NCO History

Question 0

when did the 1st Senior enlisted advisor to the chairman joint Chiefs Staff (SEAC) assume position?

Answer 0

October 01, 2005

Question 1

who is the 1st Senior enlisted advisor of the chairman joint chiefs of staff (SEAC) ?

Answer 1

SGM William Joseph Gainey

Question 2

what grade is the senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC)?

Answer 2

SEAC holds the grade of E-9 and is equal in seniority to the Services SEAs.

Question 3

how many SMA have there been?

Answer 3

14

Question 4

name the five most recent Sergeant Majors of the Army

Answer 4

• Former SMA Kenneth O. Preston
• Former SMA Jack L. Tilley
• Former SMA Robert E. Hall
• Former SMA Gene C. McKinney
• Former SMA Richard A. Kidd

Question 5

who is the first SMA?

Answer 5

SMA Willion O. Wooldridge

Question 6

what year was the SMA established?

Answer 6

1966

Question 7

the Sergeants Major Course began in what year?

Answer 7

January 1973

Question 8

The history of the Noncommissioned Officer began in what year with the birth of the continental army?

Answer 8

1775

Question 9

who wrote the “regulation for the Order and discipline of the troops of the U.S” also commonly called the “blue book” and thus standardized NCO duties and responsibilities in 1778?

Answer 9

Inspector general Friedrich von steuben

Question 10

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

Answer 10

• Corporals
• Sergeants
• First Sergeants
• Quartermaster Sergerants
• Sergeants Major

Question 11

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 11

Sergeant Elijah Churchill
Sergeant William Brown
Sergeant Daniel Bissell

Question 12

during what year did the War department make the first reference to noncommissioned officer chevrons?

Answer 12

1821

Question 13

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

Answer 13

the abstract of Infantry Tactics

Question 14

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

Answer 14

1909

Question 15

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 15

1902

Question 16

During the period of World War 1, 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 (AWOL’s, Work habits, promotions etc). This book was passed from First Sergeant, staying within the company and providing the unit historical information. what was this book called?

Answer 16

A black book

Question 17

during what year did the AR 350-90 establish army-wide standards for NCO acadamies?

Answer 17

1957

Question 18

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 18

E-8 and E-9

Question 19

during what year did PLDC first become a mandatory prerequisite for promotion to Staff Sergeant.

Answer 19

1986