Spartan Soldier earns battlefield promotion

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Jason Stadel | Colonel Terry Ferrell, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, speaks to Staff Sgt. Christian Stephenson after his battlefield promotion, May 24.  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

05.26.2008

Story by Sgt. Jason Stadel 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By Sgt. Jason Stadel
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Christian Stephenson has bided his time as a finance non-commissioned officer. Stephenson, who has been in the Army for eight years, was promoted to sergeant four years ago and became promotable to staff sergeant three years ago.

"I've had 720 (promotion) points for a long time, in five years (the points to staff sergeant) have never gone below 775," said Stephenson, from Emerald Isle, N.C. "It was frustrating working so hard to get those points but never making the cutoff. It had been at least six months since I'd even checked the scores when they come out each month, I knew they wouldn't drop."

The maximum amount of promotion points is 798.

With a new promotion program started by Multi-National Corps – Iraq, Stephenson can finally gain his staff sergeant rank.

Stephenson, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, was given a battlefield promotion to staff sergeant, May 24. The battlefield promotion program is in a yearlong test phase that allows deployed Soldiers to be recognized for their efforts and be promoted based on their duty performance and, more importantly, on leader recommendations.

"You have to set yourself a mark above the rest," said Master Sgt. Michael Flournoy, the non-commissioned officer in charge of 2nd BCT personnel and administration section and Stephenson's supervisor.

"Your chain of command has to say that you're ready for the extra responsibility. In our case, Sergeant Stephenson has been performing in a manner well above his pay grade, he's an expert in his field," said Flournoy, from Minden, La.

Battlefield promotion selections will take place four times throughout the year, with the one in May being the first. Each brigade was able to battlefield promote two privates first class to specialists, one specialist to sergeant and one sergeant to staff sergeant.

Each battalion within the Spartan brigade sent their recommendations for battlefield promotion to the brigade personnel and administration section. From there, the brigade commander, Col. Terry Ferrell, and brigade command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhane, decided which Soldier should receive the battlefield promotion. Their recommendation was then sent to division, which sent it to corps, where the corps commander approved recommendations.

Other Spartan Soldiers selected for battlefield promotion were: Sgt. Daniel Demer, from Company C, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment; Spc. Jessica Faaumu, Co. B, 26th Brigade Support Battalion; and Spc. Bryan Walton, Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment.

"Anytime you are selected above your peers for anything it is a huge honor," said 1st Sgt. Travis Bean, HHC, 2nd BCT, 3rd Inf. Div.

"(For promotion to staff sergeant) it could not have gone to a more deserving NCO," he said in reference to Stephenson.

Stephenson had heard of the battlefield promotion program but had no idea that he'd been recommended.

"I came to work the other day and I looked at my (leave and earnings statement) and it was showing staff sergeant pay," Stephenson said. "I asked my NCO about it and he laughed and said, 'You weren't supposed to know about that yet.'

"It was unexpected. I though it would go to an infantry guy or something and they probably deserved it," Stephenson said. "I'm just humbled to be given such an honor; all of the hard work has paid off."

Bean said the promotion program is a great way to recognize those who perform at a high level, no matter their job.

"It's important for all Soldiers to realize that everyone on the battlefield plays a vital role, whether you are clearing a building, performing maintenance, working in a (tactical operations center) or ensuring that all Soldiers' pay and entitlements are correct," said Bean, from Glennville, Ga.

With his promotion to staff sergeant, Stephenson said he would now like to work at Fort Jackson, S.C., as a finance advanced individual training instructor.

"This promotion puts my career in a whole new direction, I can't say it enough ... I'm just humbled to be selected."

• Date Taken: 05.26.2008
• Date Posted: 05.27.2008 08:36
• Story ID: 19799
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ