NCO Business
Corporal Academy
Training Objective
• Task: Understand the roles and responsibilities
of a corporal in the context of “NCO Business”
• Condition: Given a classroom block of
instruction
• Standard: Demonstrate understanding by
active participation in class
NCO Business
• Thirdclass cadets fill the CPL ranks within the
South Carolina Corps of Cadets
• “Corporal” is the first rank in the NCO corps, and
as cadet NCOs you will be responsible for most of
the functions associated with the day-to-day
operation of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets
• According to the LDP, the outcome for the
thirdclass year is “serve”
– As CPLs, you will be using your NCO leadership skills to
serve others
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The NCO Corps
• NCOs are called “the backbone of the Army”
– What does that mean and how does it apply to the SCCC?
• Although NCOs and Officers work together to
accomplish the mission, there is an efficient division
of labor that designates certain responsibilities as
“NCO business”
– What responsibilities are traditionally considered “NCO
business”?
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“NCO Business”
• Taking care of subordinates
• Individual and small team training (to include physical
training)
• Maintenance and inspection of personnel and
equipment
• Accountability
• Planning and conducting day-to-day unit operations
within prescribed policies and directives
• Advising the commander on awards and punishments
for enlisted soldiers
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NCO Business and LDP
• The LDP stage of development for the
thirdclass year is “serve”
• In general terms, how do corporals “serve”?
“NCO Business” and “Serve”
• What specific ways does a corporal serve when he is
“taking care of subordinates”?
– Think in terms of their need for information, their health
and welfare, and their individual development needs.
• What specific ways does a corporal serve when she is
conducting “individual and small team training”?
– Think in terms of CTM and equipping subordinates for
success.
• What specific ways does a corporal serve in the areas
of “maintenance and inspection of personnel and
equipment”?
– Think in terms of knowledge, preparedness, and standards.
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“NCO Business” and “Serve”
• What specific ways does a corporal serve while
maintaining “accountability”?
– Think in terms of “Big A” Accountability.
• What specific ways does a corporal serve while
“conducting day-to-day unit operations within
prescribed policies and directives”?
– Think in terms of consistency, transparency, and fairness.
• What specific ways does a corporal serve when
“advising the commander on awards and
punishments”?
– Think in terms of “PRIDE” as a guide to the consequences
step of CTM.
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NCO “Support Channel”
• The NCO “Support Channel”:
– Is the communication and supervision that begins
with the command sergeant major, extends through
first sergeants and platoon sergeants, and ends with
squad sergeants and squad corporals
– It parallels, supports, and reinforces the chain of
command, but is subordinate to the chain of
command
– Is used both to pass information and to execute the
commander’s orders and get routine jobs done
Corporals and the NCO Support
Channel
• Corporals are on the end of the NCO Support
Channel that is closest to the individual cadet
• How can a corporal use that unique position
to contribute in terms of:
– Information flow
– Rumor control
– Compliance
– Perspective
Corporals and the NCO Support
Channel
• Corporals are on the end of the NCO Support
Channel that is closest to the individual cadet
• What challenges does that unique position
present the corporal in terms of:
– Peer pressure
– Authority and credibility
– Skill and experience
– Big picture awareness
What Have You Seen?
• What is a positive anecdote of a corporal in
action that you witnessed or heard about?
• What is a negative one?
• What are some characteristics of corporals
you admire?
• Of those who you don’t want to imitate?
Next Session
• Today we talked about corporals in general
and the roles and responsibilities associated
with that rank
• Next time we will talk about the roles and
responsibilities associated with the specific
corporal duty positions within the SCCC
• As preparation, review the duty descriptions
in the White Book, Chapter 1