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By Pfc. Amanda Tucker
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq - Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Tennant flew to Tallil Air Base and Camp Cedar to give guidance and gain better knowledge of the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) subordinate unit's operations.
The Pleasantville, N.J., native toured the two bases and was briefed on operations ranging from fueling operations to vehicle maintenance.
The sergeant major, however, wasn't the only one to learn from the experience. While visiting different units operating in Tallil, Tennant emphasized the importance of good leadership.
"There are two things a Soldier wants: a hooah mission and hooah leadership," Tennant said during a non-commissioned officer professional development presentation, giving advice to junior and senior enlisted Soldiers.
Enlisted Soldiers snapped to the position of parade rest when Tennant entered the room. As the Soldiers took their seats,Tennant walked through the rows shaking hands and talking with Soldiers. He spoke to the group about recent events such as the Olympics and also stressed the importance of voting.
Tennant's address took a more solemn tone when he moved to a bag placed on a table in front of the rows of Soldiers watching him. He unzipped the bag and pulled out a large black object. As he unfolded it and placed it on the ground in front of him, the entire room grew quiet. Then, he asked if anyone knew what the object was. The room echoed with voices of many saying, "a body bag." The sergeant major pulled out a smaller bag, asking the same question. Again the crowd knew the answer was, "personal effects."
He addressed the group of Soldiers who were nearing the time to go home. He talked about complacency and how Soldiers havedied shortly before they were scheduled to return home because they became complacent as their time in Iraq drew closer to being complete.
According to Tennant his trip was a success.
"The best part ... was seeing those Soldiers, seeing the high morale, the discipline, the professionalism and esprit de corps of [the] command and of the units," said Tennant. "I learned that our young men and women are doing an outstanding job."
| Date Taken: | 09.09.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2008 09:11 |
| Story ID: | 23406 |
| Location: | TALLIL AIR BASE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 326 |
| Downloads: | 246 |
This work, CSM Tennant provides guidance, gains knowledge, by SSG Amanda Tucker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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