TIKRIT, Iraq — Sixteen Soldiers were inducted into the Noncommissioned Officer Corps, Dec. 15, during 701st Brigade Support Battalion's NCO Induction Ceremony held at the "Dragon's Den" dining facility.
Three Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 13 from 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th IBCT out of Fort Riley, Kan., were formally inducted into an elite corps of noncommissioned officers who proudly and continually serve as the "backbone" of the Army.
The guest speaker of the ceremony, 3rd Infantry Division and Task Force Marne's senior enlisted advisor from Fort Stewart, Ga., Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse L. Andrews Jr., emphasized the significance of being an NCO and reminded the inductees that, "To whom much is given, much is expected."
"Remember that your Soldiers are your most valuable resources and make sure that you teach and mentor them to the fullest of your abilities," said Andrews. "Always enforce the standards ... If you fail to enforce the standards, then you've just created a new [one]."
Sitting calmly and professionally throughout the ceremony, the 16 inductees looked on and listened intently to the words of Andrews. Then, the moment came when they were all officially welcomed into the NCO Corps.
The top non-commissioned officer of 701st BSB, Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff D. Moser, said being formally inducted into the NCO Corps is very important for the inductees, and helps them realize the qualities that everyone else sees in them.
"An NCO is not something that you wear on your sleeve, your shoulder or your chest, it's something bigger than that," said Moser. "They get to see that everyone around them sees that they are someone who steps up to the plate, makes decisions and leads from the front."
After the last Soldier was inducted into the corps, they all stood together and thunderously recited the NCO Creed.
"[This] shows that other NCOs are accepting me and have the confidence in me ... to lead other Soldiers — in wisdom and knowledge," said Sgt. Sequoria Wilson, of Memphis, Tenn., an inductee and supply sergeant with HHC, 701st BSB, "which was the same thing given to me as a junior enlisted Soldier."