Promotions in Iraq watched from Fort Hood

Photo By Sgt. Gregory Snyder | Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright from Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, stands tall for his promotion while his family looks on from Fort Hood.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE ECHO, IRAQ

08.01.2011

Story by Sgt. Gregory Snyder 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

Contingency Operating Site Echo, Iraq — First Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, has had boots on the ground in Iraq for less than a month and are already ensuring prominent non-commissioned officers get the recognition they deserve.

Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Lien, from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, and Sgt. 1st Class Hugo Bazan, from Alpha Battery, made the transition to senior non-commissioned officers in the beginning of August. The timing of the promotions could not have been better.

Making the event even more special was the fact that these soldiers were able to share the promotion with their loved ones via video teleconference. Generally used for updates and feedback from home, video teleconferences have become more and more common in recent deployments.

Dragons use this tool whenever possible as a morale booster, as an opportunity for virtual Family Readiness Group meetings and for promotions or awards. Family and friends were able to watch and listen to the ceremony unfold, and for a few short minutes, they did not feel as if their soldier was quite that far from home. The Dragon Battalion has worked tirelessly so that moments like these would not be missed.

As a whole, the Dragons have grown leaps and bounds since the Ironhorse Brigade’s rotation through the National Training Center in March. As the battalion settles in for what looks to be a historical tour in Iraq for Operation New Dawn, younger soldiers, NCOs, and officers alike will look to these two motivated and deserving senior NCOs to lead them.

The personal connection of these two NCOs and 1-82 Field Artillery goes back many years. Both were young soldiers during the battalion’s first deployment to Iraq in 2004, and it is only fitting they will be here to witness the U.S. transition out of Iraq in accordance with the security agreement.

Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Cabrera Sr., then a platoon sergeant with the battalion, was a sergeant first class in the Dragon Battalion’s first Operation Iraqi Freedom tour.

“I have watched them grow into senior non-commissioned officers and leaders,” he said.

Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright from Alpha Battery was also included in the promotion ceremony.

“It was a great day for all NCOs, and I just feel fortunate that I could still share that moment with my family,” stated Wright, who was promoted from sergeant to staff sergeant.

On his last deployment, Wright served on the security detachment of Command Sgt. Maj. Rory Malloy, the former 1st Cavalry Division command sergeant major. Staff Sgt. Wright also distinguished himself as the winner of the “Battalion NCO of the Year” competition for fiscal year 2011.

• Date Taken: 08.01.2011
• Date Posted: 08.26.2011 01:44
• Story ID: 75955
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE ECHO, IQ