Courtesy Photo | The sword bearers for a Noncommissioned Officer Induction Ceremony, Sgt. Frank...... read more read more
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait -- Members of 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th ADA Brigade, recognized and celebrated 28 Soldiers who earned the rank of sergeant throughout the deployment at a Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Induction Ceremony here, July 26.
“We grew to realize the world does not revolve around us, but should be a better place because of us,” said Capt. Tim Baranoski, the chaplain of 1st Bn., 44th ADA Regiment. “As we gather here today to celebrate the induction of these NCOs, we pray that we will remember those lessons and add strength to the ‘Backbone of the Army.’”
The words spoken by Baranoski served as a reminder to the NCOs the gravity of what their roles were now as an NCO and a leader of Soldiers.
The senior-enlisted member of the battalion, Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Sanchez, spoke to the inductees about the importance of an NCO induction ceremony and the roles and responsibilities of becoming an NCO.
“The induction ceremony is a necessary part of our rich history and tradition as an Army,” Sanchez explained. “It symbolizes the epitome of trust between our Soldiers and noncommissioned officers. It is a time-honored tradition that goes back to the days of the Revolutionary War and the roles that NCOs played.”
Sanchez told the new leaders that NCOs are charged with upholding the traditions and standards of the Army as well as establishing that they know their craft as leaders.
“Noncommissioned officers are the keepers of good order and discipline,” he said. “They serve as advisors to their officers and most importantly, the safety, training, and welfare of their Soldiers and their families. It is the first rank where the Army demands a bit more from them.”
Sanchez compared good leadership to the analogy of climbing a flagpole.
He reminded the NCOs that the higher they get on that flagpole, the more of their rear shows, meaning that everyone has their eyes on them and their actions.
“They must keep that in mind as they progress up the ranks,” said Sanchez. “They must be proud of who they are as a leader and always strive to be the best. However, be the best for their Soldiers, not for themselves.”
From the archway set in the Zone 1 Chapel, to the sword bearers in silver helms, the ceremony was rich with symbolism and tradition.
The ceremonial portion began with the candle lighting, in which three candles were lit in memory of fallen comrades.
The candle lighting was followed by a speech by the event’s guest speaker, Brig. Gen. Donald Fryc, the commanding general of 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
As a son of a former first sergeant in the Vietnam War, and a former NCO himself, Fryc said the opportunity to speak at the event was a career highlight.
After his remarks, Sanchez called out the name of each sergeant inducted and asked, “Who recommends this noncommissioned officer for induction to the corps of the noncommissioned officer?”
At that moment, the inductee’s sponsor made his or her recommendation from the audience.
Once called, the newly promoted sergeant crossed the line of authority under the archway and was permitted to pass the sword bearers, Sgt. Frank Rodriguez, a shop foreman with Company F, 1st Bn., 44th ADA Regt., and Staff Sgt. Aimee Probst, the battalion retention noncommissioned officer in charge.
The crossing of the line of authority is one of the most significant parts of the ceremony, said 1st Sgt. Felicia Hamilton, the senior enlisted Soldier of F Co.
“It lets the NCOs know that once they cross the line of authority, they accept the charge of the NCO and the responsibilities that come with it,” Hamilton explained.
Fryc and Sanchez stood on the other side of the line of authority, welcoming each inductee into the NCO Corps with a handshake, and copies of the charge of the NCO and the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.
“It was another feeling being inducted into the (NCO) corps with a ceremony,” said Sgt. Cruz Garza, with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Bn., 44th ADA Regt., who pinned sergeant earlier this year. “Once I got pinned, it was a more realistic feeling knowing I worked hard to make it. With the ceremony, I felt it was more of all the other NCOs welcoming us newly promoted NCOs into the ‘club.’”
After the last sergeant crossed the archway, Sanchez delivered the noncommissioned officer charge to the NCO, and three junior-enlisted Soldiers recited “A Soldier's Request,” which was written by Sgt. Maj. Frank M. McMahon.
The passage described what a Soldier expected from his or her noncommissioned officer – to be trained, led, and treated with respect.
Once the inductees returned to their seats, all the NCOs in the room were brought back to their feet as Garza led them in a unified recitation of the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.
Despite being written more than 40 years ago, it was apparent that the words of the creed continued to resonate in the heart of every NCO, both old and new, as they departed the chapel.
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2014 11:54 |
| Story ID: | 139443 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 386 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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