NCO Journal January 2013 Articles
The official magazine of noncommissioned officer professional development
40th ID: The history of the ‘Sunshine’ Division
By Jonathan (Jay) Koester
NCO Journal
They may not have a song or a famous motto, but the 40th Infantry Division has a full, important history of protecting the citizens of California and the nation. It’s a history the division’s NCOs have worked to keep alive and relevant for almost 100 years.
Article published on: Jan. 29, 2013
By Example: ‘Always be a leader’
By Jennifer Mattson
NCO Journal
"Though you have to take care of wayward Soldiers, you also have to focus on commending the Soldiers who deserve it. Always be who you say you are. Always be a leader of Soldiers. Always set the standard and be that standard-bearer. Know that whatever we do as NCOs, someone is watching us; whatever we’re displaying, that’s what our Soldiers will see." -Staff Sgt. Andrew Dugger, A Company, 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.
Article published on: Jan. 24, 2013
NCOs teach the way at West Point
By Christy Lattimore-Staple
NCO Journal
Some of the U.S. Army’s best noncommissioned officers are stationed at West Point, N.Y., developing cadets at the U.S. Military Academy. There, tactical NCOs play a pivotal role as the academy’s military integrators — teaching, mentoring and training the cadets with a focus on leadership development and inherent responsibilities. They oversee cadets and their development in academic studies, understanding of military roles and responsibilities, and physical capabilities. All formerly platoon sergeants, drill sergeants or first sergeants, the tactical NCOs have one goal — to teach, inspire, mentor and motivate cadets to become the most prepared and qualified newly commissioned officers the U.S. military has to offer.
Article published on: Jan. 22, 2013
Toolkit: Teaching Soldiers financial readiness
By Jennifer Mattson
NCO Journal
Married couple Carole and Master Sgt. Tony Colon, who have taught financial management classes at Fort Campbell, Ky., for Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers retreats, the families of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and for their church, now help other Soldiers and their families learn about the basics of finances and budgeting. Their lessons include how to save for retirement, pay off credit card debt and establish an emergency fund.
Article published on: Jan. 17, 2013
Battle Staff NCO Course: Providing assets to the battlefield
By Staff Sgt. Jason Stadel
NCO Journal
The tactical operations center is the collective brain behind any battlefield operation. From headquarters at the battalion, up to a corps (and often higher), the TOC is a bustling network of Soldiers, computers, projectors and charts. It’s where staff sections come together to issue orders and make battlefield decisions. It’s almost a supercomputer of officers and NCOs working together to update the commander and support troops on the ground.
Article published on: Jan. 15, 2013
From the CSM: Correction should train, not humiliate
By Command Sgt. Maj. Rory L. Malloy
U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy
As members of the Army profession, we have been entrusted to defend our nation’s borders, interests and ideals. As noncommissioned officers, we have been entrusted to lead Soldiers, to train them, to teach them to be professionals. That trust is given to us by our Soldiers, their families and their loved ones. They trust that we will use our authority to make our Soldiers better — to build them up, not tear them down. One of the tools we’re given to accomplish this is corrective training.
Article published on: Jan. 10, 2013
Army Career Tracker helps Soldiers in the Army and those on way out
By Clifford Kyle Jones
NCO Journal
Several initiatives are under way to let Soldiers develop personally and professionally while they’re in the Army and to better prepare them for life after their service. And the Army Career Tracker is there to help. The online portal, originally launched in June 2011, is continually being updated to assist Soldiers and their leaders to define career goals, create and ensure timetables are met for those goals, and help fulfill objectives both inside and outside the Army.
Article published on: Jan. 8, 2013
This month in NCO History: January 16, 1942
By Michael L. Lewis
NCO Journal
Jose Calugas Sr., born in the Philippines when it was a territory of the United States, joined the Philippine Scouts of the U.S. Army in 1930. Trained as an artilleryman, he was serving as a mess sergeant in B Battery, 88th Field Artillery, as U.S. troops were withdrawing from the Bataan Peninsula in January 1942.
Article published on: Jan. 3, 2013
Humble reverence, eternal vigilance
By Michael L. Lewis
NCO Journal
Inside America's most hallowed grounds and steps away from the graves of presidents, generals and NCO heroes sits a simple tomb that contains the remains of “an American Soldier known but to God.” This anonymous Soldier, who died fighting in World War I, was later joined by other service members, each a faceless warrior whose ultimate sacrifice for his country may never be known in detail.
Article published on: Jan. 1, 2013
January 2013 Print Edition
The January 2013 issue, archived as a PDF in DVIDS, features stories on guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Army Career Tracker, the Battle Staff NCO Course, NCOs who teach the way at West Point and the history of the 40th Infantry Division.
Historical note: The NCO Journal began its transition to an online only format in November 2012. Some articles were in both Print and HTML formats. During the month of January 9 articles were posted in HTML. These articles are also found in the January 2013 Print Editon.