Building the Army’s Backbone
Author | : Andrew L. Brown |
Publisher | : UBC Press |
Total Pages | : 298 |
Release | : 2021-12-15 |
ISBN-10 | : 9780774866996 |
ISBN-13 | : 0774866993 |
Rating | : 4/5 (96 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: In September 1939, Canada’s tiny army began its remarkable expansion into a wartime force of almost half a million soldiers. Building the Army’s Backbone tells the story of how senior leadership created a corps of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) that helped the burgeoning force train, fight, and win. This innovative book uncovers the army’s two-track NCO production system: locally organized training programs were run by units and formations, while centralized training and talent-distribution programs were overseen by the army. Ultimately, this two-pronged system produced a corps of NCOs that collectively possessed the necessary skills in leadership, tactics, and instruction to help the army succeed in battle.