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Neck Medal Bling

Neck Medal Bling
Last week I had the chance to attend the premier professional development forum for soldiers, the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army. Full disclosure here, it is no secret that I am AUSA Senior Fellow and long-time supporter so let me just get in a plug. I believe regardless your profession that you should align with... Read More

The NCO Induction Ceremony

The NCO Induction Ceremony
This is an excerpt from my original 1998 Noncommissioned Officer Induction Ceremony that eventually was added to the updated Army Noncommissioned Officer Guide FM 7-22.7 (TC 22-6) as Appendix F.  The yet unofficial Aug 2014 edition has removed the ceremony and it once again becomes an unrecognized informal ceremony. -Dan Induction Ceremony The concept of inducting newly promoted noncommissioned officers into the... Read More

The Changing Role of the Command Sergeant Major

The Changing Role of the Command Sergeant Major
This is from a presentation I gave to the US Military Historian’s annual meeting 8/6/2006 while serving as the 12th command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Materiel Command.  The Changing Role of the Command Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Daniel K. Elder Frederick von Steuben, author of the first drill manual for George Washington’s Army, wrote in 1774 that the Sergeant... Read More

Epi. #13, Techniques for Transmitting Information

Epi. #13, Techniques for Transmitting Information
Transmitting Information In Episode #13 I talk about transmitting orders and information, and offer up a tool for building better relationships by using storytelling as a method. The NCO Guide is a forum for the host CSM (Ret.) Dan Elder and his guests to discuss topics of interest to US Army noncommissioned officers and to enhance the dialog between professionals,... Read More

The Officer/Noncommissioned Officer Relationship

The Officer/Noncommissioned Officer Relationship
This is an excerpt from a paper published by the US Army Sergeants Major Academy as a research submission by CSM Terwan Crawley, the senior enlisted advisor of the 589th BSB, Fort Hood, TX. This article was in response to a course requirement and this excerpt is reprinted by permission of the author.  The disparity between officers and noncommissioned officers (NCO) in the... Read More

Bring back the Specialist Rank?

Bring back the Specialist Rank?
The Specialist Rank I was recently browsing through a 1-year old topic that is trending again on a military forum that I belong to where a member posted the oft asked (and usually not researched by the OP) question “Why doesn’t the Army bring back the ranks of specialist again?” Like they often do the writer emphasizes the divergence of technical versus leadership, and reminds... Read More

History: 1SG Percival G. Lowe, 1828-1908

History: 1SG Percival G. Lowe, 1828-1908
This is an excerpt from a paper published by the US Army Sergeants Major Academy as a submission for the General Haines Award for Excellence in Research by CSM Joe Parson, the senior enlisted advisor of the Army Capabilities Integration Center, Fort Eustis, Virginia. This article was in response  to a course requirement and completed Oct 15, 2005. This excerpt is reprinted by... Read More

Interview with Deputy Commandant, USASMA

Interview with Deputy Commandant, USASMA
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

The NCO Induction Ceremony
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

NCO Lessons in Leadership from Abu Ghraib

NCO Lessons in Leadership from Abu Ghraib
  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

Interview with the War College CSM

Interview with the War College CSM
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

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