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FORT BRAGG, N.C. — What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when you think about warrant officers?
Characteristics like professional, knowledgeable and dedicated were some of the responses provided by attendees of a cake-cutting ceremony July 9 at the 1st Brigade Combat Team dining facility at Fort Bragg, held to celebrate the U.S. Army warrant officer corps' 96th birthday.
“The ceremony pays tribute to our rich tradition and it’s an opportunity to recognize all of our warrant officers,” said Col. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, commander of 1st BCT, 82nd Airborne Division.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jose R. Blanche, a senior ground-maintenance officer assigned to the 1st BCT “Devils,” presented the first piece of cake to the guests of honor—retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eddie Royal and retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Buster Simmons—as is tradition.
“The warrant officer corps birthday cake-cutting ceremony is important to us all,” said Blanche. “It is an annual renewal of each warrant officer's commitment to the corps, and the Warrant Officer Corps' commitment to our nation.”
Warrant Officer 1 Graham S. Denoyer, the youngest warrant officer in the Devil brigade, then presented a piece of cake to Blanche, the oldest warrant officer in the Devil brigade, to signify the honor and respect accorded to experience and seniority.
Then the oldest officer served the junior warrant officer to signify the experience and leadership senior warrant officers have passed down to the newer members of the corps.
“Warrant officers provide a depth of expertise and knowledge that commissioned officers, with other duties, simply don't have the time to cover,” said Royal, who was enlisted for 12 years before he became a warrant officer.
"To see so many warrants here today really puts a lot of emphasis on what we do," Royal said. “I couldn't ask for better honor.”
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2014 13:29 |
| Story ID: | 136542 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Paratroopers celebrate warrant officer corps’ 96th birthday, by SGT Juan F. Jimenez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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