Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | Sgt. Joshua Graffio, a Los Angeles native with 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment,...... read more read more
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FORT HOOD, Texas – “I will strive to remain technically and tactically proficient. I am aware of my role as a noncommissioned officer. I will fulfill my responsibilities inherent in that role. All Soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership; I will provide that leadership.”
So reads the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer.
“I think the noncommissioned officer’s job is to be the subject matter expert in their trade, then turn around and train that to their Soldiers,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Graves, senior enlisted adviser for 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “We need to be the best at what we do on behalf of our Soldiers.”
Sgt. Joshua Graffio, an infantryman with 1-12 Cav., lives this creed every day in the way he carries himself and in the way he trains his Soldiers.
“I am proud to see their progression,” said Graffio, a Los Angeles native, who recently earned the title of Fort Hood’s NCO of the Year. “If you put in the work and continue to progress, you will stand out and your hard work will pay off.”
But Graffio didn’t just preach a message of hard work and perseverance. He demonstrated it to show his Soldiers it could be done.
Graffio’s ascent began when Graves took note of his potential.
“Sgt. Graffio is very good at his skill craft, and he understands the dynamics of leadership,” said Graves, who promptly recommended he attend the NCO of the Quarter board.
When Graffio began knocking down competition boards like bowling pins, he set his sights seriously on the big prize ahead – the III Corps and Fort Hood NCO of the Year competition.
The whole ordeal was anything but a cakewalk as Graffio studied Army doctrine and polished his proficiency on Soldier fundamentals like physical fitness, weapon qualification and battle drills.
He even sought the assistance and guidance of senior NCOs who helped him improve along the way.
“We identified some areas that we needed to put some work into,” said Graves. “He is very good tactically, with PT, and with qualifying with his weapon, which were the multitude of the tasks for the final board.”
With all the studying, practice and training behind him, Graffio surmounted the final hurdle and earned the title of Fort Hood’s NCO of the Year, all under his Soldiers’ watchful eyes.
Graffio not only demonstrated to his Soldiers how far perseverance could take them in competition, but also in training and maintaining Soldier skills. Not long after earning distinction as NCO of the Year, he deployed to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, with about 500 troopers from 1-12 Cav. and other Greywolf units to partner with the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard during the Exportable Combat Training Capability training.
While training within the heavily-wooded grounds there, Graffio is testing and improving his infantry skills while helping to increase the capabilities of the Soldiers training in the month-long exercise. Whether at Fort Hood or elsewhere, he looks for ways to help his Soldiers and his fellow Soldiers improve.
The fruits of Graffio’s labors are evidenced by the success of his four Soldiers, one of whom distinguished himself by making the Commandant’s List while at the Warrior Leader Course, earning scores within the top 20 percent of his class.
To prepare his Soldiers for success, Graffio shared with them a few skills he picked up during his time at WLC. From practicing to using good study habits before the course, Graffio showed his Soldiers how to exceed standards.
Among his Soldiers, Graffio’s leadership ability is recognized and helps keep motivation at a constant high.
“Sometimes, we will be working on something that really sucks,” said Spc. Jonathan Williams, a Pass Kristen, Mississippi, native and a command driver. “Sergeant Graffio will still be there with us. He is the type of leader I would like to be myself.”
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.12.2015 10:44 |
| Story ID: | 172907 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 68 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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