250 soldiers graduate from the 7th Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy

Photo By Pfc. Chenelle Brady | Spc. Christian Pait, an engagement controller, assigned to Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command is the distinguished honor graduate of the 7th Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy's Warrior Leader Course class 005-15. 249 Soldiers graduated May 7 on the Camp Normandy field and will be taking on the responsibility of leading other Soldiers.  

GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY

05.07.2015

Story by Pfc. Chenelle Brady 

Virgin Islands National Guard, 51st Public Affairs Detachment

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany- As the purple and yellow smoke spread through the air, nearly 250 Soldiers marched from the wood lines to the field of Camp Normandy for the 7th Army Non-Commissioned Officer Academy's Warrior Leader Course graduation, May 7, 2015.

The objective of this course is to prepare Soldiers for the many responsibilities that come along with becoming a non-commissioned officer. During the three-week course, Soldiers were challenged both mentally and physically as they evolved from Soldiers to leaders.

Leadership, training management and war fighting were some of the main courses that Soldiers had to take throughout the WLC.

According to Sgt. Christian Pait, an engagement controller, assigned to Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, it's challenging for Soldiers from different units with different techniques, procedures and missions, to come together and overcome one task the right way.

Pait graduated with a grade point average of 100 making him the distinguished honor graduate and one of the first persons to ever get 100 in each course.

In attendance at the graduation was Chief Master Sgt. Craig Adams, the senior enlisted leader of the U.S. European Command.

Adams advised graduates to be ready in their personal and professional life, take care of themselves, families and others and try to do their best at everything.

In order for a Soldier to get promoted it is required for them to take this course.

"Watching Soldiers transition from thinking like a Soldier, to thinking like a leader was very rewarding," said Pait. "It feels good to be able to lead our peers and give them guidance."

• Date Taken: 05.07.2015
• Date Posted: 05.27.2015 09:50
• Story ID: 164625
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, DE