What questions would you like to see on an NCO Academy Pre-Test?

Top this may not be in the order or subject matter you are looking for but SGT's on up should be competent in:
1) Know their MOS with a working knowledge of any peripheral MOS's in their assigned unit
2) Training, Mentoring and searching for the next members of the NCO Corp
3) People skills, talking to Soldiers without tearing them up every time as you would want to be spoken to.
4) Screening future NCO's (at the promotion boards)so we don't allow a cancer to grow in the corp and destroy all that has been done good.
5) Interpersonal skill sets with Officers, learning how to develop NCO/Officer team work and if need be how to get the Officer COC to fix the broken ones.
6) Teach NCO's that there is a line between being ones buddy and being ones leader, that line seems to get blurred to much over the decades.
7) Taking a hit for your troops when they screw up so that they can learn before they get burned to the ground by some egotistical leader (In name only) that is looking for a fall guy/gal

While I was a Line NCO for many years and never wanted staff time I found latter in life every NCO should have both in their tool box to be well rounded and to pick up additional skill sets. If you stay your whole career on the line or behind the desk you are cheating yourself and not seeking new knowledge. My staff time taught me so many things that I was able to use when I went back to the line and helped me to help others. I never did learn any good social skills and I still piss many folks off but I consider that a bonus now :)

Good knowledge of where to guide soldiers in need of any kind of assistance.

How to act professionally and treat others right without constantly reverting to "douchbaggery."

Good knowledge of MOS and basic soldier skills and troop leading procedures.

Great question 1SG. In my last assignment I had a few Soldiers make the transition from junior enlisted to NCO (SGT) and I found myself asking them several times “Didn’t they teach that in BLC?”. I don’t think the focus needs to be MOS training, save that for ALC. 1- Really teach counseling, developmental, closeout, etc. This should also include NCOER Support Form development. Now that 623-3 requires NCOs to prepare thier own SF after being provided thier Rater and SR Support Forms. 2- The forgotten skill of supervision! Nothing drive me more crazy than an NCO who doesn’t understand thier role and the value of supervision! I’ve seen young (and some senior) NCOs Tell a Soldier to do something then head back to thier office and think they are supervising. I had a recent discussion with one of my young E-5 and was surprised that they thought that was “micromanaging”. I reminded them that they don’t manage, they supervise and that means they have to observe, evaluate, and provide direction when supervising Soldiers on the job. How are NCOs assessing Soldier proficiency if they aren’t watching them?! How are you teaching, coaching, and mentoring if you have never observed your Soldiers in action? The fine art of proper supervision has been lost. 3- Lastly, NCOs need to back to basics, running a formation, leading Soldiers in PRT, conducting field training, proper instruction (not PPT in the office), and conducting inspections (Soldier Readiness). I have yet to see the old practice (which worked!) of NCOs conducting inspections. TA-50, ASU, Room, etc. It’s seems that these skills have not been passed on by the Senior NCO Corps.

What is the most important asset in your unit? Answer: "Your Personnel"

I would like to see some sort of warrior skills qualification test done somewhere in mid-career education. I suppose this could be conducted at unit or BN level. Maybe have lanes run once every 6 months or so, and after an NCO is certified, it is good for 12 months and presenting the certificate is a in-processing requirement like your APFT card and equipment inventory.

"Give me examples of how you have mentored and helped develop Junior Officers."

As a former PLDC SGL and Platoon Sergeant, it varied by soldier and what unit they came from in large part. It was easy to spot those that had zero or almost zero mentorship. I spent plenty of time calling 1SGs and asking why the pre-execution checklist appendix H was signed when it was painfully obvious they didn't use it.
To answer the question though, troop leading procedures, AR 670-1, ability to conduct a training class , and of course counseling were all woefully inadequate.
It was too easy to pick out the ones that had first line leaders or unit training to prepare them.
Frankly a good many Senior NCOs should be embarrassed for the lack of prep the put SMs through for the course.
Setting a s#/+ example right off the bat. No surprise how far our beloved Corps has fallen sadly.
Select promote train really did a negative number on the Corps. I saw the transition in late 90s into first half of 2000s and it was distinct in our student population. Less prepared and less qualified.

1. A.
2. A.

I don’t know how revenant this is in today’s Army but when I was a senior instructor at the I-Corps NCO Academy at Ft Levi’s in the early 80’s, the greatest weaknesses among non-combat arms soldiers was Land Navigation. Not knowing the basics of reading a map or using a compass. More PLDC failures were due to failing the written test and the second most cause of failing was completing the land navigation course on Ross Hill. The next in line was a basic lack of drill and ceremony. Our greatest fun was putting someone in front of a squad and have them march them around the barracks area. It was surprising how many E4’s, 5’s and 6’s couldn’t conduct D&C.

1SG James,
I personally agree with what the rest have said. It's basically going to the fundamentals. However, I would suggest to include questions that touch the unit's mission. What's the purpose of your unit and what critical roles are filled that impact the over all mission of the BN, BDE, Div, etc. That can start spiking interest about the strategic relevance of the unit.

That would probably be more for the Senior population but it doesn't hurt to introduce Junior NCO's to that level. It was an eye opener for me when I understood the "big picture" when I worked in a G-4 staff. It tremendously benefited me as a logistician.