Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley (right) presents a copy of the NCO Guide to Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Eric Shinseki.

New guide offers instant references for NCOs

Staff Sgt. Dave Enders
USASMA PAO

A new, pocket-sized reference for NCOs is only a few mouse clicks away.

Field Manual 7-22.7, The Army Noncommissioned Officer Guide, is now available for electronic download; hard copies of FM 7-22.7 are scheduled to arrive at active-duty units this month. According to the guide's preface, FM 7-22.7 provides the Army's NCOs a guide for leading, supervising and caring for soldiers. While not all-inclusive nor intended as a stand-alone manual, the guide offers NCOs a ready reference for most situations.

Field Manual 7-22.7, which replaces Training Circular 22-6, The Noncommissioned Officer's Guide, is five chapters long and 5 1/2 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches long and fits in the cargo pocket of a battle dress uniform. The handbook offers instructions, guidance and information on NCO-related topics, including leadership, training, history, duties, responsibilities and authority.

Gen. John N. Abrams, former commander of the TRADOC, directed an update to Training Circular 22-6, The Noncommissioned Officer's Guide, in September 2001. He did so based on recommendations from the Army Training and Leadership Development Panel members who had conducted a study to determine how the Army could make a professional NCO corps even better. One of the panel's recommendations was that FM 22-600-20, The Army Noncommissioned Officer Guide, be re-established, updated and published, but the recommendation didn't address TC 22-6.

Soon after the USASMA director of Training and Doctrine, Sgt. Maj. Ricky Smith, was asked to oversee the project, THE EDGE Research and Development, an El Paso firm, was awarded the contract. Stephen Snyder, one of THE EDGE contractors and a retired Army major, worked with two retired sergeants major on the project.

"These are still soldiers who are passionate about what they're doing," said USASMA Command Sgt. Maj. Clifford R. West.

Although his writing team was responsible for assembling most of the information for FM 7-22.7, Snyder credited several others as key to the success. "The sergeant major of the Army took a personal interest in this project," said Snyder.

In fact, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley endorsed the NCO Vision in the beginning of the book. Snyder also specifically credited three others who he said greatly contributed to the vision and concept for FM 7-22.7: TRADOC Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony J. Williams, Combined Arms Center Command Sgt. Maj. Cynthia A. Pritchett and West.

These top NCOs continually offered suggestions and guidance throughout the development of FM 7-22.7, said Snyder.

The writing team focused those top NCOs' vision to build a portable reference that Army leaders can easily reference in a variety of situations. The team recommended it as FM 7-22.7.

"It is a ready reference that draws from literally hundreds of other field manuals, Army regulations, Army pamphlets and other sources," said Snyder. "We wrote this so that all Army leaders could use it and benefit from it."

The U.S. Army Publishing Agency will distribute FM 7-22.7 to all established active-duty account holders; however, Army National Guard and Reserve units must order copies. All Army components may order copies of FM 7-22.7 through USAPA as they would any other field manuals.

In addition to the printed version, USAPA has established an electronic version for download at the Gen. Dennis J. Reimer Training and Doctrine Digital library, at www.adtdl.army.mil/cgi-bin/atdl. dll/fm/7-22.7/fm7-22.7.htm. NCOs can link to the Reimer library through Army Knowledge Online, at www.us.army.mil and the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy home page, at http://usasma.bliss.army .mil/dotd/ncoguide.htm.

From the AKO home page, go to the Reference section and select "manuals." The USASMA home page contains a direct link, and there's also a link at the "Training and Doctrine" section of the site.

A direct hit
One of the concrete barriers leading to the ID card and vehicle-inspection checkpoint at the Robert E. Lee gate entrance took a direct hit over the weekend from a Chevy Camaro, according to Fort Bliss Military Police. The vehicle smashed into the barrier, moving it several feet. After impact, the Camaro jumped over the barrier and landed in the median. The dazed driver then turned around and drove off post. According to MP sources, a U.S. Army Reservist witnessed the accident and got the license plate number of the Camaro. Fort Bliss MPs ran the plates with the El Paso Police Department and found a fraudulent name and address. Inbound traffic on Robert E. Lee Road was diverted around the accident site and onto the shoulder. A new barrier was scheduled to be put in place Tuesday.

It's a whole new ball
game at Kelly Park

Leah Rubalcaba
MWR

Kelly Park will soon boast a new 18-hole, 22,000-square-foot miniature golf course providing the Fort Bliss community with a state-of-the-art version of one of the oldest and most popular forms of family entertainment.

"Compared to the park's old 18-hole mini-golf course originally built in the 70's, this new facility will be double the land size and feature an elevated 10-foot waterfall as a focal point of the course," said Lindy Sorrell, MWR's Community Recreation chief. "This course will be more 'back to nature' with interconnecting streams, ponds, spring fountains, big boulders and natural stones, along with varying elevations throughout the course."

The course's natural landscaping will consist of native and drought tolerant plants, providing seasonal color and shade. New lighting will make night play possible and add ambiance to the course through highlighted fountains, waterfall and selected plants.

"We'll have a picnic pavilion at the far east end of the course, perfect for birthday parties, along with two more shaded rest areas," said Sorrell. "The course will also feature a practice green. So, when it's busy, folks can either wait in the shaded rest area or practice on the green until it's their turn to play."

The new course will accommodate up to 75 patrons at a time and includes new golf balls and new rubber - not metal - putters, which extend the life of the carpet.

This new course is made possible in part through a $100,000 unsolicited donation from the Fort Bliss Federal Credit Union, given to MWR specifically for a Community Life project. Members of the Fort Bliss community were surveyed last August to better determine what major or special community project they wanted to see at Fort Bliss for FY03 to support soldiers and their families. The "Landscaped Miniature Golf Course" category received the majority of the votes.

"We are so appreciative of the Federal Credit Union's support to help make this project possible," said Sorrell. "This facility will serve the Fort Bliss community for many years to come."

The contract for construction of the golf course was awarded to Atlantic Miniature Golf and Entertainment Construction out of Norfolk, Virginia. "

This isn't the putt-putt you remember as a child," said Andy McCullough, Director of Development for Atlantic Miniature Golf and coordinator of Fort Bliss' new course. "We design and build mini-golf courses that are one-of-a-kind, challenging and beautiful."

One of the key features of the new course will be its playability for all skill and age levels.

"The course will be family friendly, mixing difficult holes with easy holes, so that players of all ages and skill can enjoy the course," said Sorrell. "We'll be sure to meet the recreational needs of varying demographics - of kids and grandma and grandpa and everyone in between."

Along with the great diversity of the course, nine holes will be handicapped accessible. Through carefully planned construction, Atlantic Miniature Golf will comply with new ADA codes for recreational facilities by contouring walkways and holes for easier handicapped accessibility. The course design will be completely free of stairs, which inhibit persons with disabilities.

MWR's Kelly Park Manager Darrell Colvin and Staff Member Ruben Vasquez were responsible for coordinating the demolition of the old mini-golf course, which began Dec. 20 and is now complete.

Construction on the new course is set to begin Jan. 31. MWR administration anticipates holding grand opening festivities in April.

For information, call Sorrell at 568-7533.