32 C.F.R. § 578.42 Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.
Title 32 - National Defense
(a) Criteria. The Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Professional Development Ribbon (NPDR) was established by the Secretary of the Army on April 10, 1981. It is awarded to members of Active Army, ARNG, and USAR soldiers for successful completion of designated NCO professional development courses. (b) Subsequent awards. The NPDR consist of the basic ribbon with numeral devices of 2, 3, or 4, which signify satisfactory completion of the respective levels of NCO professional development courses. Numerals used in conjunction with this service ribbon are the same type as those used for subsequent awards of the Air Medal. (c) Policy. (1) A change approved in February 1989 completely revamped the wear policy of numerals on ribbons and award suspension elements. Also, simultaneously U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) announced that the First Sergeant Course is not a recognized element of the NCO Professional Development Training System. Because of the impact of these two far-reaching policy changes, no grandfathering is allowed for Active Army or RC soldiers concerning the wear of numerals on the NPDR. Only the numerals 2, 3, and 4 are authorized for wear on the ribbon. (2) Once a service member has been awarded the NPDR upon graduation from Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) or Primary Leadership Development Course-RC, subsequent appropriate numerals will be awarded to identify completion of higher level NCO Education System (NCOES) or RC NCOES courses. (3) Senior NCOs selected by the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) who complete equivalent resident courses conducted by the other Services will wear the NPDR with numeral 4. (4) Soldiers who have been authorized by their local commanders to attend local NCO courses or training conducted by the other Services and who qualify for or are awarded another Service's training ribbon will not wear the other Service's ribbons on the Army uniform. (5) Soldiers who have attended NCO development courses, other than Senior Level, conducted by another Service while in the Army will not be granted Army course equivalency recognition. (6) Soldiers must successfully complete one or more of the courses listed in paragraph (d) of this section which are further described in AR 351–1. Graduates of NCO Academy courses conducted prior to 1976 for the Active Army, and 1980 for Reserve Components, will be given credit for the Primary Level only. (7) Acceptable evidence of graduation is a diploma, certificate, or a letter signed by an appropriate service school official. (8) Effective March 30, 1989, a service member will be awarded the NPDR with the numeral which identifies the highest level of NCOES or RC–NCOES successfully completed as follows—Bar Ribbon Device=Primary Level; 2=Basic Level; 3=Advanced Level; and 4=Senior Level. (d) Requirements. Effective August 1, 1981, all Active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers in an active status are eligible for this award for satisfactory completion of the respective NCOES or RC–NCOES courses as follows: (1) Primary level—Primary NCO Course, Combat Arms (PNCOC), Primary Leadership Course (PLC), Primary Technical Courses (Service School—PTC), and Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) for award of the basic ribbon. (2) Basic level—Basic NCO Course, Combat Arms (BNCOC), Basic Technical Courses (Service School—BTC), and Basic NCO Course (CS/CSS–BNCOC) for award of numeral 2. (3) Advanced level—Advanced NCO Courses (Service School—ANCOC) for award of numeral 3. (4) Senior level—U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) for award of numeral 4. (See paragraph (c)(3) of this section). (e) Special instructions. Special instructions for ARNG and USAR are as follows: (1) Primary level—Primary NCO Course, Combat Arms–Reserve Components (PNCOC–RC), and effective October 1, 1985 Primary Leadership Development Course–Reserve Components (PLDC–RC). (2) Basic level—Basic NCO Course–Reserve Components (CS/CSS BNCOC–RC) through September 30, 1985 (PNCOC–RC and BNCOC–RC combined for CA/CS/CSS). Effective October 1, 1987 Basic NCO Course/Reserve Components (CA, CS, CSS) as developed and implemented. (f) Description. The ribbon is 1
Title 32: National Defense
PART 578—DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBONS, AND SIMILAR DEVICES
General
§ 578.42 Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon.
