ANCOC is an interesting beast. First of all, for those not in the know, ANCOC is one of those famous Army acronyms that actually means “The Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course,” and is pronounced “AYYY-nock.” Not “ANN-cock,” like I said in basic training much to the delight of everyone within listening range. ANCOC is the third pillar in the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, designed to train Sergeants First Class to be platoon sergeants, the senior Soldier in a group of 30 men. ANCOC used to be one of those places where Staff Sergeants went off for months on end and came back all smart and ready to be great NCO’s.
Now, once you step out of the Infantry and see that a place like Public Affairs (my chosen field now) doesn’t have “platoon sergeants,” and that our school doesn’t range into months – hell, it hardly kicks a hole into 3 ½ weeks – it brings it all into perspective.
Our school, much like our field really, is the bastard child of the Army. One of many, I’m sure, but bear with me here. Our “basic” level training is at a joint schoolhouse in Maryland on Fort Meade. It’s called the Defense Information School, and there the DoD trains its public affairs specialists, broadcasters, illustrators, combat photographers and videographers, and A/V repairmen.
As you progress through the ranks, you move through the different levels of NCO schooling – and this is where the fun begins.
In the Army’s Heraldic world, Public Affairs comes under the Adjutant General’s Corps, headquartered at Fort Jackson, SC, and is made up of the administrative side of the Army, including Bandsmen. All others I mentioned previously are part of the Signal Corps, from Fort Gordon, GA. The AG has no say over the proponency of Public Affairs. We have our own little shop that develops doctrine, etc., so Jackson doesn’t get involved. Gordon does in the “25” side, as we call it (referring to the number of their career management field, 25), and Gordon and the Signal Center own the NCO Academy where we hold our Basic and Advanced NCO Courses.
Before I get into the weeds of why this is sooooo much fun, a brief explanation. When broadcasters are assigned to a broadcast detachment/station, they work very closely with some of the 25-series soldiers. 25R’s, or repairmen, are responsible for the maintenance of all the gear we take out to shoot video, gather news, do live radio broadcasts, etc. Broadcasters often get a bad rap (sometimes deservedly) of not being careful with the equipment, and returning it not in the same state they took it out in. the 25R’s are charged with fixing what we break. Add to the mix that we’re on TV/radio all the time and they spend their time in the background, behind the scenes, and you start to get some resentment.
Want to make it worse? Well, your average 25R has a hard time getting promoted to Sergeant before the slow broadcaster makes Staff Sergeant. It all has to do with strength levels in each specialty, but in the end none of it matters. We always are in chare of them in the broadcasting world and regardless of how squared away they are, they sometimes get the shaft from poor leaders.
Now fast forward to the NCO Academy. Since Fort Gordon owns the NCO Academy, and we train there, CMF 25 is in charge of Public Affairs. Can you say payback?
…And man, can I tell you they seem to enjoy it just a little too much?
More on that subject later….
