NCO History Papers: In 2003 the Sergeants Major course introduced a new NCO history lesson. The lesson requires each student to pick a topic relating to NCO history and develop it during the course. Each student delivers a number of short briefings on various aspects of the topic at the beginning of the class day. In this way each class starts with a discussion of NCO history. Near the end of the course the student gives a longer briefing and submits a five to seven page research paper on the topic. These papers are evaluated by the faculty advisors in much the same fashion as the Haines and ethics papers. A select number of papers are forwarded to the USASMA historian who chooses the five best to be declared winners of the NCO History Competition Award. The following papers were selected. One additional paper has been added. SGM Manfred S. Jerabek of the German Army was an international student in Class 55. He wrote a highly original paper comparing the award of the Medal of Honor in the United States Armed Services with the award of the Knights cross of the Iron Cross in the German Armed Forces during World War II. The paper is considerably longer than the others so it is in a special category. It deserves wide dissemination. The five winning NCO history papers are diverse in topic. MSG Ronnie E. Stoner chose to illuminate the career of a Marine. Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock II was a highly successful sniper in Vietnam. SGM Daniel E. Hagen chose to follow the military career of SGT Peter Francisco, a colonial immigrant who fought with distinction in the Revolutionary War. MSG Tabitha A. Scrivens chose to highlight the often unsung role of combat service support soldiers in the Army. SGM Israr R. Choudhri presented information on the development of the Noncommissioned Officer Candidate Course (NCOCC), the immediate precursor of the present Noncommissioned Officer Education System. He presents differing view as to who started it and limits his discussion primarily to the NCOCC experience at Ft. Benning, GA. Finally, MSG Mohammed R.Elhaj chose to highlight the travail of Medal of Honor winner Sergeant First Class Edward A. Carter. Carter served in World War II. Because he was Black he didn't receive the award until 1997 when he was one of seven who received much delayed recognition. To read the names of the authors of the papers throughout this collection is to get a sense of the diversity of the United States Army. They are among the best America has to offer.

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