Noncommissioned officer's creed
Encyclopedia
In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, the non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...

's creed
Creed
A creed is a statement of belief—usually a statement of faith that describes the beliefs shared by a religious community—and is often recited as part of a religious service. When the statement of faith is longer and polemical, as well as didactic, it is not called a creed but a Confession of faith...

, shortened to NCO creed, is a tool used to educate and remind enlisted leaders of their responsibilities and authority, and serves as a Code of conduct
Code of Conduct
A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the responsibilities of or proper practices for an individual, party or organization. Related concepts include ethical codes and honor codes....

. Each branch has their own version, and many have been altered over the years.

Army

In 1973, the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 was in turmoil as a result of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

 drawing to an end. One of the conceived solutions was the "Modern Volunteer Army", which included the Noncommissioned Officer Candidate Course. Many sergeants were trained only to perform one specific job, for example, squad leader
Squad leader
Squad leader in military terminology means a non-commissioned officer who is the leader of a squad . In the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, a squad leader is usually a sergeant , though a staff sergeant may also act as a squad leader.-Other meanings:* Squad Leader * Squadron...

s in infantry units, and were no longer uniformly regarded as the well-rounded professionals of previous generations. The overhaul of the NCO corps involved rewriting Field Manual 22-100: Leadership.

One of the organizations dedicated to rebuilding the NCO corps was the NCO Subcommittee of the Command and Leadership Committee in the Leadership Department at the United States Army Infantry School
United States Army Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade...

 at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...

. Besides training soldiers at the Noncommissioned Officers Academy, these NCOs also developed instructional material to be used throughout the Army. During a brainstorming session, SFC Earle Brigham was credited with writing on a sheet of paper the three letters "N C O", and the committee began building a creed, a "yardstick by which to measure themselves." When it was ultimately approved, the NCO Creed was printed on the inside cover of the special texts issued to students, beginning in 1974. Though the NCO Creed was submitted higher for approval and distribution Army-wide, it was not formalized by an official army publication until 11 years later.

The Army dedicated 2009 as the "year of the NCO".

Marine Corps

The NCO creed is part of the syllabus of the NCO Leadership Course, colloquially known as "Corporal's Course". The current version reads:
It originally read:

SNCO creed

Because the Marine Corps emphasizes the additional responsibility upon Staff Noncommissioned Officers, they have their own creed:

Navy

Air Force

See also

  • Code of the U.S. Fighting Force
  • U.S. Soldier's Creed
    U.S. Soldier's Creed
    The U.S. Soldier's Creed is a standard that all United States Army personnel are encouraged to live by. All U.S. Army enlisted personnel are taught the Soldier's Creed during basic training, and recite the creed in public ceremonies at the conclusion of training...

  • Rifleman's Creed
    Rifleman's Creed
    The Rifleman's Creed is a part of basic United States Marine Corps doctrine. Major General William H. Rupertus wrote it during World War II, probably in late 1941 or early 1942. All Marines learn the creed at recruit training and they are expected to live by it...

  • Sailor's Creed
    Sailor's creed
    The Sailor's Creed is a creed of the United States Navy, originally developed for the promotion of personal excellence.-Original version:The first version of the Sailor's Creed came from an idea in 1986 by Admiral James B. Watkins, Chief of Naval Operations, to form a group that would create a Code...

  • Airman's Creed
    Airman's Creed
    In 2007, General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, introduced the Airman's Creed. In a letter introducing the creed, Moseley wrote that one of his "top priorities" was to "reinvigorate the warrior ethos in every Airman of our Total Force." Thus, the intent of the creed was...

  • Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman
    Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman
    The Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman was written by Vice Admiral Harry G. Hamlet, who served as Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1932 to 1936...

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