NCO Academy, Tactical Comd

NCO Academy
Tactical Command, USFA
Camp McCauley, Hoersching, Austria
APO 174

Organizaton Chart

The NCO Academy, Tactical Command, USFA
(Source: "Orientation Pamphlet")

This booklet was issued to students attending the NCO Academy at Camp McCauley in Hoersching in the early 1950s. We have selected sections of the booklet that we hope will be of general interest and can provide the reader at least a basic understanding of what it was like to be assigned to the school as a student.

ARRIVAL
The NCO Academy, Tactical Command, USFA, is located at Building 14, Camp McCauley, near Linz, Austria.

On 31 July 1948, Hoersching Army Base was officially redesignated "Camp McCauley", in honor of Captain William S. McCauley, who died of wounds 2 December 1944. The honored hero received his fatal wounds while serving as commanding officer of "C" Troop, 4th Rcn Squadron, at Bogheim, Germany.

Capt. McCauley was a graduate of Virginia Military Institute in 1942, and came into the Army immediately thereafter. For distinguishing himself in combat against the enemy he was awarded the Silver Star and the Croix de Guerre with Gold Star. He also wore the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Unit Citation.

Built in 1938 and used as a training base by the Germans during the early part of the war, Camp McCauley was converted into a bomber base a few months before the fall of the Nazi regime. The construction of the airfield includes heated landing strips, underground passages which are now sealed, and a central heating plant which supplies heat to all buildings in the camp. On 5 May 1945 it fell to elements of the 11th Armored and 65th Infantry Divisions, and two days later was turned over to the Army Air Corps as an advance fighter base. The Army Air Corps released it on 17 May 1947 and it was designated the Hoersching Army Base, by which name it was known until 1948.

MISSION
The mission of the academy is to develop and perfect the high standards of responsibility, leadership, and instructor ability required in the non-commissioned officers of USFA.

To accomplish this mission the curriculum provides instruction in the qualifications of a leader and in methods of instruction of all subjects essential to organizational training. It further provides detailed instruction in the science of military tactics and those subjects directly contributing to military proficiency.

NCO Academy, Tactical Command, Camp McCauley - 1952/53
(Click on thumbnail to view larger image - 255 KB)

ORGANIZATION
The Superintendent, the Commanding General, Tactical Command, USFA, directs all activities connected with the academy.

The Commandant is in charge of all instruction, administration, and instructor amd student personnel.

The Operations Officer directs and coordinates all matters pertaining to class schedules, troop requirements, training and classroom needs, and other facilities. In addition, he is charged with training instructors in the most advanced methods of army instruction.

The Department of Administration is responsible for the requisitioning of supplies and equipment necessary to the operation of the academy and the accomplishment of all personnel and administrative requirements.

The School Faculty is composed of the Commandant, Operations Officer, Academic Department Directors, and Assistant Instructors. The Academic Departments are:

Department of Tactics

Department of Leadership

Department of General Subjects

TACTICS
The Tactics Department teaches the following subjects:

Basic Tactics	28 hours
Map Reading	20 hours
Demolitions	20 hours
Communications	11 hours
Intelligence	8 hours
Forward Observer Training	8 hours
Weapons	2 hours
Light Aviation and Air-Ground Operations	2 hours
Barbed-wire Obstacles	2 hours
TOTAL	101 hours

LEADERSHIP
The Department of Leadership provides a non-commissioned officer with a sound and logical concept of the fundamentals of leadership. Since a non-commissioned officer spends a large portion of his time instructing others, it is imperative that he be trained in the proper methods of instruction. To accomplish this, the following subjects are taught by the Leadership Department:

Instructor Training	57 hours
Leadership	29 hours
Dismounted Drill	28 hours
Physical Training	12 hours
TOTAL:	126 hours

GENERAL SUBJECTS
The following subjects are taught by the Department of General Subjects :

Motors, Motor Maintenance and Convoys	7 hours
Supply, and Supply Discipline	6 hours
Inspections	5 hours
Administration	5 hours
General Organization of the Department of the Army, SHAPE, EUCOM, Infantry Division, USFA, and Tactical Command	4 hours
Citizenship and Morality	3 hours
Customs and Courtesies	3 hours
Foreign Armies	3 hours
Civil Disturbances	2 hours
Radiological Warfare	2 hours
Basic Etiquette	1 hour
TOTAL:	41 hours

MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS
In addition to the subjects described above, the following subjects and hours are presented:

Commandant's Time	12 hours
Examinations & Critique	11 hours
Graduation & Clearing	8 hours
Inspections	5 hours
Guest Speakers	4 hours
Student Orientation	2 hours
Student Critique	1 hour
TOTAL:	41 hours

ADMINISTRATION
The purpose of the Department of Administration is to furnish a home for the student while at the academy. Its responsibilities are to promote the welfare and to accomplish administrative details of student personnel. The student body is controlled, insofar as possible, by the students.

(Source: NCO Academy Tactical Command USFA, no date, author's colection)

I am posting several of the photos of general interest found in a copy of a souvenir photo album, probably offered to graduates or cadre of the NCO Academy.