Task Force Six Shooters inducts 28 soldiers into NCO Corps

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

09.16.2011

Courtesy Story

10th Combat Aviation Brigade

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The backbone is commonly known as the single most important part of the human anatomy. It is the foundation which provides strength for the entire body and ensures all parts function properly. This is perhaps why the U.S. Army Corps of Non-commissioned Officers is known as “the backbone of the Army.”

The NCO Corps has strived to live up to the ideals of leadership, professionalism, commitment and allegiance for more than 236 years, reaching back to the American Revolution. During a ceremony Sept. 8 at Forward Operating Base Fenty, Task Force Six Shooters inducted 28 newly promoted non-commissioned officers into the corps.

The ceremony began with the lighting of three candles by a corporal and two sergeants; red to represent valor and hardiness, white to represent purity and innocence, and blue to represent perseverance, vigilance and justice.

Following the candle-lighting, Command Sgt. Maj. Isaia Vimoto Combined Joint Task Force-1 command sergeant major and the guest speaker for the ceremony, spoke on the significance of the NCO Corps and the vital role that the newly inducted NCOs will play in shaping soldiers to be all they can be.

“To our new sergeants, the rank you wear does not have any magical powers,” said Vimoto. “The power comes with what you create with those you lead.”

He mentioned the story of Excalibur, Merlin and King Arthur of Camelot and how it correlates to being an NCO. He said Arthur represents the NCO eager to learn to be a successful leader, Excalibur represents the stripes, Merlin represents the senior leaders who provide mentorship and Camelot represents the unit an NCO is responsible for building into a strong unified team.

Vimoto urged the new leaders to always remember that the magic is not in the rank, but rather, it’s in the difference the leader makes and the influence leaders have on those they lead.

After the guest speaker’s remarks, 28 cavalry troopers were inducted into the Corps: U.S. Army Sgt. Beth Ackey of Peru, N.Y.; Sgt. Jonathan Arthur of Sarasota, Fla.; Sgt. Eric Carson of Drury, Mo.; Sgt. Randall Celebrezze of Broadview Heights, Ohio; Sgt. Yong Cho of Baltimore, Md.; Cpl. Jeremy Clark of Utica, N.Y.; Sgt. Reginald Crawford of Dallas; Sgt. Norman Cutway of Monticello, N.Y.; Sgt. Andrew Gage of Ilion, N.Y.; Sgt. Tyler Griffith of Burton, Kan.; Sgt. Tylen Hazard of Hampton, Va.; Sgt. Tyrone Jensen of Renton, Wash.; Sgt. Andrew Johnson of Georgia, Vt.; Sgt. Jermaine Jones of Falcon, Miss.; Sgt. Christopher Kellum of Waycross, Ga.; Sgt. Thomas Lapierre of Southport, N.C.; Sgt. Christopher Lockhart of Sophia, N.C.; Sgt. Joshua Lovik of Marion, N.C.; Sgt. Joseph Mack of Ney, Ohio; Sgt. Roger Mann of Palmdale, Calif.; Sgt. Daniel May of Springfield, Mo.; Sgt. Carlos Mendez of Fresno, Calif.; Sgt. Shaun Milicic of Winter Springs, Fla.; Sgt. Adam Norwich of Geonoa City, Wis.; Sgt. Dustin Phipps of Plano, Texas; Sgt. Carlos Sannicolas of Saipan, North Mariana Island; Sgt. Mark Schwichtenberg of Newton, Kan.; and Sgt. Doug Underwood of Tulsa, Okla.

To conclude the ceremony, the Creed of the Non-commissioned Officer was presented by three senior NCOs dressed in three different uniforms of the Air Cavalry Task Force, followed by the playing of the 10th Mountain Division Song and the Army Song.

"The NCO induction ceremony was a professional and powerful ceremony that truly accomplished its intended purpose to welcome new NCOs into an elite fraternity and challenge them to live up to the NCO creed,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Downey, task force commander. “It was a privilege for me to attend the ceremony and an honor to welcome seven sergeants major from outside the task force to witness the entry of our outstanding troopers into the ranks of Army leaders."

• Date Taken: 09.16.2011
• Date Posted: 09.16.2011 01:59
• Story ID: 77114
• Location: NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AF