Building the Army's Backbone

In September 1939, the Canadian army, a tiny force of around 55,000 regulars and reservists, began a remarkable expansion. Building the Army's Backbone tells the story of how senior leadership created a corps of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) that helped the burgeoning force train, fight, and win. This innovative book uncovers the army's two-track NCO production system: locally organized training programs were run by units and formations, while centralized programs were overseen by the army.

Ultimately, this two-pronged system produced a corps of NCOs that collectively possessed skills in leadership, tactics, and instruction to help the army succeed in battle.