As the year 1996 ended, the USASMA Historian's duties were given to the curator of the US Army Museum of the Noncommissioned Officer. It was in this way that I assumed the responsibility to write the annual historical review for calendar year 1996, a year of several major events and occurrences at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. The year 1996 saw the continued growth and refinement of the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. This history is set forth to retain the processes, reasoning, and results of the Academy's efforts during the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1996, a period when the Academy continued to grow and expand in the Noncommissioned Officer Education System. This narrative is based on information supplied by Academy Directorates, Departments, and the School Secretariat. It is further supplemented by correspondence, fact sheets, memorandums, and other primary sources. Significant sources form the attached appendices. 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 elements. 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 topics and functions which play major roles in the Academy's development.

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