History
The United States ARMY
Army NCOs trace their roots to the beginnings of American military history. They helped Washington preserve the Continental Army at Valley Forge, stood with Winfield Scott at Chippewa, and directed Zachary Taylor’s guns at Palo Alto. They carried the Nation’s colors at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, fought yellow fever in Cuba with Walter Reed, and led Pershing’s and Eisenhower’s legions into Germany. Whether helping local populations build a village in Southeast Asia or teaching young Iraqi soldiers to conduct operations, American NCOs are leading from the front and are some of our nation’s best ambassadors. Over time, through various changes in tactics and technology, Army NCOs have emerged as the Army’s small–unit leaders, trainers’ and guardians of standards.
Our NCO Corps is unrivaled by any Army in the world, envied by our allies and feared by our enemies. Throughout the Army’s history, the NCO has been a pivotal figure, but never more so than today with our full spectrum of operations - tank-on-tank fighting as during the invasion of Iraq; the guerrilla/insurgency war ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan; and peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. As NCOs embrace their ever-growing responsibilities in the 21st Century, this volume will help them remember how they came to be the “backbone of our Army.”
Kenneth O. Preston
Sergeant Major of the Army