What are some tips on memorizing the NCO Creed?

2020-06-30T21:10:58-04:00

I want to be ready for the Promotion board but I’m having difficulties getting it down

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 9:12 PM

2020-06-30T21:12:34-04:00

Just have to keep reciting it.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 9:18 PM

2020-06-30T21:18:15-04:00

I broke it into pieces. Memorized sections, and then put those pieces together.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 9:46 PM

2020-06-30T21:46:35-04:00

Read the first paragraph until you know it and are able to recite it without mistakes.
Read the second paragraph and recite the 1st and 2nd paragraph without mistakes.
Read the 3rd paragraph and recite all 3 until you have it down without mistakes.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jun 30 at 2020 10:09 PM

2020-06-30T22:09:30-04:00

I was a very new Officer and one of my sailors wanted me to do the oath of re-enlistment. Scared because normally it was the CO or XO, and here I was a junior Ensign. I spent a week just reading it over and over. Then, tried to recite it. After a couple of days had it down.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 10:14 PM

2020-06-30T22:14:09-04:00

There are recordings of it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc. I listened to someone else saying it on repeat and said it along with them til I had it down pat.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 11:35 PM

2020-06-30T23:35:27-04:00

Memorize it sentence at a time in a paragraph. Once you have all the sentences in the paragraph, then all you have to do is remember what order they are in. Also, each paragraph has a theme to it beyond starting with N.C.O.

No one is more professional than I, I am a noncomissioned officer, a leader of soldiers. As a noncomissioned officer I realize that I am a member of a time honored core, which is know as the backbone of the army. I am proud of the core and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the core regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my position for personal pleasure or profit.

This paragraph above is focused on pride of your heritage and personal ethics (or Army values, if you will).

Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be foremost in my mind: The accomplishment of my mission and the welfare of my soldiers. I will strive to remain tactically and technically proficient. All soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership. I will provide that leadership. I will communicate consistently with my soldiers and never leave them uninformed.

The second paragraph is about personal accountability both to yourself and to your soldiers, as well as what it means to be fighting fit.

Officers of my unit will have maximum time to accomplish their duties, they will not have to accomplish mine. I will earn their trust and confidence as well as that of my soldiers. I will excise initiative by taking appropriate action in the absence of orders. I will be loyal to those with whom I serve: leaders, peers, and subordinates alike. I will not compromise my integrity, nor my moral courage. I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrads to forget, that we are professionals, non-commissioned officers. leaders!

The final sentence talks about how you fit into the grander scheme of the army, and as a leader as a whole. You're a leader and a decision-maker now, and you have a responsibility to uplhold others to that too.

Please forgive me if there are some errors in my creed, that was from memory and it's been a few years since I had to recite it, and I'm typing on my phone .

The creed is more than just something you need to memorize - it really IS a creed, and contains nuggets of how to actually go about being a good NCO. Best of luck with your board.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 11:40 PM

2020-06-30T23:40:59-04:00

What we would do for Jumpmaster when we had to recite all five pages of Pre-Jump is record ourselves and play it back in the car while driving and recite along with it. Nothing helps you memorize like hearing your own voice

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jul 1 at 2020 10:21 AM

2020-07-01T10:21:55-04:00

Everyone memorizes things differently. At NCOA I just read and re-read over and over until it stuck and I still know it today.

Personally I find listening to recordings the easiest way to memorize. There's a reason why song lyrics and movie quotes are so easily recited.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWF8g4P5g-8

The NCO Creed (Loop)

Original Video: https://youtu.be/i-nABzP-fm0 https://www.instagram.com/tristanjakobc https://www.twitter.com/tristanjakobc Help support me as a creator https...

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jul 1 at 2020 11:41 AM

2020-07-01T11:41:40-04:00

Break it into segments and learn it piece by piece and add the portions together until you have it down as a whole

Response by SSG Steven Borders made Jul 1 at 2020 11:48 AM

2020-07-01T11:48:36-04:00

You can also record yourself saying and listen to it over and over when you have free time. The more you hear and say it the more you memorize it.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jul 1 at 2020 1:29 PM

2020-07-01T13:29:04-04:00

write it, then write it again, you'll be able to visualize what you wrote, and if you've missed something write it again.

Response by SGT David Shanley Jr. made Jul 1 at 2020 3:03 PM

2020-07-01T15:03:18-04:00

One paragraph at a time. I practiced completely starting over if I made a mistake. Practice being able to start any paragraph in any order. In my board I was told to stop halfway through the first, to go and start on the third paragraph, then had to finished where I left off on the first. About two sentences in the second paragraph they said I messed it up however I didn't and in saying I was confident I had it right, they admitted they were trying to get me to stumble. Got the 'GO' though. Good luck, if you do not know something just admit it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 10:43 AM

2020-07-02T10:43:08-04:00

One of the ways that worked for me was listening to the creed on a loop. It can help you learn the creed the same way you learn the words of a song. Here's a link to a YouTube video you can use.

https://youtu.be/RXC7pibo-wA
Good luck at your board!

The NCO Creed Loop #Army

Preparing for a promotion board or competition board? Need a little additional assistance to say the Noncommissioned Officer Creed with confidence? Use this ...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 11:12 AM

2020-07-02T11:12:58-04:00

Same way you memorized your General Orders - repetition. Write it out on several 3x5 cards which you can carry in your pocket. Memorize the first card, say it under your breath 10 times a day, review it. Lastly, teach it to someone who is nearing their boards. See it, say it, teach it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2020 5:33 PM

2020-07-02T17:33:58-04:00

I did it a paragraph at a time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2020 4:52 PM

2020-07-03T16:52:13-04:00

It’s on YouTube. Listen to it obère and over again. On the way to work, in the shower, ext. worked great for me.