Role of the Nco

World War II:

The Role of the Marine Noncommissioned Officer

World War II:

The Role of the Marine Noncommissioned Officer

Holding the title of a Marine Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) has become widely viewed as one of the most respected responsibilities bestowed upon a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. According to the leadership textbook, due to the expansion of the Marine Corps in World War II (WWII), NCO’s were faced with a much greater demand in the roles they played along with their status than any previous conflict in American History (History of the NCO, pg 14). In this essay, I will briefly explain the role NCO’s played as a small unit leader, trainer, and guardian of standards; how they portray the Marine Corps leadership traits; and how the role played now is different than what it was in World War II.

Since the beginning of our Marine Corps History, the Marine Corps NCO has been a small unit leader, trainer, and guardian of standards which later became more advanced and held at a higher level due to the shift in demand in WWII. The NCO is the corps of enlisted Marines that provide the necessary leadership to manage the daily operations of the Marine Corps. The development of the NCO starts modestly in the early U.S. history and grows into a professional body of leaders specializing in small unit leadership and as instructors to new and experienced Marines and officers in schools throughout the military education system. In 1942 when the Commandant of the Marine Corps issued formal instructions to begin recruiting qualified African-American males, Corporal Edgar R. Huff (who later became the first African American sergeant major in the Marine Corps), and Sergeant Gilbert H. “Hashmark” Johnson were the first African-American NCO’s that were used to train African-American recruits at Montford Point Camp. In 1948, Montford Point Camp was renamed Camp Johnson in honor of Sergeant Major “Hashmark” Johnson (Leadership textbook,...