The Evolution of the American NCO 1939-1945: The Application of German Doctrine
Abstract
One of the acknowledged strengths of the United States Army is the NCO Corps. It is known as the "backbone" of the Army. Although this is a frequently used term, exactly when did such a notable feature of the US Army come into being? NCOs have been a part of all armies for hundreds of years and certainly part of the American army since its inception in 1775 (Arms 8). It will be shown that the United States Army NCO Corps came into prominence in the Second World War. However was a strong NCO Corps a uniquely American experience? It will also be shown that in the European Theater of Operations, the primary opponent of the Allied forces, the German Wehrmacht also had a strong NCO Corps; furthermore that combating this formidable adversary contributed to the rise in prominence of the American Army's NCO Corps (Fisher 5). Through lessons learned and through the victors' eyes the American Anny enshrined the importance of the NCO and that ideal has sustained the Army through the following conflicts of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries (Fisher 11).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 07, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1140136
Entities
People
- Allen B. Jr Offord
Organizations
- United States Army Sergeants Major Academy