The purpose of this paper is to discuss how Soldiers become confident. Soldiers' confidence is built through training, leadership, and technological advances which is evident through the success of the Army Retention Program. A comparison of any two armies prove that confidence is the backbone of the Soldier and is the fuel for the fight. To reinforce this point we can simply compare the training methods of both the United States Army and that of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. Confidence is evident throughout training. Through the effort of strong noncommissioned officer (NCO) leadership, Soldiers become confident by living the Soldier Creed, Warrior Ethos, and the NCO Creed. The Army continues to develop competent and confident leaders through the Noncommissioned Officer Education System (NCOES). Soldiers further develop confidence through technological advances and their equipment and weaponry. It is through initial training, NCO leadership, technological advances, and confidence in their equipment and weapons that confident Soldiers reenlist and fill the ranks of our Army today. The Army's successful Retention Program is evidence that senior leaders elect for continuous service beyond their initial enlistment. Through retention, confident leaders produce confident Soldiers and in turn makes a confident Army.

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