Photo By Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch | Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen, senior enlisted leader, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. – A ground shaking HOOAH echoed throughout the hills of Fort Carson as more than 1,000 “Warhorse” noncommissioned officers sounded off to the question, “Warhorse, where you at?”
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen, senior enlisted leader, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, held a Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development on Joint Task Force Carson, Colo., May 20.
“It’s a great day to be a Warhorse NCO”, said Lehtonen. “Matter of fact it’s a great day everyday to be a noncommissioned officer in the United States Army. It’s not a right: it is a privilege to lead our soldiers.”
The NCOPD, an event focused on building esprit de corps and raising NCOs' knowledge base, started with a four-mile run and later classes that ranged from standards for the wear of multiple uniforms to help track a soldier’s career.
“I know everyone here, including myself, take our jobs extremely serious,” said Lehtonen. “It is a very, very important job, probably the most important job that you can have in the Army if not the world: Leading and taking care of our soldiers.”
NCOs appreciated the time set aside for the training.
“It’s a great pleasure, especially with the high caliber of NCOs that we have in this brigade,” said Staff Sgt. Casey McEuin, infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd ABCT. “From the command sergeants major all the way down, very high class and very professional individuals.”
During the event, Staff Sgt. Geoffrey Gates, field artillery automated tactical data system specialist, Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd ABCT, led the brigade corps of NCOs in reciting the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.
“If the hair didn’t stand up on the back of your neck during the creed, when Staff Sgt. Gates was up here, you have got to check your pulse,” said Col. Omar Jones IV, commander, 2nd ABCT. “I will tell you what, just to listen to this entire corps of NCO throughout this brigade combat team say the creed together, understand and know that is really what represents what makes being in the Army great.”
The NCOs of 2nd ABCT, 4th ID, know it’s important to teach, but also need to listen to their soldiers.
NCOs must know they can learn from their soldiers, said McEuin.
There are things that soldiers have done that I haven’t, so I like to learn from their experiences as well as higher-ranking leaders, McEuin said.
Leadership made sure the soldiers knew they are appreciated and how the progress made during recent training events by the brigade couldn’t have been done without the NCOs.
“I want to tell you how very, very proud I am of the brigade,” said Jones. “By any measure, what we are doing right now and what we have done the past year is truly unique and it is truly blazing the trail for where the Army is going to go over the next ten years.”
As the Brigade prepares for a month-long rotation to the National Training Center next month, the NCOs will be relied upon to train, mentor and guide soldiers to accomplish all missions.
“We are the best NCO corps in the world, the best Army in the world and by far the best brigade in the world, and it’s all because of everyone standing in this formation today,” Jones said.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.29.2013 17:37 |
| Story ID: | 107717 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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