The NCO Guide

Spinning Flags at Change of Command Sep 27, 2016

There are some ceremonies like the company change of command and the change of responsibility that have some key elements that are not clearly defined, so finding “a standard” is sometimes impossible. In many cases with large formations it is usually the senior mission command HQs that creates a local policy when it comes to the […]

The Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Aug 30, 2016

The Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), or SEAC, is a military position within the United States Department of Defense and is the most senior noncommissioned or petty officer overall in the United States Armed Forces. The SEAC is appointed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs […]

Historic First: A Medal for Sgt. William H. Carney Jul 04, 2016

Born in 1840 to a slave mother in Norfolk, Virginia, who was later freed upon her owner’s death in 1854, William H. Carney eventually settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts and prepared himself to enter the ministry. 8 In 1863 the Union Army began to organize colored units, and one of the first was the 54th […]

Last recipient of the Badge of Military Merit: SGT Daniel Bissell Jun 30, 2016

Daniel Bissell, the eldest son of Daniel and Elizabeth Bissell of Windsor, Connecticut, was born December 30, 1754. When the Revolution began he enlisted in the 5th Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Line, where his “sterling qualities of head and heart speedily gained the esteem of his comrades and the confidence of his officers.” He became […]

Short History of the Specialist Rank Jun 16, 2016

When Washington assumed the role as Commander in Chief of the fledgling Continental Army in 1775, it had adopted the British model of organization. There were basically four enlisted grades, sergeants, corporal, musicians and privates. The musicians were fifers and drummers, who of course directed the linear movements of the Army. If the sergeants, corporals […]

Inspire Recruits and Capture our Legacy May 11, 2016

With over 80-percent of the military force structure enlisted soldiers it is a fair assumption to say that “most people” in the military started their Army affiliation with a recruiter. There are few things that tie the brother-and-sisterhood together than the enlistment process and that starts off with the first interaction with a recruiter. Whether self […]

US Army Highly Qualified Enlisted Expert Mar 24, 2016

Why not maximize Noncommissioned Officer talent post-military service? Challenge Today’s Army does not have ready access to a select group of highly qualified former enlisted leaders who possess the intellectual capacity, wisdom, and expertise to assist the Force in short-term, and often complicated projects. In cultivating Soldiers for Life surely talent management does not end at retirement? […]

Interview with the Sergeant Major of Army Public Affairs Mar 22, 2016

INTERVIEWEE: SGM Jose Velazquez Jr., Sergeant Major of Army Public Affairs, Pentagon INTERVIEWER: CSM Dan Elder, US Army, Retired This is one in our series of interviews with influential noncommissioned officers, these are leaders in key or strategic positions who are influencing the Army and the Noncommissioned Officer Corps. This interview is with SGM Jose Velazquez Jr., […]

Tips for Inactivating Units, w/SGM Terwan Crawley Mar 10, 2016

This week in episode #17 of the NCO Guide podcast I host Sgt. Maj. Terwan Crawley, the III Corps G-4 MRD Sergeant Major. In this episode we discuss some of the issues facing inactivating units, and use his experience as the 589th Brigade Support Battalion Command Sergeant Major during their inactivation at Fort Hood, TX. […]

Broadening Assignments for NCOs, Epi. #16 Mar 01, 2016

This week in episode #16 of the NCO Guide podcast I host Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Ken Graham, the incoming command sergeant major for the 20th CBRNE Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. In this episode we speak about broadening assignments for noncommissioned officers, and talk about a few things to consider in how to get selected, […]

#15, Soldier for Life: SMA Jack L. Tilley interview Feb 23, 2016

In Episode #15 host Dan Elder sits down with Sergeant Major of the Army Jack L. Tilley, USA, Retired and they talk about his new book Soldier for Life: Leader Lessons From The 12th Sergeant Major Of The Army Jack L. Tilley. He explains that the book is more than just an autobiography of Jack L. Tilley, the […]

Book: Soldier for Life, the story of SMA Jack L. Tilley Nov 11, 2015

This book is more than just an autobiography of Jack L. Tilley, the 12th Sergeant Major of the Army, it is a series of leadership lessons based on selected stories from his more than 35-year career. The last Vietnam veteran to serve in that position from 2000-2004, SMA Tilley was at the Pentagon when terrorists […]

Epi. #14, Getting Back to Basics Nov 07, 2015

In this episode CSM (Ret.) Dan Elder discusses getting back to the basics and attempts to identify a few foundational techniques company grade noncommissioned officers should master. Key to a professional leader’s style are in being grounded in the way that they operate, those basic behaviors that set them apart from others. The way we perform is usually […]

Neck Medal Bling Oct 26, 2015

Last week I had the chance to attend the premier professional development forum for soldiers, the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army. Full disclosure here, it is no secret that I am AUSA Senior Fellow and long-time supporter so let me just get in a plug. I believe regardless your profession […]

The NCO Induction Ceremony Oct 19, 2015

This is an excerpt from my original 1998 Noncommissioned Officer Induction Ceremony that eventually was added to the updated Army Noncommissioned Officer Guide FM 7-22.7 (TC 22-6) as Appendix F. The yet unofficial Aug 2014 edition has removed the ceremony and it once again becomes an unrecognized informal ceremony. -Dan The concept of inducting newly promoted […]

What is NCO Business? Oct 16, 2015

Recently at the NCO Historical Society I was asked: I would like to know the origin of the phrase "That's NCO Business". I found a reference to it as Sergeants Business during the 1989 Year of the NCO article but no definitive start or reason for the phrase and it's prevalence. I had to tell […]

The Changing Role of the Command Sergeant Major Oct 15, 2015

This is from a presentation I gave to the US Military Historian’s annual meeting 8/6/2006 while serving as the 12th command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. The Changing Role of the Command Sergeant Major Command Sergeant Major Daniel K. Elder Frederick von Steuben, author of the first drill manual for George Washington’s Army, wrote […]

Enlisted Promotions woes, 2001 Sep 24, 2015

The only lesson of history is that men never learn anything from history. -George Hegel. This is a reprint of my Winter 2000-2001 article on the state of affairs concerning proposed changes to the semi-centralized promotion system, and some historically significant data points that reinforced assertions. It also highlights how we got to where we were […]

Epi. #13, Techniques for Transmitting Information Jul 21, 2015

In Episode #13 I talk about transmitting orders and information, and offer up a tool for building better relationships by using storytelling as a method. The NCO Guide is a forum for the host CSM (Ret.) Dan Elder and his guests to discuss topics of interest to US Army noncommissioned officers and to enhance the […]

The Officer/Noncommissioned Officer Relationship Mar 31, 2015

This is an excerpt from a paper published by the US Army Sergeants Major Academy as a research submission by CSM Terwan Crawley, the senior enlisted advisor of the 589th BSB, Fort Hood, TX. This article was in response to a course requirement and this excerpt is reprinted by permission of the author. The disparity between officers and […]

Epi #12, Why the Specialist Rank doesn’t Work Mar 22, 2015

This episode I talk about providing customized advice via podcasts and explain how the Specialist ranks came to their ultimate demise, and why it was not good for the Army. IMHO, now is not a better time to bring them back, either. I introduce two new segments, This year in NCO History where I highlight […]

Epi #11, The Newly Promoted Sergeant Mar 13, 2015

After an almost 1-year break our podcasts are back. This edition we bring you Episode 11 with a new format and a different way to start the conversation, we hope you the listener engages with us and our listeners at our site NCOGuide.net. In this shortened episode host CSM (Ret.) Dan Elder answers a question […]

Bring back the Specialist Rank? Mar 12, 2015

I was recently browsing through a 1-year old topic that is trending again on a military forum that I belong to where a member posted the oft asked (and usually not researched by the OP) question “Why doesn’t the Army bring back the ranks of specialist again?” Like they often do the writer emphasizes the divergence of technical versus […]

History: 1SG Percival G. Lowe, 1828-1908 Mar 03, 2015

This is an excerpt from a paper published by the US Army Sergeants Major Academy as a submission for the General Haines Award for Excellence in Research by CSM Joe Parson, the senior enlisted advisor of the Army Capabilities Integration Center, Fort Eustis, Virginia. This article was in response to a course requirement and completed Oct […]

Interview with Deputy Commandant, USASMA Dec 09, 2014

INTERVIEWEE: CSM Tedd (Joe) Pritchard, Deputy Commandant, US Sergeants Major Academy; INTERVIEWER: CSM Dan Elder, US Army, Retired This is one in our series of interviews with noncommissioned officers from the field, as well as those in key or strategic positions who are influencing the Army and the Noncommissioned Officer Corps. This interview is with CSM Joe […]

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