Results for chain of command

What is the chain of command?

The succession of commanders from a superior to a subordinate through which command is exercised. It is the leader's primary channel for issuing orders and passing information.

What is the NCO support channel and how does it relate to the chain of command?

It is the leadership channel that parallels and reinforces the chain of command. It runs from the command sergeant major to the first sergeant to the platoon sergeant to the squad, section, or team leader. It is used to transmit and enforce standards, carry out the commander's orders, and supervise Soldiers' daily duties. It does not replace the chain of command and it is not a separate chain.

Army Command Policy

AR 600-20 is the command policy regulation: chain of command, military discipline and conduct, prohibited relationships, equal opportunity, harassment prevention and response, and the commander's authority over Soldiers. It is the single regulation most often cited at boards and in adverse actions. It is revised frequently -- verify the current edition before quoting a paragraph.

Standards of Medical Fitness

AR 40-501 sets the medical fitness standards for accession, retention, and separation, and it is the basis for physical profiles. Leaders use it to understand what a profile means and what it does not. Medical providers own the determinations; leaders own the accommodation and the training plan.

The Noncommissioned Officer Guide

TC 7-22.7 is the NCO guide: the duties, responsibilities, and authority of noncommissioned officers, the NCO support channel, and the expectations at each grade. The August 2025 edition supersedes the January 2020 guide. It is required reading for anyone going before a promotion board.

The hand receipt chain and the DA 2062

Property moves from the property book officer to the commander to the sub-hand receipt holder to the user, and a DA 2062 records every step of that chain.

Active Duty Enlisted Administrative Separations

AR 635-200 governs administrative separation of enlisted Soldiers on active duty: the bases for separation, the characterization of service, and the procedural rights that attach. Company and battalion leaders use it for chapter actions; the separation authority and the servicing judge advocate drive the process. Get legal review before initiating anything.

Counseling, coaching, and mentoring

Three different developmental methods that get used as synonyms and should not be. Only one of them is directed by the chain of command, and only one of them is voluntary on both sides.

As an NCO, what is your role when a Soldier tells you they are thinking about suicide?

Take it seriously and act immediately. Ask directly, stay with the Soldier, remove access to weapons and other lethal means, and escort the Soldier to a chaplain, behavioral health, or the emergency room. Notify the chain of command. Do not leave the Soldier alone and do not promise secrecy.

Name the ten core leader competencies.

Under leads: leads others, builds trust, extends influence beyond the chain of command, leads by example, and communicates. Under develops: creates a positive environment and fosters esprit de corps, prepares self, develops others, and stewards the profession. Under achieves: gets results.

What do you do the moment you discover a sensitive item is missing?

Stop, secure the area, and report it immediately through the chain of command. Do not wait to search on your own or resolve it quietly. Recount and search under supervision, notify the commander, and follow the unit's serious incident reporting procedures. Adjustment of the property record follows AR 735-5 once the loss is confirmed.

What does ACE stand for in suicide prevention?

Ask, Care, Escort. Ask the person directly whether they are thinking about suicide. Care for them by listening without judging and by removing access to lethal means. Escort them to help and stay with them until they are in the hands of a chaplain, a behavioral health provider, or the chain of command.

Who can a Soldier make a restricted report to?

A Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, a SHARP victim advocate, or a healthcare provider. Telling anyone else, including the chain of command or law enforcement, generally makes the report unrestricted.