Army History

Key Dates

• June 14, 1775: The Continental Army was established by the Continental Congress — this is the birthday of the U.S. Army.
• 1778: The Army adopted its official motto, 'This We'll Defend.'
• 1802: United States Military Academy at West Point established.
• 1941: December 7 — Attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. enters WWII.
• 1950-1953: Korean War
• 1955-1975: Vietnam War
• 2001-2021: Operations in Afghanistan (OEF/OFS)
• 2003-2011: Operation Iraqi Freedom / New Dawn

Father of the NCO Corps

Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian military officer, is considered the father of the American NCO Corps. He arrived at Valley Forge in 1778 and established the first standardized training program for the Continental Army.

He wrote the 'Blue Book' (Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States). This document recognized NCOs as the 'backbone of the Army' and established their role in training, discipline, and small-unit leadership.

The 5 Original NCO Ranks

The Blue Book officially established the first five NCO ranks in the U.S. Army:
1. Corporal
2. Sergeant
3. First Sergeant
4. Quartermaster Sergeant
5. Sergeant Major

Board Tips

Know the Army birthday (June 14, 1775), who wrote the Blue Book (Baron von Steuben), and be able to name the five original NCO ranks. Be ready to sing the Army Song. Board members will absolutely ask about the current operational environment. Make sure to leverage your current mission—an NCO forward-deployed on a European rotation in Poland brings real-world weight to any answer about ongoing operations.