History of the NCO

Question 1

How many SMA have there been?

Answer 1

15. SMA Daniel A. Dailey currently serves as the 15th SMA.

Question 2

Name the five most recent Sergeants Major of the Army:

Answer 2

Former SMA Raymond F. Chandler 
Former SMA Kenneth O. Preston
Former SMA Jack L. Tilley
Former SMA Robert E. Hall
Former SMA Gene C. McKinney

Question 3

Who was the first SMA?

Answer 3

Sergeant Major William O. Wooldridge

Question 4

What year was the Sergeant Major of the Army established?

Answer 4

1966

Question 5

The Sergeants Major Course began in what year?

Answer 5

1973 (January)

Question 6

The history of the NCO began in what year with the birth of the Continental Army?

Answer 6

1775

Question 7

Who wrote the “Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States”, also commonly called the “Blue Book” and thus standardized NCO duties and responsibilities in 1778?

Answer 7

Inspector General Friedrich von Steuben

Question 8

During the year 1778, what were the NCO ranks during that period?

Answer 8

Corporals, Sergeants, First Sergeants, Quartermaster Sergeants, Sergeant Major

Question 9

Three NCOs received special recognition for acts of heroism during the American Revolution. Each received the Badge of Military Merit, a purple heart with a floral border and the word “merit” inscribed across the center. In practice, this award was the precursor to the Medal of Honor introduced during the Civil War. What were their names?

Answer 9

Sergeant Elijah Churchill
Sergeant William Brown
Sergeant Daniel Bissell

Question 10

During what year did the War Department make the first reference to noncommissioned officer chevrons?

Answer 10

1821

Question 11

What publication published in 1829 provided instructions for training of noncommissioned officers?

Answer 11

The Abstract of Infantry Tactics

Question 12

The 417 page unofficial publication called the Noncommissioned Officers Manual, was published in what year?

Answer 12

1909

Question 13

During what year did the symbol of NCO rank, the chevron, rotate to what we would today call point up and become smaller in size?

Answer 13

1902

Question 14

During the period of WWI, the First Sergeants often carried a book in their pockets that contained administrative files. This book, which today may be known as a “leaders book” contained the names of everyone in the company and their professional history (AWOLs, Work Habits, Promotions, etc.) This book was passed from First Sergeant to First Sergeant, staying within the company and providing the unit historical information. What was this book called?

Answer 14

The Black Book.

Question 15

During what year did the AR 350-90 establish army-wide standards for NCO Academies?

Answer 15

1957

Question 16

In 1958, the army added two grades to the NCO Ranks, these pay grades would “provide for a better delineation of responsibilities in the enlisted structure”. What were the two new pay grades?

Answer 16

E5 and E9

Question 17

During what year did PLDC (BLC) first become a mandatory prerequisite for promotion to Staff Sergeant?

Answer 17

1986