Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Debra Richardson | U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Bobby Cales, senior enlisted adviser with the 1st...... read more read more
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FAIRMONT, W.Va. - The tradition of the Army’s Noncommissioned Officer, NCO, Induction Ceremony can be traced to the army and lineage of Frederick the Great. Today, this ceremony symbolizes a rite of passage for newly promoted soldiers joining the ranks as a professional NCO. While a celebration in nature, the ceremony also represents a metamorphosis of sorts, in which the inductees pledge to uphold the NCO Creed.
“Being an NCO is more than acquiring skills, passing boards or completing courses, it is a change in the mentality of how we conduct our day-to-day business,” said Sgt. Maj. George Arnold, Sgt. Maj. of the 1/201 Field Artillery Battalion. “As NCOs, we change our mindset from worrying about ourselves to mentoring, training, guiding, leading and taking care of the soldiers whose lives we are entrusted with.”
The Army expects a lot of its NCOs and the current operational tempo demands that NCOs fulfill those expectations. But what are the duties of an NCO and who defines them? Command Sgt. Maj. James Allen, the West Virginia Command Sgt. Maj., answered these questions when he addressed all NCOs as the guest speaker at the induction ceremony.
“I want to focus on duties, responsibilities and authorities of NCOs,” Allen said, “because if we understand these and do them well, we can continue to enhance, recognize and inform our soldiers.
You must understand the difference between specified, directed and implied duties and have the moral courage to always do the harder right. A good leader takes a challenge whenever and wherever it presents itself and does the best they can.”
Allen encouraged NCOs to take responsibility for both what they do and what they fail to do. “NCOs are responsible for fulfilling not only their individual duties, but also for ensuring their teams and units are successful as well.”
Authority is at the heart of military life but aside from the chain of command, is rarely defined. Allen said authority is the legitimate power of leaders to direct soldiers or to take action within the scope of their position. Allen continued past this familiar definition by defining inherent authority as that characteristic or virtue that is built into a job position or rank.
“We must always remember that as a leader, none of us are given authority, status or position as a personal reward to enjoy in comfort,” Allen said. “You are given them so that you may be of greater service to your subordinates, your unit, your family and your country.”
The 16 soldiers inducted into the NCO Corps include: Sgt. Robert J. Wolford; Sgt. Stacie M. Street; Sgt. Christopher A. Blake; Sgt. Moses E. Perry; Sgt. Marc H. Shiflett; Sgt. Anselm N. Tamasang; Sgt. Brandon S. Day; Sgt. Robert D. Jackson; Sgt. Aarron Robinette; Sgt. Christopher Corwin; Sgt. Bryan Grab; Sgt. Joy Leverton; Sgt. Erica L. Berg; Sgt John C. Pudder; Sgt. Leo D. Weikle; Sgt Casey A. Clark.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2013 13:42 |
| Story ID: | 102875 |
| Location: | FAIRMONT , WV, US |
| Web Views: | 706 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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