Corporal exemplifies 'Year of the Non-commissioned Officer'

Photo By Sgt. Amanda Gauthier | Cpl. Adam Cross, with 81st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 81st Brigade Combat Team, Washington Army National Guard.  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

03.23.2009

Story by Sgt. Amanda Gauthier 

81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team

Q-WEST, Iraq – Cpl. Adam Cross fulfilled his military obligation and received an honorable discharge from the New York Army National Guard in January 2008. After learning his good friend Spc. Christopher Vanbrenk was deploying to Iraq with the 81st Brigade Combat Team, Cross enlisted in the Washington Army National Guard with the specific intent of joining his friend on a 12-month mobilization to Iraq.

Cross went to military occupational specialty school to become an infantryman, and was quickly selected as a team leader in his platoon.

Although officially assigned the role of dismount team leader, he often pulls other duties.

"I am a dismount team leader, but I usually fill holes wherever is needed, as people are on leave, driving, gunning, or TC [truck commander]," said Cross.

Cross was selected as the only E-4 in the battalion to be recommended for a battlefield promotion, and is among hand-picked Soldiers in 3rd Platoon who conduct dismounted, as well as mounted, patrols, a testament to his physical fitness and overall stamina.

He also spends much of his energy perfecting his squad and building Warrior Ethos, according to Capt. Forrest Horan, the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 81st Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

Cross has infused the force protection company with his no-nonsense focus on what will accomplish the mission with trained Soldiers. His approach to training and completing tasks is revolutionary as it is based on immediate outcome and not on worn out, ineffectual paradigms, said Capt. Jacqueline Baird, the battalion personnel officer for 81st BSTB.

He was not always setting a good example. In fact for a time, his life was headed in the wrong direction.

"In high school I was suspended three times and eventually expelled," explained Cross. "I left home at a fairly young age and had quite a few run-ins with the law. Eventually I spent 309 days, when I was 17, in a brutal juvenile detention center in the Dominican Republic."

Though he has not yet accomplished everything he would like to, he has turned his life around and is proud of his accomplishments.

"I put the needs of other people above my own, and often sacrifice my own comforts, time and money to take care of people who are usually overlooked. I'm proud of the relationships I've built and how I've helped poor and downtrodden people my whole life without ever needing or wanting to be recognized. I am proud that I am the most selfless person I know."

"One of the many things that make me proud of Adam is his unfaltering perseverance in the face of adversity," said Vanbrek. "If I know anything about Adam's life, it is that it has been anything but easy, but the one thing that constantly impresses me about Adam is his ability to rise above whatever challenges he is facing and never lose sight of his end goals."

Of all the people in his life, his wife of six years, Janey, is the proudest.

"I don't think I need any other reason to be proud of Adam besides the fact that he is my husband. It is a great honor to be married to someone who is so giving and committed to helping those who need it," she said.

He believes that 2009 being the Year of the NCO is an opportunity to enhance the NCO Corps.

"This year will be the year that the younger generation gets their chance to prove themselves in leadership positions. My hope is that my efforts promote a change within the Army and my work ethic and the Army's values are shown through my hard work," said Cross.

"A good NCO works harder than the people on their equal level to inspire those who have been placed under them. A good NCO should be driven to move up in rank, not for the extra money or for the extra power, but so that they can fix the problems that they see in the military."

• Date Taken: 03.23.2009
• Date Posted: 03.23.2009 08:02
• Story ID: 31480
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ