Debating whether there is a profession of arms is only worthwhile if we establish rigor in what the terms profession and professional mean. These definitions must have historical consistency; that is, we must understand the history of the military profession to guide its future. This article contends that occupations packaging themselves as professions are proliferating and offers criteria that indicate true professionalism. It is generally conceded that the officer corps is professional, though Samuel Huntington argues that it happened in the late 19th century while other historians believe the Army officer corps began to professionalize as early as the 1820s. The noncommissioned officer (NCO) corps began professionalizing when large peacetime forces offered a path to long careers, but NCOs are not yet professionals.