Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S) SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT NUMBER(S) DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENTApproved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ABSTRACTOver the past sixty years, the Army has had a systemic inability to produce enough trained sergeants. The Army repeatedly lowered the standards for promotion to sergeant during periods of rapid expansion or conflict in order to produce sufficient sergeants. This resulted in sergeants who did not have the institutional training that the Army repeatedly concluded is a prerequisite for promotion. The next time the Army needs to expand rapidly it will be faced with a shortage of Sergeants. The Army used several methods of mitigating this problem which met with varying degrees of success. This monograph proposes an updated method of recruiting and training sergeants faster than current methods allow. Over the past sixty years, the Army has had a systemic inability to produce enough trained sergeants. The Army repeatedly lowered the standards for promotion to sergeant during periods of rapid expansion or conflict in order to produce sufficient sergeants. This resulted in sergeants who did not have the institutional training that the Army repeatedly concluded is a prerequisite for promotion. The next time the Army needs to expand rapidly it will be faced with a shortage of Sergeants. The Army used several methods of mitigating this problem which met with varying degrees of success. This monograph proposes an updated method of recruiting and training sergeants faster than current methods allow. SUBJECT TERMS iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSIn preparing an academic paper of this magnitude, the student is often confronted by a series of difficult challenges meant to strengthen his mental fortitude and demonstrate his newfound ability.