Building the Army's Backbone (Paperback)

Andrew L. Brown

ISBN 10: 0774866977 / ISBN 13: 9780774866972

Published by University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver, 2022

About this Item

Paperback. In September 1939, Canada's tiny army began its remarkable expansion into a wartime force of almost half a million soldiers. No army can function without a backbone of skilled non-commissioned officers (NCOs) corporals, sergeants, and warrant officers and the army needed to create one out of raw civilian material. Building the Army's Backbone tells the story of how senior leadership created a corps of NCOs that helped the burgeoning force train, fight, and win. This innovative book uncovers the army's two-track NCO-production system: locally organized training programs were run by units and formations, while centralized training and talent-distribution programs were overseen by the army. Meanwhile, to bring coherence to the two-track approach, the army circulated its best-trained NCOs between operational forces, the reinforcement pool, and the training system. The result was a corps of NCOs that collectively possessed the necessary skills in leadership, tactics, and instruction to help the army succeed in battle. Building the Armys Backbone reveals how the creation of Canadas Second World War corps of non-commissioned officers helped the force train, fight, and win. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780774866972

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Building the Army's Backbone (Paperback)
• Publisher: University of British Columbia Press, Vancouver
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0774866977
• ISBN 13: 9780774866972
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The remarkable story of how Canada built a corps of non-commissioned officers from scratch at the start of World War II.
 
When Canada declared war on Germany in 1939, its military comprised only about 4,000 active and 50,000 reserve personnel. Unable to function without a strong core of experienced noncommissioned officers, the military embarked on an ambitious recruitment and training regimen. Building the Army’s Backbone details the two-pronged approach improvised to meet this challenge: in addition to traditionally centralized training, deployed units would also train officers in the field. Their efforts succeeded thanks to a rotating group of the best-trained NCOs between operational forces, the reinforcement pool, and the training system.  As a result, Canada transformed thousands of civilians into officers seemingly overnight, armed with the skills necessary to help the army succeed in battle.

About the Author

Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew L. Brown is assistant professor of history at the Royal Military College of Canada with over three decades of military service.