Army History, Heritage, and Chain of Command
Origins
The Army dates from 14 June 1775, when the Continental Congress adopted the New England army. At Valley Forge, Baron von Steuben's drill and regulations - the Blue Book - turned a collection of regiments into a disciplined force and gave the NCO corps a professional identity. Saratoga in 1777 is the turning point of the Revolution; Yorktown in 1781 ended it. The Medal of Honor dates from the Civil War era, and the first Sergeant Major of the Army, William O. Wooldridge, was appointed in 1966.
The chain of command
Operational: the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Army, the Chief of Staff of the Army, then the combatant and component commanders down through division, brigade, battalion, company, and platoon.
The NCO support channel
Sergeant Major of the Army to command sergeant major to first sergeant to platoon sergeant to squad leader to team leader to Soldier. It reinforces and complements the chain of command; it does not replace it, and the SMA is not in the operational chain of command.
Traps
- Assuming the senior NCO at a level commands the unit. The commander commands; the senior NCO advises and enforces the standard.
- Mixing the Army's birthday with the Nation's birthday on 4 July.
- Describing the NCO support channel as a parallel chain of command.
Rule of thumb
If asked who is responsible, the commander is. If asked who makes the standard live every day, the NCO is.