The Backbone of the Army

War brings opportunity is a well-known saying. What many failed to realize is that these opportunities can exist within the U.S. Army promotion system. Following WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam there were large increases in the numbers of Army noncommissioned officers. This was mostly due to regular combat attrition and to many senior enlisted NCOs leaving the military. Many of these new NCOs lacked training, discipline and overall understanding of their roles. As a result, officers began executing duties that should have been completed by NCOs. This led to perhaps the saddest result of the increases in NCOs numbers, the loss of prestige and authority of the noncommissioned officers.