please add comments here in the comments section, or call our Hotline at (254) 853-4410, or use the... Read More

Robbed Legacy of Army NCOs

March 19, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

The Robbed Legacy of Army NCOs Sergeant Audie Murphy was exemplary, but it was Lieutenant Audie Murphy who earned the love of a nation…and the Medal of Honor. So why then is he so revered by the noncommissioned officer corps? Similarly, we created an elite subset of NCOs after a nonperson known collectively as Sergeant Morales, as if we could... Read More

A Conversation with CSM (Ret.) Joe Gainey, Podcast #8

March 14, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Joe Gainey Interview For this week’s podcast I had a conversation with Command Sergeant Major William (Joe) Gainey, a career Calvaryman and Scout, Joe was CJTF-7 and MNC-I CSM, and was selected as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff. CSM (Ret.) Joe Gainey entered basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky on June... Read More

NCO Creed SNAFU

March 11, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Creed SNAFU As one of the co-authors of the History of the NCO Creed, I occasionally get pinged about the inexplicable recent transposition of the words tactical and technical in various writings of the Creed, so I thought I would try to clear the air for those who still may be confused. The NCO Creed was not a standardized Creed... Read More

Interview with the USASMA CSM

March 11, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

This is one in our series of interviews with noncommissioned officers from the field, as well as those in key or strategic positions who are influencing the Army and the Noncommissioned Officer Corps. This interview is with Command Sergeant Major Rory L. Malloy, who serves as the 21st Commandant of the US Army Sergeants Major Academy, the second enlisted soldier... Read More

How to Counsel: The NCO Guide Podcast #7

March 5, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

How to Counsel This week in Episode # of the NCO Guide CSM (Ret) Dan Elder and CSM (Ret) Archie Davis talk about the importance of communication, and provide advice and tips on how to counsel. Please add comments here in the comments section, or call our Hotline at (254) 853-4410, or use the Twitter hashtag #NCOGuide and tell us... Read More

RFI: How to Counsel?

March 2, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

RFI: How to Counsel? One of the most basic fundamentals of leadership is Communication, next week the NCO Guide hosts delve in to the finer points of organizational behavior and the fundamentals of communication. We then look at good techniques for counselors and how to counsel, and discuss ideas to help noncommissioned officers improve their craft. We want your feedback... Read More

Standards and Discipline, Episode #6

February 24, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Standards and Discipline This week on the NCO Guide CSM (Ret) Dan Elder and CSM (Ret) Archie Davis talk about Standards and Discipline in NCO Guide podcast #6. We look at and define Standards, review doctrine, and ask ourselves and YOU about standards and discipline? Please add comments here in the comments section, or call our Hotline at (254) 853-4410,... Read More

Podcast #5 The NCO Vision, is it Relevant?

February 14, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

NCO Vision This week on the NCO Guide CSM (Ret) Dan Elder and CSM (Ret) Archie Davis ask the question in NCO Guide podcast #5 “Is the NCO Vision Relevant?” We look at the history, the doctrine and ask ourselves and YOU what is a Vision, and is the NCO Vision still applicable as it was when it was created? Special... Read More

We Already had an Army Logo

February 10, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Army Logo Already Existed The United States Army Institute of Heraldry is probably pretty pissed right now. Created in 1919 to approve and coordinate the coats of arms and insignia of U.S. Army organizations, for almost 100 years they have been the standards bearer for heraldic and other military symbols for not only the US Army, but other elements of the federal... Read More

What’s wrong with the Change of Responsibility Ceremony?

February 3, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Change of Responsibility Ceremony Noncommissioned officers are expected to teach military customs, courtesies, and traditions, yet what do you do when customs and traditions either are non-standardized or are still emerging? I mean how can something be a tradition to share and hand down when it is only just now becoming mainstream? Today the Change of Responsibility Ceremony is one of... Read More

RFI: Upcoming Podcast, “The NCO Vision, is it Relevant?”

February 2, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Is The NCO Vision Relevant? Next week on the NCO Guide we ask the question “The NCO Vision, is it Relevant?” We look at doctrine, as well as what is going on in the field, and talk about the NCO Vision. This week we hope to hear from you as we take comments from our readers and listeners online and in social... Read More

Podcast: Who is Training the Platoon Leader?

January 31, 2014January 17, 2018 Dan Elder

Who is Training the Platoon Leader? Please note we are aware of our technical problem and the poor sound quality. We felt it important to share this discussion and we will work harder to ensure our levels are corrected for future editions. This week on the NCO Guide CSM (Ret) Dan Elder and CSM (Ret) Archie Davis ask the question... Read More