NCO Journal October 2014 Articles
The official magazine of noncommissioned officer professional development
This Month in NCO History: Oct. 19, 1899 — Taking the Bridge near San Isidro
By Pablo Villa
As a scout, Sgt. Charles W. Ray often saw danger before most Soldiers in his unit did. On Oct. 19, 1899, Ray not only laid eyes on a perilous situation near San Isidro on the Philippine island of Luzon, he went headlong into it. While leading a reconnaissance mission with 12 Soldiers of I Company of the 22nd U.S. Infantry during the Philippine-American War, Ray and his group fought a large Filipino force in a battle for a key bridge that traversed the Pampanga River. His actions that day earned him and a fellow Soldier the nation’s highest honor.
Article published on: Oct 30, 2014
AMEDD School Reaps Benefits from Project Warrior NCOs
By Pablo Villa
NCO Journal
Knowledge sustainment is a key tenet of today’s Army. That notion is not only harbored by the NCOs that are part of the Project Warrior program at the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School, or AMEDDC&S, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, it is practiced on another level.
Article published on: Oct 28, 2014
Mentoring in Liberia Leads to Respect for Female NCOs
By Rick Scavetta
Installation Management Command
MONROVIA, Liberia — When Sgt. 1st Class Shawnte Reynolds first walked down the dusty lanes at Edward Binyah Kesselly barracks, Liberian soldiers offered only stares and double-takes.
Article published on: Oct 23, 2014
USARAF’s Gender Integration Efforts Lead to Regional Seminar Involving 7 African Nations
By Meghan Portillo
NCO Journal
Armies in several African nations are in the early stages of integrating females into their defense forces. To do this successfully, they have turned to U.S. Army Africa for help.
Article published on: Oct 21, 2014
Fort McCoy NCO Academy Trains ‘Today’s Leaders’ for Army Reserve
By Jonathan (Jay) Koester
NCO Journal
Tucked into rural Wisconsin, neighboring Amish farms and a few small towns is an NCO academy quietly going about the business of creating the future NCO leaders for the U.S. Army Reserve.
Article published on: Oct 14, 2014
Special Forces NCO, U.S. Army Pacific Soldier Named Winners of 2014 Best Warrior Competition
By Michael L. Lewis
NCO Journal
After four days of grueling physical, mental and emotional challenges that included a 12-mile ruck march followed by a written exam, reacting to man-to-man contact in the midst of a near-riot, evacuating a casualty while wearing the most restrictive chemical-protection gear and appearing before a board that included the sergeant major of the Army, two competitors outshone the rest at the 2014 U.S. Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va.: Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Carpenter, the 2014 U.S. Army NCO of the Year, and Spc. Thomas Boyd, the 2014 U.S. Army Soldier of the Year.
Article published on: Oct 10, 2014
Best Warrior Day 3: Competition Tightens as NCOs Make their Board Appearances
By Michael L. Lewis
NCO Journal
After an exhausting Tuesday that tested competitors’ ability to apply Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills in real-world situations, the third day of the 2014 Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va., Wednesday saw those vying for NCO of the Year separate from those seeking to become Soldier of the Year.
Article published on: Oct 9, 2014
On Day 2, Best Warrior Competitors Tackle Long Marches, Hostile Villagers and the ‘Fun Box’
By Michael L. Lewis
NCO Journal
After a Monday full of administrative details, essay writing and being introduced to each other and the week’s schedule, the 28 competitors of the 2014 U.S. Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va., were eager Tuesday to begin what is perhaps the most physically challenging day of competition. Roused hours before sunrise from their cots at their makeshift forward operating base on Fort Lee’s range complex, the competitors rode in the back of trucks to the day’s first event, the Army Physical Fitness Test. But it would be the last time they’d travel on wheels that day.
Article published on: Oct 8, 2014
Organizers, Competitors, SMA Ready to find out who is the Army’s Best Overall NCO and Soldier
By Michael L. Lewis
NCO Journal
They’ve come from 14 commands from throughout the world — 14 NCOs of the Year and 14 Soldiers of the Year — ready to tackle what is billed as the pinnacle soldiering competition: the 2014 U.S. Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va. By week’s end, the two who best prove their proficiency, agility, strength and smarts will be named the 2014 Department of the Army NCO of the Year and Soldier of the Year. But first, they must endure a gauntlet of events that is expected to test every facet of being a U.S. Army Soldier.
Article published on: Oct 6, 2014