P-385-63 US Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Guide Download
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DA PAM 600–25 • 11 December 2018 1 Chapter 1 Overview 1–1. Purpose This guide serves as the medium to provide Soldiers and enlisted centralized selection board members professional devel- opment guidance for noncommissioned officers (NCOs) within their respective career management field (CMF). Civilian supervisors also need to understand the professional development guidance for NCOs to assist them in their career ad- vancement. This guide serves as a framework for NCOs, warrant officers, officers, and civilians alike to offer advice and counsel NCOs on their professional growth and development. This pamphlet should not be construed as a simplified checklist for promotion selection or a guide for NCOs on how to perform their assigned duties. Instead, this guide serves to supplement the Army’s various strategies on leader development, including the NCO 2020, talent management, and the human dimension strategy. It provides guidance intended to develop the next generation of competent and committed NCOs of character who are capable of meeting the challenges of operational adaptability in an era of persistent conflict within an All-Volunteer Army. 1–2. References and forms See appendix A. 1–3. Explanation of abbreviations and terms See the glossary. 1–4. Scope a. NCOs are the “backbone of the Army.” Ours is a professional corps that reflects America’s diversity and represents the time-honored values that built our Nation—hard work, duty, selflessness, determination, honor, and compassion. Army NCOs represent a true competitive advantage. This advantage is a result of the Army’s institutional commitment to develop a professional corps of NCOs and a capacity to learn faster and adapt more quickly than its adversaries. The Army’s leader development imperatives guide principles that inform policy and actions to develop leaders with the required qualities and enduring leader characteristics. These guiding principles remain constant from initial service affiliation through separation or retirement. They foster an environment to develop NCOs during their careers through progressive and sequential pro- cesses which incorporate training, education, and experiences across learning domains of institutional, operational, and self-development. The Army’s strategies build on the Army’s experiences since the end of the Cold War through the early conflicts of the 21st century. b. Officers and noncommissioned officers are encouraged to read both DA Pam 600–25 and Smartbook DA Pam 600– 25, regardless of branch, functional area (FA), military occupational specialty (MOS), or career field held. Unique and valuable lessons in Army culture and noncommissioned officer professional development are found in every section. For specific information on officer branches, the Smartbook DA Pam 600–3 is available online at https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/smartbook-da-pam-600-3/overview. 1–5. Assumptions a. The Army operates in an era of uncertainty and persistent conflict against a full spectrum of possible threats. b. The Army continues to confront unexpected challenges from an adaptive enemy and must respond rapidly in devel- oping doctrine, training, and education. c. The Army’s learning model must be clear in intended outcomes that are rigorous, relevant, and measurable. d. Army leaders have the opportunity to contribute their experiences to the body of knowledge throughout their careers. e. Being a Soldier requires a foundation of comprehensive fitness, the Army Values, the warrior ethos, and technical and tactical proficiency. f. Fundamental competencies will be reinforced by maximizing time on task. g. Continually evolving, complex operational dilemmas over an extended time in culturally diverse, joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational (JIIM) operational environments will continue to challenge leaders. h. Time, workforce, and resources available for learning will continue to be limited. i. Civilian educational institutions will continue to fulfill a role in the holistic professional development and career-long learning of Soldiers within the institutional and self-development learning domains.