When I served, women didn’t have the right to vote. -Anne Pedersen Freeman, who served as a Yeoman in WWI, address at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, 22 Jun 1995, Register, Fall 1995, p. 7

Soldiers have a very powerful tool called a "v-o-t-e." Make use of it. Make sure you register. Then make sure you use it very wisely. -SMA Gene C. McKinney, "Winds of Change." Pentagram, 13 Oct 1995, p. 3

The Army and The Nation

In any military action, this country must be united behind the act of war because the price to pay is the sacrifice of its most valuable possessions- its sons and daughters. -MSG Roy Benavidez, Medal of Honor, 1995, p. 170

The Army...mirrors the nation. -SGT Jack F. Holden, "The Role of the NCO in Our Changing Army." Infantry, Jul-Sep 1959, p. 62

Those people who want to cut the defense budget to the bone need to realize that when we get involved in conflict, the youth of America will pay for our short-sightedness. They’re the ones who will have to hold the ground. -SMA Glen E. Morrell, "Sergeant to Sergeant." Sergeants’ Business, May-Jun 1987, p. 4

The American soldier...is unbeatable in war.... We cannot give the American soldier too much credit.... He deserves everything we can do for him and he deserves all the respect we can show him.... Whether or not a war is popular among the nation’s people, and whether or not it is supported by the legislators, has no bearing on what the soldiers do and think. They perform their duties magnificently and bravely. They don’t make the policies, and they don’t declare war. But they fight, they bleed, and they die. And they do it unhesitatingly. They should be appreciated and recognized for it, without regard for the political aspects of the war. -SMA George W. Dunaway, Center of Military History Interview, 1990, pp. 41, 65

It is very difficult for a nation to create an army when it has not already a body of officers and non-commissioned officers to serve as a nucleus, and a system of military organization. -Napoleon, The Military Maxims of Napoleon, 1827, p. 425

As a rule it is easy to find officers, but it is sometimes very hard to find noncommissioned officers. -Napoleon, 1809, The Mind of Napoleon, p. 218

Soldiers who wear NCO’s chevrons on their sleeves represent a unique Army strength. -Secretary of the Army John O. Marsh, GEN Carl E. Vuono, and SMA Julius W. Gates, letter "The 1989 Army Theme: The NCO." Sergeants’ Business, Mar-Apr 1989, inside front cover

The Noncommissioned Officer Corps is...the rock upon which our nation’s security is built. They are the leaders, trainers, standard-bearers, and disciplinarians who have made the Army the cornerstone of our national military strategy.... The NCO corps makes a difference in peace and makes a difference in war, and when we send soldiers to battle it is the NCO corps that will make the difference with those soldiers, with our units, with our Army.... Leaders who can influence the course of battle- from squad level up- have been a traditional strength of our Army. -GEN Carl E. Vuono, Collected Works, 1991, pp. 187, 98, 110

When General [Creighton Abrams interviewed me for the job of SMA] he asked me what I would do to get our Army moving again if I were chief of staff. I told him the success of the Army is in direct proportion to the involvement of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps. -SMA Leon L. Van Autreve, "As I See It." Soldiers, Jul 1975, p. 7

The Mission of the Army

The Army is charged specifically to organize, train, and equip forces to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations on land. The Army’s ability to do so gives the President additional options to execute the nation’s foreign policy. Landpower can help avoid nuclear confrontation, respond to conflicts across the entire spectrum of violence, and deter conventional conflict by raising to an unacceptable level the risks to a potential enemy. -"NCO Professional Development: A Report to the NCO Corps." Sergeants’ Business, Feb 1986, p. 14

The Army must be prepared to cope with a broad spectrum of threats to the nation’s security. These threats range from terrorism and low intensity conflict to general war.... The nature of the threat today is changing and the Army’s ability to respond worldwide takes on special significance. -NCOPD Study, Vol 1, 1986, pp. 23, 187

The NCO Corps is what makes our Army dif ferent. We are the envy of every other army because of our NCOs. Everyone wants to know our secret, but I tell them it’s really no secret. Our success lies in our people. There are no shortcuts- you can’t make an NCO overnight. You must first have quality NCOs who are motivated to get the job done. -GEN Dennis J. Reimer, "Our Soldiers Over There in Bosnia Are Doing Us Proud." NCO Journal, Summer 1996, p. 21

If you see troops on the ground you know America means business. -SGT Jordan, quoted by GEN Gordon R. Sullivan, Collected Works, 1996, p. 333

Readiness

We must be prepared to pay the price of peace, or assuredly we shall pay the price of war. -Harry S. Truman (former CPL and CPT), address to Congress 1948, Harry S. Truman: The Man from Missouri, p. 10

Disarmament would do it if everybody would disarm but everybody won’t. I’m strong for preparedness. I think the better equipped we are along military lines the less chance we have of getting into a war with some other nation. -Alvin York, 1934, Sergeant York: An American Hero, pp. 100-101

The six challenges we faced to insure the readiness of the Army in the 1980s: train our soldiers to tough, measurable standards; standardize how we train; good plans; train smart and share the load; focus on what is important; train and coach subordinates. -SMA William A. Connelly, "NCOs: It’s Time to Get Tough." ARMY, Oct 1981, p. 29

The noncommissioned officer corps is the key to the strength and readiness of the Army National Guard. -Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer Handbook, 1989, p. 2

You can see [combat readiness] on the faces of the soldiers. -CSM Ron R. Semon and LTC Cole C. Kingseed, "Instilling Pride." NCO Journal, Winter 1993, p. 5

Readiness of the Army is an enlisted issue- not an officer issue, not an equipment issue. To have a trained and ready Army, you have to have the combat boots on the ground. And for that, NCO leadership is the key. -LTG Theodore G. Stroup, "The Drawdown Has Overall Benefitted the NCO Corps." NCO Journal, Summer 1996, p. 22

The Value of Army Life

There is no place on earth where a man gets fuller credit for every reasonable effort, or where exposure to danger is so liberally rewarded as among his comrades in the army. -1SG Percival G. Lowe, Five Years a Dragoon [1849-1854], p. 52

To have "been to the wars" is a life-long honor, increasing with advancing years. -Customs of Service for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers, 1865, p. 256

There are just no words to describe the self-satisfied high you receive when you know that by getting a young man or woman to enlist you are really giving them an opportunity to succeed in life if they use the benefits the Army offers. -SFC Thomas J. Tiernan, "Recruiting Tomorrow’s NCOs." INSCOM, Aug-Sep 1989, p. 76

Military training taught me responsibility, promptness and self-control, which I found useful in my long business career and as an employer. The out-of-door life for ten years fortified me in health, which has lasted to the present day and for which I am most grateful. I have much to be thankful for and little to regret. -SGT Augustus Meyers, Ten Years in the Ranks U.S. Army [1854-1866], p. 351

The sense of satisfaction experienced by the noncommissioned officer who appreciates the responsibility of his position, who does his duty faithfully and loyally, and who, as a result, knows and feels that he has the respect and admiration of his fellow-soldiers and the confidence and good-will of his officers- such a sense of satisfaction is something that riches can not buy and it means everything to the man of true soldierly instinct. -Noncommissioned Officers’ Manual, 1917, pp. 17-18

The Army does just what the slogan says- it builds MEN...strengthening them or eliminating weak points they may have; laying a foundation by forming a character of honesty, truthfulness, and morality; rearing a structure of good, healthy, sound bone and sinew on the foundation; and putting on a roof containing a trained brain, trained to think, to reason logically, trained to judge men, to classify them, to make allowances for human frailties and to distinguish the frailties from pure devilment. Then it puts on the paint. The outside coat consists of poise and personality, the inside coat of self-confidence, discipline, and assertiveness. -a MSG, "The U.S. Army Builds Men." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 1 Jun 1925, p. 2

If they only taught one to shoot a gun I would say the Army is not worthwhile. But one is taught citizenship, discipline, the power of organization, personal hygiene, and many other useful trades in the Army and Navy which prepares one for useful citizenship in any community. -CPT Vance Marchbanks (former 1SG), in "1SG Vance Marchbanks: A Buffalo Soldier NCO." 1927, NCO Journal, Summer 1995, p. 19

Nobody in his right mind [wants to be at war], but remembering the freedom of service life, the strange sights and smells...the uncertainty of tomorrow, and the romance of distant lands and seas. They have their hazards, but once you’ve trodden the wild ways you never quite get them out of your system. -George MacDonald Fraser (former Lance-CPL), WWII, Quartered Safe Out Here, p. 171

A life worth living is the life worth while, and the Army offers such a life.... We want the man who loves to travel, who loves strange sights and strange countries, who wants to learn to take care of himself, who wants to fit himself to buck the world, no matter how hard the bucking is. [The Army offers] every opportunity for...every conceivable form of athletics, every conceivable form of entertainment, every conceivable opportunity for self education, every opportunity to travel to see the world, to BE A MAN AMONG MEN. -MSG M. W. Fischer, "The Man the Army Wants." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 1 Feb 1925, p. 5

Just exactly what does one expect of a career? First, we all aspire to work at a job or profession that will give us a good livelihood, that will not fold up in midstream; in other words, security. But that is not enough- slaves have that much! In addition the work must be something that we can do well and enjoy doing, something in which we can take pride of accomplishment; in other words, satisfaction. For another thing, we do not want to stand still, we want to progress, to get ahead; in other words, advancement. Moreover, we like to be recognized and respected by our fellow citizens; we like to get honor and recognition now and then. Also some people like a dash of excitement to keep life from getting dull.... Nothing is more important than contentment in one’s life work, no matter how secure the job and no matter how good the pay.... The Army offers a satisfying, full life, with incentive for advancement and training and all the other opportunities one expects of a career. -MSG William J. Daly, "The Army as a Career." Army Information Digest, Feb 1952, pp. 40-42

"Be all you can be!" is not just a recruiting slogan. It is also a message to the young people of America, and it tells them that the challenge is in the Army. -CSM John M. Stephens, "Can Armor Be All It Can Be?" Armor, Nov-Dec 1985, p. 7

I like soldiers, as a class in life, better than any other description of men. Their conversation is more pleasing to me; they have generally seen more than other men; they have less of vulgar prejudice about them. Amongst soldiers, less than amongst any other description of men, have I observed the vices of lying and hypocrisy. -William Cobbett, who enlisted in the British army in 1784, and rose from private to Member of Parliament, in Rank and File, pp. 410-411

Recruiting and Retention

Any canvasser that successfully sells the Army must himself believe in the Army. Then he can look the prospect in the eye and convince him that the service is an excellent place to go to learn a trade.... I always make it a point to look the prospect square in the eye when dealing with him, for I believe I can be more convincing when I have the full attention of the prospect.... Think Army, talk Army, boost and believe in the Army. -SGT John C. Cherry, "Secrets of Success." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 12 Feb 1921, p. 1

A recruiter who is filled with confidence radiates that fact. The prospect feels the attitude of the recruiter and is very responsive to it. -CPL Frank C. Martin, "Recruiters Are Salesmen for the Army." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 1 May 1923, p. 11

Recruiting...in the heart of the business section of the city produces excellent results. Every variety of applicant. Both foreign and native born is encountered here. The grey haired veteran of the Civil War enquires if we are taking any old codgers, while the slim, growing lad, who wishes to get away from the city life is also much in evidence. -SGT Edward C. Dayve, in "How Sergeant Dayve Gets ’Em!" U.S. Army Recruiting News, 1 Apr 1922, p. 2

We have found during our publicity activities that to depend on one method of advertising the Army is certain to prove of little value. New ideas must enter into the recruiting campaign to attract attention, and to get the Army actively before the public requires much work and forethought.... The more you get the army before the public the more enlistments and better results will you have.... A district that is not carrying on a live-wire publicity campaign is standing still. -SSG Joseph F. Maher, "Publicity Pointers for the Recruiters." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 15 Sep 1925, pp. 11, 15

When a young man walks along the street in mid-July mopping his perspiring brow and panting with the sultry heat, he is bound to be affected by seeing an Army A-board depicting Alaskan scenes, or soldiers disporting on the famous beach at Waikiki. By the same token, when the icicles are hanging from the wires and a chap is bent double bucking a storm of hail and sleet, his attention is just bound to be arrested by the sight of an Army poster showing Regulars playing baseball under the swaying palms of Panama or the Philippines. -CPT Vernon C. DeVotie, quoted by SGT Herbert E. Smith, "How Newark Produces Results." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 15 Jun 1928, p. 4

The art of being a [recruiting] station commander and a leader requires NCOmanship. -MSG Gerald Williams, "NCOmanship." Recruiting & Career Counseling, Jun 1975, p. 20

A stranger coming into a cheerful [recruiting] office is at once heartened. -1SG Lutz, in "How Newark Produces Results." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 15 Jun 1928, p. 4

The best recruiting tool we have is a reserve soldier who feels he or she is making a meaningful contribution; being trained well to do the job and who relates that satisfaction to friends at work and in the community. -SMA William A. Connelly, "The Soldier Remains Our Ultimate Weapon." ARMY, Oct 1979, p. 24

Have a conversation with the full-time recruiter who supports your unit and ask how you can play a part in your unit’s recruiting program. -Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer Handbook, 1989, p. C-22

The field recruiter...is the link in the chain that holds the entire United States Army and Army Reserve together. -CSM Ernest H. Hickle, "The Ultimate Weapon." Recruiter, Nov 1991, p. 21

Along with drill sergeants, recruiters are hand-picked. They’re in the public eye, have to live by the highest standards. For the most part, they’re working on their own. Recruiters must be upbeat so that young civilians can immediately see the pride that goes into being an NCO. -CSM Henry J. Goodwin, "TRADOC." Army Trainer, Fall 1989, p. 12

An investigation ordered by the adjutant-general’s office May 31, 1906, disclosed the fact that the most efficacious method of advertising was the sight of the recruiting flag and station. -MAJ Wilmot E. Ellis, "What Is the Cause of the Recent Falling Off in the Enlisted Strength of the Army and Navy, and What Means Should Be Taken to Remedy It?" Journal of the Military Service Institution, Mar-Apr 1909, p. 179

[The recruiter in a new place] should visit all the newspapers, postoffice, city hall, court house, fire stations, and railroad stations, and leave one of his recruiting cards at each place. He should also call upon the Grand Army of the Republic, United Spanish War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Guard, Organized Reserves, and R.O.T.C.... He will get the recruiting flag out as soon as possible. Until a flag pole is installed, raise the front window, throw the flag nearly all of the way out and let the window down on it. -1SG Wilmer Blackett, "The Operation of Recruiting Stations." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 1 Mar 1923, p. 11

Confidence and satisfaction developed through meaningful training will cause soldiers to reenlist. It will cause soldiers who return to hometown USA to become our most effective recruiters by using positive word-of-mouth influence. -SMA Julius W. Gates, "From the Top." Army Trainer, Fall 1989, p. 4

[NCOs] are the ones who make a difference in the retention of the young soldier because...the soldier looks to his sergeant for guidance, counseling, coaching, teaching, and just to lean on when things are not going so well. -GEN Carl E. Vuono, Collected Works, 1991, p. 48

I stayed in [the Army] because a number of great NCOs and officers really showed me what the Army is all about: the camaraderie, the cohesiveness, the duty, honor, and country. -SMA Richard A. Kidd, in "Sgt. Maj. of Army Speaks on NCOs, Leadership, the Army Ten-Miler." Pentagram, 10 Oct 1991, p. 3

Some Things Never Change

Brawling. Today a brawl developed between the various Pennsylvania Troops, German and Irish. The German Troops rigged up a grotesque Paddy, and displayed it in Camp. This caused the Irish to be indignant, but, ascribing it to New England Troops, proceeded to wreak their vengeance upon them. His Excellency [GEN Washington] quashed it and ordered a grog for all. -1778, Ordeal at Valley Forge, p. 186

Too Many Details. The troop wants the men to help out with the guard duty, to ease up on the stable and kitchen police, to fill out the fatigue details. The first sergeant wants Recruit JONES as troop clerk; the captain needs BROWN, who is a tinner, to make some things for the troop; the quartermaster would like ROBINSON as a carpenter; and the adjutant must have SOLOMON LEVI to learn the cornet in the band. -1LT Frederick S. Foltz, "The Training of the Recruit." Journal of the U.S. Cavalry Association, Mar 1895, p. 185

Food Fights. Orders are pasted together in convenient form and with the Articles of War are read at each meal by the noncommissioned officer in charge of quarters, or some one duly detailed, who obtains his meals before the troop eats. While orders are being read men are forbidden to engage in conversation except that necessary to obtain a supply of food. While of course this requirement is frequently violated, I presume some things are accomplished, viz: better deportment and the infrequent indulgence in boisterous or profane language, horse play, throwing articles of food, etc. -CPT William T. Littebrant, "The Squad System." Journal of the U.S. Cavalry Association, Oct 1904, p. 332

Griping. It has always been a soldier’s habit and privilege to grumble. I suppose there is as much grumbling to-day in the army as there was in former times. -SGT Augustus Meyers, Ten Years in the Ranks U.S. Army [1854-1866], p. 352

The "Old" Army

We didn’t expect up-to-date living quarters back in the [1880’s], with recreation rooms and shower baths. If we wanted amusement, we went outside and wrestled or threw rocks at somebody’s old campaign hat, or just played poker and told stories. As for heated barracks, soft beds, and a cafeteria style mess hall- there weren’t any such things. We were glad enough to have adobe barracks to live in now and then during the coldest weather. Most of the time we lived out of doors and slept on the ground. When we were in barracks, we had iron bunks with wooden slats. We got an empty bed tick that we could fill with straw, when anybody could find any straw to fill one with. As for chow, it wasn’t anything like they have now. Then we lived on just Government straight and nothing else. It was beans, bacon, beef, and bread, and no trimmings whatever, every day and Sunday too. Night after night, I had bread and coffee for supper. -SGM Bertram Follinsby, in "Reilly’s First Sergeant Still Carries On." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 15 Sep 1927, p. 4

I don’t like the "new" Army. It’s too slack. -77-year-old 1SG Henry Heinrichs, "Two Old Comrades Meet." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 15 Oct 1929, p. 9

Problem Days

As any first sergeant can tell you, some days you eat the bear and some days the bear eats you. And the bear’s turn usually comes when you least expect it. [When 1SG Joe] Golden walked into his office that morning, the day’s first message sent him running out of the office and up the stairs to the billets. When he returned, he was scowling and shaking his head. He announced to no one in particular and everyone in general the reason for his displeasure and the contents of the message that had sent him so hastily up the stairs. "I can’t believe the brigade commander walked through the billets and no one paid any attention to him." As Golden sat down, he spotted another message on his desk. The staff duty officer had reported that one of Golden’s soldiers had been goofing off on guard... -SGM Mike Mason, "Top Duty." Soldiers, Jul 1984, pp. 8, 9

It’s eight o’clock and the sergeant major hasn’t called, so I guess everything’s going OK. -1SG Walter Cason, in "Top Duty." Soldiers, Jul 1984, p. 8

RHIP (Rank Has Its Privileges). I give thanks to Sarapis and good fortune that while the others are working hard all day cutting stones, I am now a principalis and stand around doing nothing. -Roman NCO Julius Apollinaris, letter home 107 AD, The Roman Soldier, p. 78 and The Army of the Caesars, p. 240

The Youth of Today

The Army of [the 1880s] was still predominated by the spirit of the veterans of the Civil War, and these stern old campaigners who had stormed the heights at Shiloh and faced the belching cannon at Gettysburg had a way of looking at the younger soldiers as impossible material. -"Reilly’s First Sergeant Still Carries On." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 15 Sep 1927, p. 4

Modern perfection of rapid transit and communication, coupled with the present low ebb of the efficiency of parents has a dangerously demoralizing effect on the youth of the present age. -SSG Ray H. Duncan, "The Value of Military Training." U.S. Army Recruiting News, 1 Mar 1925, p. 4

Helping Soldiers. [After assisting 1SG Frank Copley in unauthorized actions to help a soldier, I asked the 1SG] if he wanted me to break any other regulations that evening. He said he could not think of anything at the moment, but he preferred to refer to the incident as bending regulations. I should not worry about going to Leavenworth, he said, because he had an old buddy who was provost sergeant at the disciplinary barracks there, and he would make sure I got a good cell. -COL John J. Betz, "1st Sgt. Frank Copley: A Brown Shoe Army NCO Remembered." ARMY, Nov 1989, p. 51

Soldiers and Officers. The men and officers...became engaged in a battle of wits.... Most officers were college graduates, some with advanced degrees, the products of the Command and General Staff College, even the National War College, the heirs of Washington, Grant, Lee, Pershing, Eisenhower, and Patton. Were we to be outmaneuvered by privates and corporals? Apparently yes.... Officers have been trying for hundreds of years to outsmart soldiers and have still not learned that it cannot be done. -GEN Colin L. Powell, My American Journey, 1995, pp. 215, 216