How the Field Artillery was used in the Battle of the Buldge

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy
Senior Leader Course
Fort Sill, Oklahoma73503

ATSF-WD 15 October 2018

MEMORANDUM FORSLC STUDENTS

SUBJECT:Essay Basic Guidelines

1.Purpose:Noncommissioned Officers are required to write two essays while in SLC; one essay on a Cultural Awareness topic and the other on Branch History and Battle Analysis Methodologyto complete the SLC TRADOC requirements for each of these areas IAW writing and correspondence. These writing projects will enable NCOs to develop their research and writing skills to become leaders that are more effective. This policy will outline guidelines with how each of these essays will be written and detailed instruction on those topics and ideas.

2.Essay Guidelines.Essays are graded on a GO/NO GO basis. Prepare one individual essay and one essay as a group, each with a main body of 3-5 pages in length (length does not include the title or reference pages) using the American Psychological Association (APA) format. The essays will consist of the following in this order:
a. Essay Outline:
1. Title Page. Your essay will not contain an Abstract.
2. The header with the title of the paper in all caps and page number on each page (the words “Running head:” appears before the header title on the title page only).
3. A 3-5 page main body that begins with an introductory paragraph and ends with a concluding paragraph.
4. A reference page with a minimum of three references.
b. General Guidelines:
1. Conduct library/internet research from credible sources (Wikipedia is not a credible source).
2. Type your essay on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
3. Double-space the text of your essay; useAriel or Times New Roman with font size12 pt.
4. Leave two spaces after the end of each sentence.
5. Set the margins of your document to one-inch on all sides.
6. Indent the first line of a paragraph ½ inch (five spaces or press tab) from the left margin.
7. Follow the guidelines provided by your instructor.
3. Evaluation. \ are evaluated on content, use of active voice, structure, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and clarity. To receive an overall superior score, you must have the correct format, have conducted research from multiple sources, and the ideas presented must be original and written clearly. The due dates are final and non-negotiable, so plan accordingly. Plagiarism will result in negative counseling, removal from Honors consideration, and recommendation for dismissal from the course.

4. Obtain information from various sources to assist in formatting. Here are two examples:
a. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

ATSF-WD
SUBJECT: Essay Basic Guidelines

b. http://psychology.about.com/od/apastyle/a/apageneral.htm
5. The following are the topics for the essays:
a. Branch History and Battle Analysis Methodology Essay (Group project).
b. Cultural Awareness Essay (Individual project).

6. Branch History and Battle Analysis MethodologyEssay.
a. This essay will assist in the Instruction of Military History IAW TRADOC Regulation 350-13. It focuses students on the history and heritage of their branch. The context of the essay illustrates the applications of military history to training, leadership, and a sense of branch significance.
b. Objectives.
1. Provide students with a program of essential military heritage and history instruction that is sequential and progressive.
2. Stimulate interest in the continuous study of military and branch history beyond the classroom through individual reading programs. It also assists future senior leaders in forming mature judgments about their profession of arms.
3. Understand the evolution and historical contributions of the NCO in the U.S. Army; the role of the NCO during the evolution of combined arms warfare; and the use of history in military leadership.
c. The guidelines for a Branch History &Battle Analysis MethodologyEssayserves as a guide to research, outline, draft and type your final essay:
1. Write anessay on a battle related to your specific branch discussing the historical outcome or effects it had relating to the evolutionary contribution towards today’s military operations.
2. Bring a historical perspective to contemporary military problems and leadership.

7. Cultural Awareness Guidelines and Topics.
a. The goal for this essay is to meet TRADOC and the Fires Center of Excellence Commanding General’s intent of implementing Cultural Awareness training into the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System (NCOPDS) using the following goals as set by TRADOC:
1. Cultural Expertise – Culture professionals and leaders who possess an advanced level of cross-cultural competence of a specific geographic area. These Soldierswill be able to evaluate and synthesize terms, factors, concepts, and regional information into plans, programs, and advice to commanders.
2. Cultural Understanding – Soldiers and Leaders will be able to apply relevant terms, factors, concepts, and regional information to their tasks and missions, as well as analyze situational requirements.
3. Cultural Awareness – Soldiers who have foundational cross-cultural competence with comprehension and knowledge to identify and describe key terms, factors, and concepts associated with culture fundamentals and cultural self-awareness.
b. Learning Objectives. The purpose of this assignment is to prepare a socio-cultural analysisof an assigned nation/region as discussed in FM 3-24, Counterinsurgency.
1. Define the meaning of culture
2. Explain at least five major characteristics that define a culture
3. Describe the common cultural characteristics of a region of the world
4. Overview of the assigned nation’s/regions physical geography and military conflict history, significant past military conflicts and their impact on the society, weather analysis, civil
ATSF-WD
SUBJECT: Essay Basic Guidelines

considerations (ASCOPE), and a detailed discussion of the people (Society, Social Structure, Culture, Language, Power and Authority, and Interests).

1SG, USA
SLC School Chief