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Noncommissioned Officer 2020 Strategy

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

What is it?

Leader development is fundamental to the readiness of the U.S. Army. The Noncommissioned Officer 2020 (NCO 2020) Strategy provides vision and guidance on the ends, ways and means for developing NCOs who are prepared for the challenges of an uncertain future.

Led by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Institute of Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development, NCO 2020 will fundamentally change the Noncommissioned Officer Education System into the NCO Professional Development System, or NCOPDS.

What has the Army done?

The NCO 2020 Strategy was developed through a data-driven, analytical process that examined the current NCO development model using the Army Leader Development Strategy, the Enlisted Desired Leader Attributes for Joint Force 2020, the Army Learning Concept and the Army Learning Model.

Central to this strategy is that all leaders understand their responsibility for developing new leaders by teaching, training and providing the supporting experiences Soldiers need to grow. Leaders must also emphasize career-long learning as essential to development and force readiness.

NCOPDS will adhere to seven leader development imperatives that guide policy and actions in developing NCOs with enduring leader characteristics:

  • Commitment to the Army Profession, lifelong learning and development.
  • Balance the Army’s commitment to the training, education and experience of leader development.
  • Manage talent to benefit the institution and the individual.
  • Select and develop leaders with positive leader attributes and proficiency in core leadership competencies.
  • Prepare adaptive and creative NCOs capable of operating within a complex operational environment.
  • Embed mission command principles in leader development.
  • Value a broad range of leader experiences and developmental opportunities.

What continued efforts are planned for the future?

In this decade, the NCO Corps must evolve to optimize human performance.

NCOPDS will operationalize the concepts outlined in the NCO 2020 Strategy, which is organized into three efforts:

(1) Development. NCOs develop as leaders through deliberate processes, incorporating training, education and experience throughout the Soldier lifecycle.

(2) Talent Management. NCOs expand core military occupational specialty proficiency through developmental opportunities.

(3) Stewardship of the Profession. NCOs strengthen the corps by emphasizing their role in building and sustaining trust; improving military expertise; exemplifying honorable service; and fostering esprit de corps.

To inform Soldiers on the latest in NCOPDS, on March 3, 2016, from 5-7 p.m. EST, TRADOC will host a State of NCO Development Town Hall. Topics of discussion include promotions, NCO evaluation reports, broadening and course changes.

Why is it important to the Army?

TRADOC is revolutionizing how the Army develops NCOs through Soldier feedback, modern teaching techniques, combat lessons learned and civilian academic institutions.

Resources:

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