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Time to put NCOs in the spotlight

We are rapidly approaching the halfway point of the “Year of the NCO.” I would like to offer six points to consider during the second half:

• 1. The Noncommissioned Officer Corps, as professionals, should have an oath of office, a code of ethics, professional responsibility and disciplinary rules much like those for lawyers, physicians or, for that matter, police officers. I recommend that each NCO, upon entering the NCO ranks, be required to take this life-changing oath.

The senior NCO should be held responsible for upholding standards and ensuring adherence to the oath. The senior NCO must also be given the authority to take corrective action if and when NCOs don’t meet the standard.

• 2. Along with the oath, we need an educational requirement — both military and civilian. I recommend that we phase in the requirement that senior NCOs have a degree. A starting point could be that a sergeant first class must have a two-year degree and a sergeant major would be required to have a four-year degree. The chain of command would be held responsible for ensuring the soldier meets the educational goals.

• 3. Appreciation of the NCOs’ contributions to the Army and the nation has been for the most part, lost to history. I recommend that we establish a permanent system for honoring NCO contributions. I suggest we call it the Army NCO Hall of Fame — it should be under the control of the Office of the Sergeant Major of the Army.

• 4. We should start recording the deeds and names of our great past NCOs. I recommend we begin naming things for NCOs (i.e. buildings, roads, awards and Army programs). We should make space on the Army Web site for NCO history. How about a college course/major in NCO history?

I recommend that we ban the term “enlisted” once and for all in Army correspondence, publications, etc. I think if we do this, the other services will follow our lead.

• 5. America’s Army is blessed with a large group of retired NCOs who can and should be considered a resource. I recommend that the office of the Sergeant Major of the Army form a formal advisory group of retired NCOs to take advantage of their experience and historical perspective.

This could be organized along the lines of the Army Chief of Staff’s Retiree Council and civilian aides to the Secretary of the Army Program. And we should, from the division level and above, form a team of retired NCO advisers and mentors that would assist the command sergeant major, who is facing ever more complex and increasing responsibilities.

• 6. The Army’s interaction with America is traditionally a unit briefing officer/Army spokesperson. I recommend that we, when possible, place NCOs in this role, exposing the nation to some of our great NCOs, thereby helping change the face of the Army.

We need to do more than set aside a year to recognize the accomplishments of the Army’s NCOs. We need to institutionalize their professionalism, demonstrate to soldiers of the future and the American public what NCOs have done throughout our nation’s history, and honor their legacy.

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Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmie W. Spencer (Ret.) is director of noncommissioned officer and soldier programs at the Association of the United States Army.