Army Promotion Board key terms

A statement of the duties and responsibilities of the noncommissioned officer, recited at NCO induction and professional development events. It affirms commitment to the mission, the Soldier, and the Army profession.

A planned, two-way conversation between a leader and a subordinate to review performance, set goals, and improve behavior or skills. It is documented when appropriate and focuses on the subordinate's growth.

The deliberate, continuous process of improving a Soldier's competence, character, and commitment through training, education, experience, and counseling so they can lead at the next higher level.

A voluntary, personal relationship in which a more experienced person guides a less experienced one in career, professional, and personal growth, separate from the formal rating chain.

The Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report is the formal annual performance evaluation of NCOs, documenting duties, performance, potential, and senior rater assessments used for promotion and assignment decisions.

The seven core values, Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage, that define expected character and conduct for every Soldier and are remembered by the acronym LDRSHIP.

The Soldier's commitment expressed as: I will always place the mission first, I will never accept defeat, I will never quit, and I will never leave a fallen comrade.

A shared spirit of pride, loyalty, and enthusiasm that binds members of a unit together and motivates them to serve the team above themselves.

The accepted forms of polite and respectful behavior among Soldiers, such as saluting, standing at attention, and using proper titles, which reinforce discipline and the chain of command.

The basic military posture of standing straight with heels together, feet at a 45-degree angle, arms hanging with thumbs along the seams, and head erect, used for formations and reporting.

The exchange of a salute between junior and senior members, raising the right hand to the brow and holding it until the salute is returned, used as a greeting of respect when in uniform.

Basic formation terms: an element is an individual, squad, or unit within a formation; a file is a column of troops one behind the other; a rank is troops side by side.

The rules governing how, when, and with what accessories the Army uniform is worn, including insignia placement, grooming, and appearance, set by Army regulation and enforced by all leaders.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice is the federal law that defines offenses, procedures, and punishments for service members. It applies worldwide and provides the legal basis for courts-martial.

A commander's authority under Article 15 of the UCMJ to impose limited punishment such as extra duty, restriction, or forfeiture for minor misconduct without a court-martial, with the Soldier's right to appeal.

Common nonjudicial punishments: extra duty requires additional work outside normal hours, and restriction limits the Soldier to a specified area. Both are limited in duration by the imposing commander's grade.

Additional training or instruction given by a leader to correct a deficiency, such as a drill or marksmanship error. It must be lawful, relevant to the deficiency, and not used as punishment.

The steady position, aiming, breath control, and trigger squeeze that produce accurate rifle fire. Mastering these four elements is the basis of all Army rifle marksmanship training.

The sight setting that places the bullet's trajectory within a defined vertical zone from the muzzle to a set distance, allowing Soldiers to hit targets without adjusting the sight.

Standard rules such as treating every weapon as loaded, keeping the muzzle in a safe direction, keeping the finger off the trigger until ready to fire, and clearing every weapon.

The five major terrain features, hill, valley, ridge, saddle, and depression, plus minor ones like spur, draw, and cliff, used to identify and describe ground on and off a map.

The system that identifies locations on a map by a series of letters and numbers giving increasing precision; a six-digit grid locates a point to within 100 meters.

A magnetic compass with a floating needle, lens, and sighting wire used to measure azimuths to the nearest degree and to follow a bearing in the field.

The number of steps a Soldier takes to cover 100 meters on level ground, measured and then used with a compass and known distance to navigate by dead reckoning.

The eight-step problem-solving sequence used by small-unit leaders: receive the mission, issue a warning order, make a tentative plan, start reconnaissance, complete the plan, issue the order, supervise, and refine.

The Mission Essential Task List is the set of collective tasks a unit must be able to perform to accomplish its wartime missions; it drives the unit's training plans and evaluations.

A structured, non-punitive discussion after training or an operation comparing what was planned with what happened, why it happened, and what should be improved next time.

An operation order is the formal, standardized order that conveys the situation, mission, execution, sustainment, and command and signal guidance for an operation.

The Army Combat Fitness Test measures physical readiness through six events: maximum deadlift, standing power throw, hand-release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and two-mile run.

A program that uses height, weight, and tape measurements to identify Soldiers outside the standard and places them in a monitored program of nutrition, exercise, and re-evaluation.

Training that teaches Soldiers and leaders skills such as optimism, mental agility, and character strengths so they can cope with stress and build resilience in their units.

The Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program provides training, reporting options, victim advocacy, and accountability; leaders must respond to reports and work to reduce incidents.

The senior enlisted advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army, who serves as the voice of the enlisted force on policies affecting Soldiers and their families.

The U.S. Army was established on 14 June 1775 by the Continental Congress, a date commemorated annually as the Army's birthday by units around the world.

Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben trained the Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1778 and wrote the drill regulations known as the Blue Book, the foundation of American military drill.

The systematic review of a deploying Soldier's medical, dental, legal, financial, and administrative status so that problems are identified and fixed before deployment.

A unit-sponsored organization of Soldiers' family members and volunteers that provides information, support, and social connection, especially during training and deployments.