Ninety-seven new non-commissioned officers are inducted to the corps

Photo By Staff Sgt. Amanda Tucker | Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment performed a skit during a non-commissioned officer induction ceremony on Joint Base Balad Oct. 15, 2008.  

BALAD, IRAQ

10.24.2008

Story by Pfc. Amanda Tucker 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

By Amanda Tucker
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Ninety-seven non-commissioned officers were inducted into the NCO corps during a NCO induction ceremony at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2008.

The ceremony began with the entrance of the official party, including Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Tennant, the senior enlisted member of the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), based out of Fort Knox, Ky., Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill, the senior enlisted member of Multi-National Force-Iraq, and Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Allen, the senior enlisted member of the XVIII Airborne Corps.

Sgt. Monica Olson, a Lyman, Neb., native, and the 3d ESC commanding general's executive administrator, sang the Star Spangle Banner. Master Sgt. Brandon Thomas, a Bradenton, Fla., native, and mobility non-commissioned officer in charge for the 3d ESC, delivered the invocation.

"We want to let them know it is a big step in their military career," said Tennant. "What we [did] is we set up a ceremony to illustrate to them the importance of being a noncommissioned officer [and] being a sergeant in charge of Soldiers."

Tennant awarded Sgt. Johnathan Days, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Sustainment Brigade, based out of Ft. Eustis, Va., non-commissioned officer of the quarter. Tennant also awarded Sgt. Bryce Vieth of the 530th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, warrior of the quarter.

Sgt. 1st Class Megith Kassim, a Detroit native and medical supply sergeant for the 3d ESC, held the honor of lighting the candle placed on the prisoner of war/killed in action table.

Units from Balad coordinated to performed skits for the new NCOs.

A video was played for the audience with Soldiers from the 3d ESC reading the origin of the NCO. Four Soldiers from the 20th Quartermaster Company, based out of Ft. Campbell, Ky., recited the Soldiers Creed, followed by another four Soldiers from the 602nd Maintenance Company, based out of Ft. Hood, Texas, reciting the Soldiers request. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment performed a skit in full battle rattle of doing pre-combat checks to illustrate the importance of accounting for NCO's Soldiers.

"The non-commissioned officer is the ... leader that is out with the Soldiers each
and every day," said Tennant. "That's the soldier that checks the soldier to make sure ... that they are ready for the mission."

After all the motivating skits and recitations, 97 NCOs raised their right hands and were sworn into the NCO corps by Tennant. Each Soldier stepped over the line of authority and signed the NCO's induction book before receiving a copy of the NCO creed.

After all the inducted NCOs were back at their seats, Hill spoke to the NCOs about their new duties and responsibilities. He explained to the new NCOs the responsibilities and power acquired by becoming NCOs. To close the ceremony, the NCOs recited the NCO creed and sang the Army song before the official party departed.

The birth of the non-commissioned officer's history began in 1775 with the continental army. The NCO was formed from a mix of French, british and russion army traditions to form an unique Soldier. In 1778, Inspector General Fredrick Von Steuben wrote what is known as the Blue Book, a manual that gave the standards of NCO duties and responsibilities. The Blue Book served as the Army's regulations for 30 years. Steuben called NCOs the "Backbone" of the army. Part of the NCO creed is, "... as a noncommissioned officer I realize that I am part of a time honored corps, which is known as 'The Backbone of the Army.'"

• Date Taken: 10.24.2008
• Date Posted: 10.24.2008 03:40
• Story ID: 25476
• Location: BALAD, IQ