With its September 23 release right around the corner, Daniel K. Elder’s NCO School: How the Vietnam-era NCO Candidate Course Shaped the Modern Army is already earning high praise from veterans who know the value of noncommissioned officer education firsthand. Blending meticulous research with personal narratives, Elder presents a vivid account of the Vietnam War-era Noncommissioned Officer Candidate Course (NCOCC) and its enduring lessons for military leadership.
A pivotal yet often overlooked chapter of U.S. Army history, NCO School uncovers the story of the NCOCC. Established to rapidly train combat-ready leaders, the Vietnam War-era’s NCOCC program produced thousands of noncommissioned officers (NCOs) who endured intense scrutiny and demanding conditions while preparing for immediate deployment. Often dismissed as “Shake ‘n Bake” NCOs, these noncommissioned leaders and the program that forged them transformed the Army’s leadership structure, set new standards for professional development, and shaped military practice for decades.
NCOCC Graduate Perspective: Arthur Wiknik, Jr.
NCOC class 13-69 graduate and self-proclaimed “proud Shake-N-Bake” Arthur Wiknik Jr. appreciates the book’s authenticity and personal resonance:
Dan Elder did a phenomenal job of researching and detailing the information in this book. While reading, I felt myself transported back to 1968 when I was a reluctant draftee who was selected to enter the NCOCC program. I always believed that the school was the main reason I survived my Vietnam tour. I recommend NCO School as a must read for military historians as well as anyone who had the unique experience of serving alongside the graduates of the NCOCC program.
AUSA Senior Fellow Perspective: CSM (Ret.) Jimmie W. Spencer
Former Director of Noncommissioned Officer & Soldier programs and current Senior Fellow with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) CSM (Ret.) Jimmie W. Spencer highlights the book’s significance for impacting professional development:
I am a fan of Dan Elder and admire & respect his impressive work. This is in my opinion his most important contribution to the long and storied history of the NCO corps to date. This book should be mandatory reading in both the officer and NCO education system.
Leadership and Legacy Insight: CSM (Ret.) Bob Dare
CSM (Ret.) Bob Dare praises the book’s research depth and affirms its significance for broader leadership development:
NCO School is a superb piece of research and historical accounting of the evolution of the noncommissioned officer education. Dan Elder has presented a thorough “roadmap” that leads one to understanding U.S. Army events and decisions that dictated the need for NCOs to be developed formally, and often quickly to meet the needs of the force… This book deserves to be read by anyone and everyone who had an interest in leadership.
A Book Honoring Service and Inspiring Leadership
Together, these voices—veterans and senior leaders who lived the NCOCC experience and carried the program’s lessons into the Army’s future—affirm the importance of NCO School: How the Vietnam-era NCO Candidate Course Shaped the Modern Army. Elder’s work not only uncovers the legacy of the program and honors those who served but also provides enduring insights for military studies and leadership education.
Mark your calendar: NCO School releases September 23, 2025. Explore more about the book on our blog.
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