Show 6 non compare comsh are real backbone of U S arm army corporals sergeants need leadership ability character special to western newspaper union washington the backbone of the army is the noncom in uncle sams new army of men approximately soldiers will be noncommissioned officers selective service men will wear a substantial number of these chev rons of leadership parents of soldiers who wear chevrons che should be proud says george C marshall fourstar four star general and chief of staff of our army it is a fighting army uncle sam is developing and these noncommissioned officers have taken the first step upward in the chain of command which starts with the two stripe corporal and in the military service ends with the four stars worn by general marshall in addition to the soldiers holding warrants as noncommissioned officers are rated as first class privates with consequent increases in pay and responsibility another medium available for the recognition of aptitude and devotion to duty in our army are specialist ratings A total of soldiers are rated as specialists with increases in pay ranging from to per month while every man with the colors will benefit from his service those men who aho are promoted will develop traits of character which will be of tremendous value to them on their return to civil life general marshall said character ability important all ali noncommissioned officers are appointed by regimental or similar commanders on the basis of recommendations ions made by the soldiers immediate superior these men are specially selected and seniority carries little weight character and demonstrated ability are essential attributes general marshall continued grave responsibilities are placed on the shoulders of these soldiers as indicated in the opening sentence of their warrants reposing special trust and confidence in the fidelity and abilities of reads the opening sentence which continues 1 I do strictly charge and require all noncommissioned officers and soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders the document continues throughout the worlds military history commanders have ever relied upon the resourcefulness fortitude and strength of character of the noncommissioned officer in philip of Mace macedonian Macedonia donias 3 early greek army it was the chagos Lo while in caesars caesara Cae sars roman army it was the degurian Dec urian who carried those forces through to victory napoleon recognized the importance of the enlisted man and noncommissioned officer stating that every soldier carries a marshals baton in his knapsack general marshall observed that in many respects the strength of character of noncommissioned officers must be as great or greater than that of commissioned officers the noncom non com lives with his men 24 hours a day and participates participate s in every phase of their lives despite this familiarity which the old adage declares breeds contempt the noncom must demonstrate that he is a better man not physically but mentally the officer in maintaining discipline is armored with a certain degree of aloofness this simplifies his task of maintaining disciplined discipline but the corporal living with his squad of some eight or twelve men is on his own enhance self respect many of our citizens feel that the noncommissioned officers task is simplified because of the support he always receives from officers however the new army we are developing ve is not an army where fear of punishment is the right arm of discipline general marshall said it is an army where every eff effort ort is made to enhance the soldiers self respect consequently the noncom must ever be alert to curb any possible tendency to violate the code of the american soldier instead of waiting to report violations of orders with possible disciplinary action the corporal by example and straight talk prevents these dere fictions which so vitally affect a military organization should our armies have to take the field in defense of american liberties the responsibilities of corporals and sergeants would be tremendous in order to develop their military qualifications for command these non coms attend schools and one of the basic points emphasized is that the leaders who permit one of their men to be killed needlessly is a murderer with such high standards it is apparent that the character development which accompanies appointment as noncommissioned officer is a factor which will pay dividends in both civil and military life the road leading to a commission and further advancement in the army is also open to enlisted men and on july 1 1941 10 officers candidate schools will open in various parts of the country A total of 2300 warrant officers and enlisted men all with at least six months service will attend these schools men successfully completing the course will be commissioned as second lieutenants it is probable that the majority of these students will be noncommissioned officers for they have already demonstrated their worthiness for promotion in the army as in civil life increased responsibility is rewarded by increased pay all of the men now entering the service start with base pay of 2100 per month at the end of four months service their pay is increased to per month unless inefficiency or other unfitness indicates that the soldier is unworthy of receiving extra compensation pensa tion the next promotion is to first class private carrying an afi advance of per month from first class privates the corporals are selected and they receive p per er month pay of other noncommissioned grades are sergeant per month staff sergeant per month first or technical sergeant and master sergeant |