The birth of the US Army NCO Corps started at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania during the winter of 1777-1778. General Washington marched his Army to Valley Forge and faced harsh weather conditions, disease, cold, hunger and a severe lack of morale. A Prussian Officer in Europe had heard about the "Revolution" and offered assistance. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand Steuben or Baron Von Steuben met General Washington at Valley Forge in February 1778. General Washington appointed Von Steuben as the Army's first Inspector General. Von Steuben helped train and shape the Continental Army into an effective fighting force.
The Non-Commissioned Officer Corps of the United States Army can thank Von Steuben for establishing the first regulation: Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States also known as the Blue Book.
This exhibit shows a militiaman arriving at Valley Forge before receiving any formal training and a Continental Army Infantry Sergeant circa 1779 carrying the symbol of NCO authority and Leadership, the Halberd. Used for rank and file formation discipline and in some cases close quarters combat, the halberd is a centuries old weapon to identify an NCO's Authority and Leadership...
This is our first exhibit that tells a sequential time line history of the development of the US Army NCO Corps. Supporting this exhibit is also an original copy of Baron Von Steuben's "Blue Book"...
In addition to this REV War Exhibit we have another exhibit directly across from this one that highlights Molly Pitcher, The Badge of Military Merit and basic rank structure during the Rev War...
Trying to get some of the exhibit photos out there for all to see so if you are ever at Fort Bliss, Texas you can stop in and see what we have..
Hope you enjoy..
Smitty