Noncommissioned Officer Academies

Education in the military has traditionally been the purview of officers. France has its academy at St. Cyr; the British officers have traditionally attended the Royal Military Academy, now known as Sandhurst, while their American counterparts have received their formal education and training at West Point. However, modern warfare has dictated that even down to the lowest levels of military leadership, education has become an increasingly important factor in the professionalization of the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Corps and its ability to train and motivate others to carry out their roles in combat. In the U.S. Army, there have been two key factors that have contributed to the professionalization of the NCO Corps. The first is the maintenance of an NCO’s rank while he or she ...