Expeditionary Sustainment Command welcomes new Non-commissioned Officers

Courtesy Photo | 3d ESC commander, Brig. Gen. Robin Akin (second from left), a native of Nashville, Tenn., joins senior and junior NCOs from the 3d ESC’s Headquarters Company and the 233rd Transportation Company in cutting a cake at the end of the 3d ESC’s NCO Induction Ceremony, Sept. 30, at the Patton Museum’s Abrams Auditorium.  

FORT KNOX, KY, UNITED STATES

09.30.2010

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Dave Mcclain 

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) hosted a Non-commissioned Officer Induction Ceremony on Sept. 30 in Abrams Auditorium at Fort Knox’s Patton Museum.

Twenty-five sergeants from the 3rd ESC participated, including 11 from the unit’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company and 14 from the 3rd ESC’s 233rd Transportation Company, also located on Fort Knox.

Each new NCO had a sponsor who introduced his or her inductee for membership in the NCO corps by announcing the NCO’s hometown, military occupational specialty and hobbies. The NCOs were considered officially inducted when they stepped over a “line of authority” banner imprinted with all the NCO ranks and used a gold pen to sign their names into a book of past 3rd ESC NCO corps inductees.

The ceremony also had a skit in which a team of drivers from the 233rd Trans. Company acted out a mission pre-brief as well as 3rd ESC soldiers reading off a brief History of the NCO while a white screen in the front of the room displayed images of NCOs past and present.

The 3rd ESC’s senior NCO and Pleasantville, N.J., native, Command Sgt. Maj. Willie Tennant, Sr., pointed out that a formal NCO induction is not required by any Army regulation or field manual, but still thinks the ceremony is special.

“As you transition from junior soldier to the rank of the non-commissioned officer, it should be a celebration. To earn that rank is important,” said Tennant.

Command Sgt. Maj. James Sims, a native of Florida, came from the 3rd ESC’s 49th Quartermaster Group at Fort Lee, Va., to serve as the ceremony’s guest speaker.

Sims talked to the new NCOs about the importance of maintaining Army standards and the need to lead soldiers both competently and compassionately. He also noted that the U.S. Army’s NCO corps serves as an example for militaries in developing nations.

“You have just become a member of a team which is respected all over the world. Stay Army Strong,” said Sims.

Sgt. Trumaine Harrison, a Greenville, S. C., native who works in the 3rd ESC’s command group, was promoted to E-5 in February 2008, but never had the opportunity to participate in an NCO induction ceremony, until he joined the 3rd ESC.

“I thought it was neat and interesting. It meant a lot,” said Harrison.

Harrison added that the enthusiasm of the senior NCOs who participated in the ceremony helped him understand the importance of the ceremony and made him proud to be an NCO.

Each newly-inducted NCO received a plaque and a certificate as well as a data disc containing regulations, a sampling of counseling forms and other information that Tennant said the new NCOs need in order to be successful non-commissioned officers.

• Date Taken: 09.30.2010
• Date Posted: 10.13.2010 11:52
• Story ID: 58021
• Location: FORT KNOX, KY, US