The Noncommissioned Officer and Petty Officer

BACKBONE of the Armed Forces

Published in the United States by National Defense University Press. Portions of this book may be quoted or reprinted without permission, provided that a standard source credit line is included. NDU Press would appreciate a courtesy copy of reprints or reviews.
Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department or any other agency of the Federal Government. Cleared for public release; distribution unlimited.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The noncommissioned officer and petty officer : backbone of the armed forces.
pages cm
“Through the direction of the Office of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, this book was written by a team of enlisted leaders representing the U.S.
Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard with the participation and support of
the National Defense University.”
1. United States—Armed Forces—Non-commissioned officers—History. 2. United States.
Navy—Petty officers—History. 3. United States. Coast Guard—Petty officers—History. I.
United States. Office of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
II. National Defense University Press.
UB408.N66 2013
355.3’38—dc23
2013048346
Book design by Chris Dunham, U.S. Government Printing Office
Cover concept by Hugo Cantu, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy
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