Noncommissioned Officer Candidate Course
Abstract
The Chief of Staff General Johnston approved noncommissioned candidate course with the endorsement of first Sergeant of the Army William O. Wooldridge. The noncommissioned candidate course provides a unique chapter within the history Noncommissioned Officer Corps. I had served over twenty years within this institution and never heard of this unique course. The course tested the senior noncommissioned officers ability to adapt to changes and commissioned officers ability to provide guidance. During the Vietnam era, the military was ill equipped to fight the jungle style tactics of the enemy force. Many senior noncommissioned officers training consisted of the conventional fighting tactics used during World War II and Korean War. Most of the senior noncommissioned officers were unable to perform the daily physical challenge of jungle fighting. There was a shortage of senior noncommissioned officers to perform the critical daily duties as fire team leader and platoon sergeants due to separations, high casualty attrition rate and 24 months stateside stabilization policy (Elder 10). The Vietnam War presented a new fighting style of war. Noncommissioned officers fought at the tactical level, which required the squad leaders and platoon sergeants to make life-deciding decisions at a moment notice.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- AD1111683
Entities
People
- Ronald L. Bray
Organizations
- United States Army Sergeants Major Academy