Feb. 4, 2026

Forging the Backbone of the Army: NCOLCoE to be Renamed as the United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy

FORT BLISS, TX — On March 6, 2026, the Army's NCO Leadership Center of Excellence (NCOLCoE) at Fort Bliss, Texas, will be officially renamed the United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy (USANCOA). This change is the latest step in the institution's 50-year history of evolution, which began with its founding as the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) in 1972. The new name is intended to more accurately reflect its comprehensive mission: providing career-long professional education for the entire Noncommissioned Officer Corps, from Corporal to Sergeant Major. Despite the name changes, the institution's core purpose remains to develop the highly skilled and trusted enlisted leaders known as the "Backbone of the Army."