The United States Army Sergeants Major Academy has grown extensively from the early days of 1972. The year 1986 marked an end of the old Academy and beginning of the new. As the new Academy building rose in the West Texas sun, many changes began occurring in the institution. This history is set forth to retain the processes, reasoning, and results of the Academy's efforts during the period from 1 January 1986 to 31 December 1986. A period when the new building was taken from ground level to a true structure. The narrative is based on information supplied by Academy Directorates, Departments, and the School Secretary. It is further supplemented by correspondence, fact sheets, memorandums, and other primary sources. Significant sources form the attached appendixes. Additional documents are located in the Historical Files at the Museum of the Noncommissioned Officer. Narrative presentation follows a topical structure based on the various Academy courses and administrative support departments. Major topics such as the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, are divided into subtopics for clear understanding. The section entitled Administration, Is designed to cover a wide variety of support activities and functions which have played major roles In the Academy's development. No attempt is made to provide a general flow to the variety of diverse topics. The US Army Sergeants Major Academy conducts courses for the Sergeants Major Academy conducts courses for the Sergeants Major Course, the First Sergeant Course, Operations and Intelligence Course, and serves as the proponent for the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course, Ski II Level III, and the Primary Leadership Development Course, al I of which target a different audience. Add to this the administrative support departments and a flowing narrative is not practical or desirable. The primary elements which tie the review together are the "Commandant's Introduction" and the author's "The Year In Retrospect."

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