Why doesn't the Army promote knowing the NCO Charge the same way they promote knowing the NCO Creed?

2021-08-28T16:19:58-04:00

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2021 4:59 PM

2021-08-28T16:59:40-04:00

You will soon learn that there are so many creeds, stanzas, charges, and acronyms in the Army that you are supposed to remember that it's just impossible. I would have to spend an hour reciting creeds in the morning every day to remember all of them that apply to me. Hell, the Soldier creed has changed since I first joined and the Career Counselor Creed and Ranger Creed have two versions. If you ask me any creed today I can only recite the real Ranger Creed, and nothing else.

The reason is simple, you have a limited amount of time and resources so you invest it in what you think will stick.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2021 6:10 PM

2021-08-28T18:10:48-04:00

What would that show, other than an ability to use rote memory to learn the words before a board?

A good NCO will embody the spirit of the creed and charge. They will know they are the backbone of the Army, that they are leaders and trainers. They will know they need to always stride to maintain tactical and mental proficiency, they will know that their officers will not have to do their jobs. Senior E4s are largely considered on how much they already possess those traits and the potential to grow and refine those ideals.

Personally, I would recommend a Soldier who was already showing these elements, but stumbled a bit on reciting the words, over someone that is good at putting on a false front of spit and polish and window dressing, who could recite the words perfectly but has not been observed ever really embodying those words on a daily basis

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2021 6:22 PM

2021-08-28T18:22:16-04:00

Ive always been of the mindset that as long as you know WHAT the Creed means, if you UNDERSTAND it, then that's all that is needed. Reciting something doesn't always equate to knowing

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2021 8:37 PM

2021-08-29T20:37:44-04:00

I think the Army chose what they felt as important. Maybe the creed holds more weight than a charge. Besides, why remember something that essentially tells you the same thing the Soldiers Creed mentions, Warrior Ethos, and the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer anyways? How many things do we need to committ to memory to help the leader realize how important his/her role is? Just my two cents.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2021 7:29 PM

2021-09-01T19:29:48-04:00

I don't think it is about committing it to memory as much as it is introducing it and promoting it to Junior NCO's. Personally every NCO in my Company gets a printed and signed version of the Creed and Charge upon promotion. It is read from the paper not memory, establishing to the entire Company the status change from Junior Soldier to NonCommissioned Officer. Also affirming the roles and responsibilities associated with the new rank and position, after all we as NCOs are not "creeded" into positions of authority we are "charged" with responsibility.

Response by CSM William Everroad made Sep 2 at 2021 11:43 AM

2021-09-02T11:43:06-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member, I think the issue is that some units don't promote the NCO Charge at all. I have visited other units' and the charge is not mentioned nor is it given at promotion. Some units have infrequent NCO Inductions and, to me, this reduces the professionalism of the NCO Corps. The charge sets expectations from day 1.

Most MACOMs will send printed ones down if they cannot be done locally, same with the promotion certificate. I incorporate them into NCO Induction at the BN level, but encourage companies to use the promotion certificates and conduct ceremonies that reinforce the duties listed in the Charge.

Your point is well taken, some promotion boards have candidates recite the NCO creed, NCO of the QTR or other performance boards do as well and it seems like the Charge should be part of that. Several other NCOs here have given their perspective and I tend to agree with them. Recitation is not necessarily promotion of ideals. We have Soldiers that don't adhere to the Soldiers Creed and NCOs that haven't memorized the NCO creed. I still have my Charge framed in my office and NCOs do stop and read it from time to time. I think that it should be talked about and the concepts in it should be mentioned during developmental counselings and leader development program events.

What types of promotion are you looking for?