NCO Duties & History TC 7-22.7 & AR 600-20

NCO History & Responsibilities

The history of the NCO Corps, the backbone of the Army, and fundamental NCO duties, responsibilities, and authority.

History of the NCO Corps

The NCO Corps dates back to the founding of the Continental Army in 1775. The original NCO ranks were: Corporal, Sergeant, First Sergeant, Quartermaster Sergeant, and Sergeant Major. In 1778 at Valley Forge, Baron Friedrich von Steuben earned the title 'Father of the NCO Corps' when he wrote the 'Blue Book' (Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops). He established the critical role of NCOs in training, discipline, and small-unit leadership.

Year of the NCO

1989 was designated as the 'Year of the NCO' by the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff (and later celebrated again in 2009). It recognized the critical contributions of NCOs and spurred initiatives to improve NCO professional development and education.

NCO Duties & Responsibilities

  • The two basic responsibilities of an NCO (from the NCO Creed) are: Accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my Soldiers. NCOs have three types of duties:
  • Specified Duties: Directed by regulation, law, or policy (e.g., duties in the job description).
  • Directed Duties: Assigned by superiors (e.g., duty officer, NCO of the quarter board member).
  • Implied Duties: Not specified but expected based on the situation (e.g., taking care of Soldiers' welfare or correcting a uniform violation).

Authority

  • NCOs operate using two main types of authority (AR 600-20):
  • Command Authority: Authority originating with the President and delegated down through the chain of command to leaders by virtue of their rank and assignment.
  • General Military Authority: Authority extended to all Soldiers to take action and act in the absence of a commander or other designated leaders to maintain good order and discipline.

Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA)

The SMA is the highest-ranking enlisted member and serves as the senior enlisted advisor to the Army Chief of Staff. The first SMA was SMA William O. Wooldridge in 1966. The current Sergeant Major of the Army is SMA Michael R. Weimer.

Board Tips

Know the Doctrine: TC 7-22.7 and AR 600-20. Know Baron von Steuben and the 'Blue Book'. Know the year of the NCO (1989). Know the three types of duties (Specified, Directed, Implied) AND the two types of authority (Command, General Military). Know the original NCO ranks of 1775. Expect to be asked to recite the NCO Creed, and be prepared to name the current SMA (SMA Weimer) and the first SMA (SMA Wooldridge).