Who primarily determined the promotion of NCO's during WWII?

During World War II, the promotion of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) was primarily determined by regimental commanders. These commanders had the authority and responsibility to assess the performance and qualifications of NCOs within their respective units. They were in a position to evaluate the leadership abilities, technical skills, and overall readiness of potential NCOs to take on greater responsibilities. This centralized decision-making process allowed for a more streamlined approach to promotions, ensuring that leaders at the regimental level who were most familiar with the soldiers’ performance played a direct role in their advancement.

In contrast, while senior enlisted advisors and company commanders played important supportive roles in the evaluation process, the ultimate decision rested with the regimental commanders who had a broader perspective on the capabilities of the soldiers within the entire regiment. Peer evaluation boards were not typically involved in the promotion process during this time period, as the military relied more heavily on command structure and authority for decisions related to advancement in rank.